Every skin is unique – just like you.
Even though every skin is unique, general skin science distinguishes between four skin types, which have different characteristics and structures and therefore require different types of care. To get to know and understand your skin better, it is always good to first recognize which general skin type you have, so you can give it what it really needs and what is good for it.
Balanced Skin
Characteristics: balanced, firm, clear, insensitive
Structure&Pores: even, fine, soft & smooth, has a healthy skin barrier
Complexion: even, harmonious, naturally fresh and healthy skin appearance
Care: Your skin does not need much care. Make sure not to overcare it – according to Sue’s philosophy: Less is more! Important are sufficient UV protection, moisture, and mild care with antioxidants & natural ingredients.
Oily Skin
Characteristics: shiny, oily, prone to acne
Structure&Pores: enlarged, clogged, clearly visible pores, prone to blackheads, pustules, pimples, and various forms of acne
Complexion: shiny, uneven, reddened spots due to impurities
Care: A thorough daily cleansing routine. Did you know that oils can counteract oily skin well? According to the well-known theory: fat dissolves fat. Or in other words: non-polar solvents (sebum and oil) are best dissolved by similarly composed non-polar solvents (like oil). If you use aggressive products on oily skin, your skin’s protective mantle will be increasingly destroyed, and the skin desperately tries to restore its oil layer. This makes your skin even oilier. So it is better to rely on care products with natural supportive ingredients.
Dry Skin
In dry skin, too little sebum is produced, so it lacks the lipids that prevent moisture loss and form a healthy protective film against external influences.
Characteristics: partly sensitive and demanding, porcelain-like complexion
Structure&Pores: fine, almost transparent pores, hardly any blackheads, rough and cracked
Complexion: pale, dull, pale
Care: Your skin is demanding and needs above all one thing: moisture. Your skin barrier is disturbed, so your skin needs natural nutrients to rebuild it. With the help of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins, you can strengthen your skin barrier again so that moisture is retained. As always, you should make sure to apply our oils on damp skin to get the so important moisture.
Combination Skin
The skin is a combination of two skin types. Besides balanced to dry skin (e.g., the side areas of the face), the oily skin type is found in the T-zone – the skin on the forehead, nose, and chin tends to overproduce sebum (seborrhea).
Characteristics: balanced to dry vs. oily, shiny, prone to acne (T-zone)
Structure&Pores: larger pores, blackheads and pimples on forehead, nose, and chin. On cheeks and eye areas, the skin tends to dryness.
Complexion: uneven, redness and oily in the T-zone, pale and dull in the cheek area
Care: Above all, the T-zone needs thorough cleansing every day. Since our oils are especially good for both dry and oily skin, you can use all our oils very well. It is important that you do not overstimulate your skin – one oil at a time is completely sufficient. The skin must first learn to regenerate and breathe independently. This works best when you only give it what it really needs: natural nutrients and moisture. So it is important that you always apply our oils on damp skin.
Why at Hello Sue we prefer to talk about conditions
Having a general overview of the classic four skin types is a good first step to get to know your skin better.
But skin is alive, it changes and renews itself constantly from inside out. Strictly speaking, it regenerates every 28 days and loses about 14 grams of dead skin cells per day, which are reproduced by the skin. It is therefore a very dynamic organ, so at Hello Sue we prefer to always talk about skin conditions, which can change depending on various influencing factors. At Hello Sue we distinguish between four skin conditions: sensitive skin, dehydrated skin, impure skin, mature skin.
If you are not yet sure which skin condition you currently have and want to know more about the characteristics and care, then we will tell you more about each skin condition and its care in our next posts.
