How To Build A Skincare Regime Around Your Unique Skin Type

Mukti, an eco-activist, green cosmetic chemist and founder of organic skincare brand Mukti Organics, shares tips on how to care for each skin type in this extract from her new book, Truth in Beauty.

Your skin is an active metabolic organ.

Skin problems usually manifest due to underlying issues ranging from a buildup of toxins in the blood, inflammation, hormonal imbalances, dehydration and lack of physical activity, as well as environment, climate, smoking and stress.

Achieving beautiful skin necessitates a holistic approach that combines internal and external nourishment. Cellular reproduction and skin repair rely on a balanced intake of essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids obtained through a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Merely applying topical products while neglecting nutrition, sleep, and overall health won’t lead to great skin. There’s no “miracle in a jar”.

Optimal results and the preservation of youthful skin depend on a comprehensive, lifestyle-oriented strategy.

To embark on this journey, it’s vital to understand your unique canvas. Distinguishing between skin types, conditions, and complexions can be perplexing, and your skin’s needs may fluctuate in response to environmental, seasonal, and hormonal variables.

To simplify this process and guide you in selecting the right products and regimen for your skin, the following guidelines have been crafted. These insights are designed to help you achieve radiant, glowing skin.

Skin types

Your skin type is part of your inherent makeup. It will effectively stay consistent throughout your life.

It’s determined by the amount of oil your skin produces. You can experience more than one skin type or condition at any given time, which makes self-diagnosing challenging. For example, an oily skin type may experience dehydration, or a dry skin type may have an oily T-zone and normal cheeks.

Incorrect or excessive product usage, as well as your diet and other extrinsic factors, can affect how your skin type behaves.

If you’re not sure after analysing the checklist, then have your skin type verified by a qualified professional — dermatologist, skin therapist, or aesthetician.

Sensitive skin

Many individuals often believe they have sensitive skin, but in reality, what they may be experiencing is sensitised skin.

Naturally sensitive skin is an inherent trait and can be found in various skin complexions; not limited to light skin tones, even individuals with darker skin can have naturally sensitive skin.

On the other hand, sensitised skin is typically a consequence of environmental factors and the way the skin is cared for.

If you perceive your skin as sensitive and tend to react to mainstream cosmetic products, it’s worth considering that your skin itself might not be the problem; rather, it could be how you are exposing it to certain substances and treatments that is causing the sensitivity.

Characteristics

Maintenance

Normal skin

The least problematic of all skin types. You have occasional hormonal breakouts without excessively oily or dry areas.

Your skin is supple, balanced, and has good circulation with a normal temperature.

Characteristics

Maintenance

This skin type has no major concerns. Maintenance is important to keep the complexion radiant and healthy.

Dry skin

You may experience occasional flaking of your skin. There are no oily areas, and the skin often feels taut and tight.

You’re more prone to develop wrinkles and fine lines, have enlarged pores, and your skin can irritate easily.

Characteristics

Causes

Maintenance

Oily skin

Oily skin tends to be a hereditary condition that develops due to overactive oil glands. If you hold a tissue to your face when you wake up, you’ll be able to see an oily residue from your nose, forehead, and chin.

Oily skin is usually the most abused of all skin types as there’s a tendency to be overzealous with harsh acids or highly alkaline products that dry your skin out and interfere with the natural oil balance.

When this happens, the surface of the skin becomes irritated, and the pores constricted. Oil and other skin debris can plug up the pores and form open or closed comedones (blackheads).

If the follicle walls are weakened, the contents may then leak through to the dermis, leading to secondary infections and an inflammatory reaction that results in the formation of pustules and pimples. If oily skin is continually depleted of its natural oils, it will produce more sebum.

While this type of skin is more challenging to deal with, particularly in teenage years, the upside is that as you age, your skin remains youthful longer and is less prone to wrinkling.

Characteristics

Causes

Maintenance

Edited extract from Truth in Beauty by Mukti (Mukti Organics, $89). Available on pre-order from today, April 24, from Muktiorganics.com, and in all good bookstores from April 29.

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