Understanding your skin type should be straightforward, right? Unfortunately, it's often more complicated than that. Your skin type dictates everything from your cleanser to your moisturizer, yet many people are unsure of their own. Dr. Maryann Mikhail, MD of Spring Street Dermatology, emphasizes the importance of knowing your skin type, as using the wrong products can yield unintended results. So, let's demystify seven common skin types with Dr. Mikhail's expert guidance.

Dry Skin

If your skin often feels tight, flaky, or uncomfortable, you likely have dry skin. Dr. Mikhail suggests assessing how your skin feels in the morning—flakiness or tightness upon waking indicates dryness. While dry skin may result in fewer breakouts, it requires extra hydration. Dryness can be exacerbated by factors like harsh cleansers, fragrances, or cold weather. Treat your skin with nourishing products to combat dryness effectively.

Morning Routine
Start your day with a moisturizing cleanser containing ingredients like aloe, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid. Follow with a hydrating serum or essence and seal in moisture with a rich moisturizer.

Evening Routine
Cleanse with an oil-based cleanser to remove impurities without stripping moisture. Then, apply a hyaluronic acid serum and layer on a heavy moisturizer. Alternatively, opt for a lightweight lotion followed by a facial oil to lock in hydration.

Additional Care
Keep a facial mist handy for instant hydration and use oils or balms as needed to maintain moisture throughout the day.

 

Oily Skin

If you've ever noticed a greasy film on your cell phone after a call or find your skin getting progressively shinier throughout the day, you likely have oily skin. Dr. Mikhail notes that oily skin is prone to clogged pores, breakouts, and enlarged pores. While oily skin doesn't require heavy moisturization, it does benefit from a strong cleanser to control oil production and prevent pore congestion. The upside? Oily skin tends to age well, with wrinkles appearing later in life.

Morning Routine
Start your day with a cleanser containing clay or salicylic acid to cut through overnight oil production. Follow with a balancing serum featuring ingredients like niacinamide or tea tree oil to regulate oil production and prevent pore blockage. For extremely oily skin, hyaluronic acid may suffice as a moisturizer. Otherwise, opt for a lightweight water gel moisturizer.

Evening Routine
Double cleanse with an oil cleanser followed by your morning cleanser to thoroughly remove dirt and oil. Tone with witch hazel or a liquid salicylic exfoliant to refine pores, then apply a water gel cream for hydration.

Additional Care
Use a clay mask once a week to absorb excess oil without overdrying. Look for masks with added hydration to prevent rebound oiliness.

 

Combination Skin

Combination skin is like the mullet of skincare—business in the T-zone, party on the cheeks. Dr. Mikhail explains that this skin type can be oily in some areas and dry in others, often exacerbated by products or weather changes. Typically, the T-zone is oilier, while the cheeks are drier. However, things get tricky with seasonal shifts—thicker creams in winter can lead to oilier T-zones, while lighter products in summer may leave the rest of the face dehydrated. Keep an eye on how your skin reacts to changing conditions.

Morning Routine
Opt for a gel or lotion-based cleanser, ensuring it's buffered with moisturizing ingredients to prevent dryness. Follow with hyaluronic serum on dry areas and a lightweight water gel moisturizer all over.

Evening Routine
Cleanse with your morning cleanser, then tone with witch hazel or liquid salicylic acid on oily areas. Apply hyaluronic acid to dry zones, followed by a water gel cream.

Additional Care
Use a clay mask once a week on oily areas, employing the multi-mask technique as needed to address specific concerns.

 

Breakout-Prone Skin

Spotting breakout-prone skin is a breeze—hello, blackheads, whiteheads, and those pesky cysts. But here's the twist: it's not always oily. Dr. Mikhail points out that dry skin types can also be breakout-prone due to hormonal shifts, especially around that time of the month. So, whether your skin leans oily or dry, it's all about balance.

Morning Routine
Choose a cleanser based on your skin's needs, then follow with a liquid salicylic acid to clear pores. Target zits with a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment and finish with a moisturizer tailored to your skin type.

Evening Routine
Double cleanse with an oil wash and your chosen cleanser. For intense breakouts, apply a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide treatment before moisturizing.

Additional Care
Keep pimple patches handy for emergencies, and consider sulfur masks for weekly use. Azelaic acid can also help shrink pimples and prevent dark marks.

 

Sensitive and Reactive Skin

If your skin is prone to redness, bumps, scaling, itching, or burning, you might have sensitive and reactive skin. Dr. Mikhail suggests these symptoms can be triggered by contact allergies or even an underlying condition like rosacea. Does your skin react to environmental factors like stress, sun exposure, caffeine, or spicy foods? If so, rosacea could be the culprit. It's essential to consult a dermatologist if your skin appears reactive. Even if it's just sensitive, steer clear of fragrances and harsh chemicals.

Morning Routine
Cleanse with a milk or cream cleanser, opting for fragrance-free products. Skip serums and opt for a minimal routine. Hydrate with a moisturizer containing calming ingredients like green tea or ceramides to strengthen your skin's natural barrier.

Night Routine
Stick to your morning routine for cleansing and moisturizing. Avoid introducing too many new ingredients to your routine.

Additional Care
Consider adding a calming serum to strengthen your skin and prevent irritability. A cold, wet washcloth can also provide instant relief when needed.

 

Resilient Skin

If your skin falls under the category of "fine, totally fine, thanks for asking," then welcome to the world of resilient skin. Dr. Mikhail describes it as "normal skin," typically neither oily nor dry, and able to tolerate various products without reaction or irritation. Resilient skin heals quickly from any irritation or inflammation and experiences rare breakouts that come and go quickly.

Morning Routine
Cleanse with your preferred product, followed by a serum tailored to your skin's needs. Whether you're aiming for brighter skin with vitamin C or smoother texture with alpha hydroxy acids, the choice is yours. Finish with your preferred moisturizer.

Night Routine
Repeat your morning routine by cleansing and moisturizing with the same products. Feel free to add an essence or serum if desired.

Additional Care
With resilient skin, you have the freedom to experiment with different products like face mists, sheet masks, and peels, allowing you to tailor your skincare routine to your preferences.

 

Mature Skin

As we age, our skin undergoes changes characterized by increased dryness, sun spots, fine lines, and laxity, explains Dr. Mikhail. These signs can be exacerbated by factors like sun exposure and smoking. Even younger individuals can experience "mature" skin if they exhibit certain signs such as fine lines at rest, persistent sun spots, or broken blood vessels, all of which warrant a discussion with a dermatologist.

Morning Routine
Start your day with a gentle lotion-based cleanser, followed by a targeted serum containing peptides, hyaluronic acid, or antioxidants to address specific concerns like plumping fine lines or boosting hydration. Seal in moisture with a medium-to-thick moisturizer.

Night Routine
Cleanse your skin and apply a retinol product, known for its anti-aging properties. Follow up with your morning moisturizer and consider adding an oil for extra hydration.

Additional Care
Incorporate monthly acid peels to reduce dark marks and rejuvenate the skin. Treat yourself to weekly moisturizing masks to replenish lost hydration and revitalize your complexion. Experiment with these treatments to find what works best for you.

 

What If: LED therapy emerged as the universal solution for every skin type?

 

1. Dry and Sensitive Skin: LED therapy offers gentle yet effective relief for dry, sensitive skin by promoting hydration and soothing inflammation. The calming effects of LED light can alleviate redness, irritation, and discomfort, restoring balance to the skin's barrier function and enhancing moisture retention.

2. Oily and Breakout-Prone Skin: For those struggling with excess oil production and frequent breakouts, LED therapy provides a targeted approach to combatting acne and regulating sebum production. The antibacterial properties of certain LED wavelengths help eliminate acne-causing bacteria, while reducing inflammation and preventing future breakouts.

3. Combination Skin: Combination skin presents a unique challenge, with oily and dry areas requiring different treatment approaches. LED therapy offers a customizable solution by addressing specific concerns in each zone. By balancing oil production in the T-zone and replenishing moisture in drier areas, LED devices help harmonize the skin's overall complexion.

4. Mature Skin: As skin matures, it undergoes changes such as decreased collagen production, fine lines, and age spots. LED therapy supports skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen synthesis, improving elasticity, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation. Regular use of LED devices can promote a more youthful complexion and enhance skin firmness and radiance.

 

Incorporating LED Therapy into your routine

Integrating LED therapy into your skincare regimen is simple and convenient. With at-home LED devices like the Luma Aesthetics LED Wand, you can experience the benefits of professional-grade treatment from the comfort of your own home. Incorporate LED therapy into your daily or weekly routine to optimize results and maintain healthy, glowing skin year-round.