The ever-growing beauty industry has given rise to innumerable products on the shelf to choose from and with multiple options comes doubt and anxiety. 

If you are a beginner in skincare, you have high chances of getting confused as to which products will treat your skin issues! Well, there are many skincare products available in the market for many skin issues and here is where we usually find ourselves more confused!

Before deciding to purchase a skincare product to treat a certain skin issue you are facing, it is very important to know your SKIN TYPE and whether the skincare product will suit your SKIN TYPE! 

What skin type am I? Which products should I be using? These are some of the many common questions. Well, today let’s find out the answers to these queries!

Know your skin type!

The trick about caring for your skin and getting great results is knowing about your skin. Broadly there are 5 different skin types- sensitive, oily, dry, combination, and normal. 

Even though recently with the introduction of the Baumann Skin Typing System, the categories are defined on four independent spectrums-

1. Dry to oily
2. Sensitive to resistant
3. Pigmented to non-pigmented
4. Wrinkled to tight

The interconnection of these four categories, further results in a 16 skin type classification, however considering how the beauty industry has to still catch up with the new and advanced system we will stick to our classic five skin types.

Is my skin type dry?

A normal skin type consists of an adequate amount of sebum, an oily substance produced by our body. It coats and moisturizes the skin. Due to lack of sebum, our skin lacks the ability to trap moisture and build a protective layer around the skin.

Symptoms of dry skin are - 

Flakiness

Sensitivity

Itchiness and cracks

However, it is important for us to know the difference between dry and dehydrated skin.  Dehydrated skin is a condition (not a type) that occurs when the skin lacks water. Dehydrated skin is an issue faced by oily skin and combination skin too! Dehydrated skin looks dull and flaky. It is accompanied by darker under eyes and wrinkled skin.

To differentiate between the both you can take the PINCH TEST:

1. Pinch a small amount of skin on your cheek, abdomen, chest, or the back of your hand and hold for a few seconds.
2. If your skin snaps back, your skin is likely not to be dehydrated.
3. If it takes a few moments to bounce back, your skin is likely to be dehydrated.
4. Repeat in other areas if you’d like to check dehydrated skin.

Now getting back to dry skin, the dryness usually differs from person to person which further categorizes the skin type into three types- dry skin, very dry skin, and extremely dry skin. The latter is usually found in the elder ones and might also be much of your worries if you are facing it too! To help fix the former two skin types you can do the following:

• MOISTURIZE

Moisturizing is a huge saviour for the dry skin folks. It is a great way to combat dry skin if you moisturize at least twice a day with a product specially tailored for your skin. 

• Avoid using harsh soaps and products

It is highly important for you to stay away from harsh ingredients which can trigger more issues to your dry skin. It is advisable not to use skincare products with artificial fragrance.

• Shea butter

Shea Butter is a great moisturizer for dry and dehydrated skin. 

• Oils 

Nut seed oils like almond, coconut, and hemp, plant oils like jojoba, rosehip, and tea tree essential oil (needs to be mixed in a carrier oil) are great for dry skin.

And don't you worry, Qurez has got you covered. We have two skin oils 'Bakuchiol & JoRo oil' formulated with pure and organic oils to keep your skin healthy and nourished!

Is my skin type oily?

An oily skin type is said to produce high amounts of sebum. This results in the skin having a shiny, greasy appearance. Anyone with oily skin finds it hard to retain makeup products on their face. 

Symptoms of oily skin are:

• Large pores
• Thicker skin
• Prone to acne

Oily skin type is usually caused due to the above mentioned large pores as they produce larger amounts of sebum. Oily skin brings with it some acne breakouts which results in an added set of problems. 

Here is how you can deal with oily skin: 

• Avoid heavy oils!

Your body is already providing you enough of them, hence limit the use of products with highly comedogenic oils. Also, while oiling your hair try to protect your skin against any oil contact.

• Go for products labelled as non-comedogenic

Comedogenic cosmetics result in clogged pores & skin irritation and that is a big no for an already acne-philic skin. So go for the ones labelled as non-comedogenic. 

• Lightweight moisturizers

Despite the excess of sebum production our skin still needs moisturization, hence it is better for you to inch towards lightweight moisturizers or try the ones which have lighter oils which won’t be heavy on your skin. 

Still hunting for a lightweight moisturizer? At Qurez, we have formulated a Hydrating Moisturizer with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid which is lightweight and non-comedogenic. 

• Clay masks and exfoliants 

Exfoliating your skin and using clay masks twice a week will help you control that greasiness on your skin. Exfoliation will help in getting rid of the dirt and grime stuck in your skin pores and a clay mask will help in absorbing excess sebum which will result in less acne breakouts!

And guess what! You don't have to invest in a scrub and a mask separately as Qurez has a formulation ' Activated Charcoal Scrub Mask' which acts as a scrub and mask, too!

• Don’t over-wash your wash!

Even though a person with oily skin is recommended to wash more frequently, over-washing might dry out your pores resulting in the overproduction of sebum all over again. Cleansing two times a day is just alright!

Is my skin type combination?

Before we jump into combination skin, let’s learn what the T-zone is!
The T-zone refers to the area of your forehead, chin, and nose. This area consists of the most oil-secreting glands. Combination skin is usually characterized by an oily T-zone and normal or dry cheeks. 

The symptoms of combination skin are;

• More breakouts around the T-zone
• Dry and sensitive cheeks
• Enlarged pores around the T-zone

People with combination skin usually find it difficult to figure out their skin type. But the industry is shifting its focus towards this skin type and it has been formulating skincare products to suit their skin needs!

Here is how you can deal with combination skin:

• Gentle exfoliation

It is advisable for you to limit your exfoliation considering you have an oily
T-zone and hence enlarged pores. Try using gentle exfoliators, like the Qurez Activated Charcoal Scrub Mask which helps you in exfoliating your skin gently without doing any harm.

• Lightweight products and Sunscreen

Using an oil-free or lightweight sunscreen is a must. So is keeping your distance away from heavy or highly comedogenic oil-based products.

Is my skin type normal?

Normal skin type is neither oily nor dry. It is neither prone to breakouts nor does it react severely towards new products. Normal skin is well balanced. The scientific term for the same is eudermic. 

Symptoms of normal skin are:

• Slightly oily to not oily T-zone
• Normal-sized pores
• Good blood circulation
• Smooth skin

Normal skin might look like it doesn’t need much care or attention but that doesn’t mean we completely disregard it. Normal skin tends to get drier with age. 

Here is how you can keep your normal skin rejuvenated and healthy:

• Stay hydrated

Hydration is key despite having a healthy skin. Dehydration may occur resulting in dryness otherwise.

• Moisturize

Moisturize your skin to limit aging and wrinkling in the future.

• Keep your skin clean

Wash your face regularly and immediately after makeup to prevent a reaction. 

Is my skin type sensitive?

Sensitive skin is prone to a lot of reactions and is very hard to handle. Trying multiple products and figuring out what suits your skin might seem like an endless hassle but it is a fruitful one. 

Symptoms of sensitive skin are:

• Becomes oily in summer, dry in winter 
• Flushes easily
• Frequent rashes 
• Negative reaction to fragrances

Another point to note here is that allergies are different from sensitive skin. Allergies are a bad reaction to specific substances whereas sensitive skin is reactive to mostly all of the beauty products.

Here is how you can tackle your sensitive skin:

• Do a patch test

Patch tests are highly important for people with sensitive skin, applying the product on your hand and waiting for 24 hours before you proceed helps prevent a lot of disasters.

• Avoid products with artificial fragrance

Products with artificial fragrances are a hotbed of reactions. Keep your distance away from such products!

• Hypoallergenic is not your friend

Not every product labelled hypoallergenic is your friend. Do a patch test regardless.

• Make your skincare routine gentle

Keep harsh products away and test every single thing before you start using them in your skincare routine. Seek products that are calming and anti-inflammatory.

Regardless of what your skin type is, remember to keep it healthy. 
We are not striving for perfect skin but a healthy one.

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