How to Choose the Right Cosmeceutical Skincare Products for Your Skin Type

People seem to forget that a simple act of taking care of your skin is also part of self-care. Performing an action is one thing but knowing how to do it properly is another. So let’s dive deeper into how you can better take care of yourself: Cosmeceutical Skincare Product edition.

For a deeper knowledge, the word cosmeceutical is a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It aims to enhance the appearance of medically-approved drugs that are designated for specific skin conditions. Therefore, cosmeceutical skincare products have a higher percentage of active ingredients that penetrate deeper through the skin, making them more beneficial than regular skin care products- the best example is vitamin C– which commonly can be taken as a pill supplement but when added to a moisturiser, it becomes cosmeceutical.

Understanding Your Skin Type

Your skin type is largely the result of genetics but the amount of sebum (oil) your skin generates is also a huge determinant of your skin type with a combination of your age, humidity, stress, and fluctuating hormones. Moreover, it could also change over time as our physical body levels as we age. You could have an oily face in your teenage years and then suddenly have dry skin in your 30s.

Normal Skin

Normal skin is the balance of oil and moisture in the skin, the exact opposite of combination skin. It is commonly defined as having hydrated skin that has a smooth texture, fine pores, and minimal blemishes.

Look for products that have the ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, glycolic, or lactic acid, and retinol.

Oily Skin

The overproduction of sebum from the skin’s sebaceous glands is the result of oily skin. It is easy to distinguish if you have oily skin as your face would appear shiny and feel greasy in your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Having this skin type would also lead to having large pores and blackheads.

Look for products that have the ingredients: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, zinc, aloe vera, clay, and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).

Dry Skin

Meanwhile, dry skin looks tight in appearance; it may also be itchy or have burning sensations. Having dry skin is an indicator that the skin is dehydrated which has resulted in it being dry; then the possibility of it being flaky would arise- some call this the “snake skin”. It is also important to note that eczema thrives in an atmosphere that is conducive to dry skin, especially when it appears as pityriasis alba (dry patches).

Look for products that have the ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide.

Combination Skin

If you have combination skin, then certain parts of your face are more oily while some will be more dry. As mentioned earlier, the key indicator of oily skin is when the T-zone is shiny and greasy with a combination of having drier spots in the cheeks.

Look for products that have the ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, and lactic acid.

Sensitive Skin

When your skin is more reactive and prone to irritation, then you may have sensitive skin. When exposed to a trigger, the skin may respond with a rash that is red, dry, flaky, and bumpy- similar to dry skin as these skin types may go hand in hand. The key difference is the reaction to external stimuli.

Look for products that have the ingredients: ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic, lactic acid, and polyhydroxy acid (PHA).

There is no single, universal method for achieving radiant-looking skin, but knowing what your skin type is and tailoring the right products and routine could be a path to attaining it. If there is still hesitation or doubt, consulting a qualified skincare professional or dermatologist is highly recommended so you can be given more accurate advice on what to take. Happy self-care!