Skin care steps for your skin type

Basic skincare steps for different skin types.
Knowing your skin type is the first step to taking care of your skin.

Yumi Narasaki

Renowned Beauty Writer

Moisturisation is the foundation to an effective basic skincare regime, regardless of your skin type. As we look into the varying needs of the different skin types, it is essential that you know and understand your own skin condition. This will help you apply the most appropriate skin care method for your skin to achieve naturally beautiful and clear skin.

What is my skin type? Find out by checking the boxes that apply to you.

My skin tends to feel dry and flaky and is prone to dryness
My makeup does not set well on my skin and often appears cakey
I am concerned about fine wrinkles

I am concerned about stickiness and greasiness on my skin
My makeup smears easily and does not stay on well
I am bothered by visible pores and blackheads

I have an oily T-zone but my cheek areas are dry
I am concerned about dry and rough skin
I am concerned about visible open pores

For those with more ‘A’ answers
→Your skin type is: Dry skin

Lower amounts of sebum and a lack of moisture cause skin to become dry. Essentially, the reduction of intercellular lipids like sebum and ceramide that control barrier function and the skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF), means that dry skin will become drier when in dry environmental conditions. With the deterioration in the skin’s barrier function, the skin’s protective mechanism is not as effective in preventing external pollutants and ultraviolet (UV) rays from penetrating deep into the skin layers to cause rough skin and other related skin problems. Those with dry skin are also more susceptible to seasonal stress, or sensitivities experienced during the chasing of seasons.

Check out our recommended skincare routine for dry skin here.

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For those with more ‘B’ answers →Your skin type is: Oily skin

Oily skin is characterized by excessive sebum secretion, causing the skin to be sticky or greasy. Individuals with this skin type can attribute it to genetic influence, but it is also a common occurrence among those undergoing puberty, in their adolescence and early adulthood. Another cause of oily skin is the oxidation of the excessive sebum secretion by UV rays. This thickens the stratum corneum (or skin’s outermost layer) and leads to visible pores, blackheads, dull skin, dark spots, and other skin issues.

For those with more ‘C’ answers →Your skin type is: Combination skin

As the skin type suggests, the condition is mixed since the T-zone area is oily and sticky while the cheek areas are dry and flaky. The main characteristic of combination skin is an excessive amount of sebum but insufficient moisture content. One possible explanation for how this skin type came about is that the skin could have originally been dry or oily, but became a combination type with age.

If you have dry skin, our recommendation is:

Moisturise your dry skin liberally and gently to recharge skin.

Dry skin requires lots of moisture – but not all at once! We recommend that you apply an appropriate amount of a milky lotion or cream each time, but spread across a few applications, as needed. The moisturisation helps to prevent dryness and retains the skin’s moisture to protect your skin. However, should your skin still feel dry, use a richer cream for more effective moisturisation.

Applying a milky lotion priming base will help your makeup set nicely without looking cakey. It will also improve the texture of your skin such that pores are minimised and your skin looks smoother.

Since dry skin tends to be more sensitive to the physical touch, be mindful to use a gentler pressure during your skincare routine to protect the skin.

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If you have oily skin, our recommendation is:

Moisturise minimally but consistently with oil-based products.

During cleansing, use an adequate amount of cleansing cream so that you can remove facial grime with gentle washing and not have to rub excessively. After washing, remember to moisturise with milk lotion– its oil content will help to retain the moisture in your skin, keeping it fresh. Choose a lighter, more refreshing lotion if you do not like the stickiness that a heavy cream sometimes causes. For areas that are more prone to oiliness, reduce the amount of lotion applied onto those areas during your morning skincare routine. Remember that it is essential to moisturise in small amounts, every morning and nightly.

Those with oily skin will experience excessive sebum production, which causes dull skin and fine wrinkles. To remove stickiness and/or shine, use a cleansing or wiping lotion before you proceed to moisturisation care.

If you have combination skin, our recommendation is:

Adapting the skincare method to address your skin type!

It is important to recognize that the amount of moisturisation from lotions versus creams differ and its effectiveness is dependent on the skin condition. The other critical point is that you shouldn’t avoid moisturising just because you dislike the oily or sticky feeling after applying lotion as this avoidance will create a gap between the needs of the drier and oilier parts of your skin. Areas of the face that tends to feel dry include the eye area, cheeks, and facial lines and contours. Applying moisture care will help maintain oil balance and overall hydration.

When washing your face, use a cleansing foam and start from the oilier T-zone area before proceeding to the other areas. By using this washing method, the cleansing foam will be in contact with the drier areas for a shorter time period.

In the day, use tissue to gently blot the shiny areas of your skin. Follow with a mist lotion to boost moisturisation before you re-touch your makeup. These easy steps not only cleanses and refreshes the skin, but also maintains its clarity since oxidized sebum is known to cause skin dullness.

A word of advice

Is your skin’s oiliness or stickiness the result of excessive sebum or dryness?

Those with oily or combination skin types may be hesitant to use moisturising lotions or oils since stickiness is already an issue. That said, it becomes a vicious cycle if you avoid moisturising because the body will produce more sebum as a protective mechanism to replenish the moisture that is lost, as part of a shield effect for the skin. Hence, after using a toner or skin lotion, apply a small amount of a light textured moisturising lotion or cream to shield your skin.