computers and complex questionnaires, not to mention well-versed salespeople who seem to
decipher your unique skin needs at first glance. The skin care industry tries to convince us of two
things: (1) there is one ideal skin type, and that’s a “normal” skin: flawless, dewy, wrinkle-free, like
the one you had when you were six years old; and (2) none of us have it. Of course, the sales pitch
continues, we can correct our imperfect skin if we buy the right products.
Let’s take a minute to challenge this concept. There’s no such thing as one “perfect” skin type. Our
skin undergoes constant changes. It can be drier at the end of the day, yet shine like a disco ball by
midday, and all this is the perfectly normal way our skin functions. When we are at peak condition,
our endocrine glands command sebum glands to produce more oil, but as we are getting tired and
ready to go to sleep, our body systems, including the sebum glands, slow down and take a break. As a
result, it’s almost impossible to define our skin type once and for all. Here are the main reasons you
should stop being guided by a skin type and start choosing cosmetic products based on your skin’s
unique needs.
The climate and environment we live in have a great impact on our skin. If you live in Toronto
with its breathtaking winter winds and humid, hot summers, you will have different skin care
concerns than a person living in the hot, dry air of Los Angeles, even if you are both labeled as
combination-dry skin types.
Women tend to overachieve when it comes to skin care. We think that if we use a cupful of
cleanser, followed by another cupful of a toner, and then cover our face with a thick layer of cream,
we will stay young forever. As a result, we use too many cleansers, toners, scrubs, chemical
exfoliants, and acidic “rejuvenation” serums. Our skin is overloaded with various chemicals that are
busy interacting with each other rather than keeping our skin youthful and clear. Strong chemicals or
concentrated essential oils can trigger allergies, while heavy moisturizers can aggravate breakouts.
Your current skin care routine can create more problems than it’s trying to solve.
Gender matters in skin care, too. Men’s skin is thicker, more rigid, and less fragile. Thanks to a
different hormonal constitution, men’s skin is less prone to premature aging but can develop acne
more easily. Also, the oily skin of a woman who uses ten products every morning will be
dramatically different from the oily skin of her partner who uses two products: a shaving gel and an
aftershave lotion.
Health problems, such as allergies, digestive problems, thyroid disorders, and polycystic ovary
syndrome greatly influence the skin’s condition. Hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle
can make a woman’s skin drip oil one day and feel taut and dry the next.
Identifying your skin type is a very subjective issue. Most women think they have oily or
combination-oily skin just because their face develops a bit of a shine by the end of the day. We get
one blemish and we instantly label our skin as acne-prone. We notice a tiny wrinkle at the corner of
the eye, and we rush to buy the newest, most expensive antiaging serum for dry, mature skin types.
Skin problems take time to reach the surface, so the skin that you see in the mirror today
won’t be the same tomorrow. Signs of sun damage may not become visible until you are forty, yet
sun protection is vital for everyone. Dry skin doesn’t happen overnight: it takes weeks if not months
of skipping moisturizers, worrying too much, smoking, tanning, and drinking more bubbly than water.
Acne blemishes also need weeks to reach the skin’s surface. It takes consistent, diligent efforts to
handle skin dryness and acne, and treating only what you can see (dry patches, tightness, flakiness,
pimples) worsens your skin’s condition. What you see on your skin’s surface should not dictate what