Know Your Skin Type

Why is it so important to know your skin type?

Skincare aficionados are aware of how to choose the correct performance ingredients to achieve their best complexion possible for their skin. These choices are primarily based on skin type. If you know your skin type then you have a better chance at choosing formulations that work for your skin.

Let's look at cleansers:

Cleansers are important for removing dirt, makeup and pollution that you've come in contact with during the day. Cleansers have ingredients called surfactants that break apart these substances. But, if the surfactant is too strong for your skin type you will become dry, flakey and dehydrated. Your skin will feel tight and often look dull, sometimes it will get red and become sensitive. On the other hand a mismatched cleanser that was formulated for dry skin may contain too many emollients and this can lead to blocked pores, and even breakouts.

The right toner is important too:

Toners are great for not only removing cleanser left on your skin and preparing your skin for treatment products to follow but depending on the other ingredients in the formula they can remove excess oil, calm or hydrate your skin. Those with dry, sensitive skin need to choose formulas that contain soothing botanicals (like chamomile) and hydrating ingredients like natural moisturizing factors. If you have acne you might want salicylic acid in the ingredient deck. But, salicylic on a dry or sensitive skin is going to aggravate these conditions.

Moisturizers for dry Vs dehydrated skin:

Moisturizers do just that... they moisturize, but that doesn't mean you should willy nilly pick any moisturizing product for your skin. You need to assess how much oil you're producing. This determines whether you need emollients in your moisturizer. Emollients are ingredients like shea butter that add a layer to protect dry skin and promote healing. But say, you're producing a little bit of oil but you still feel dry. You may be dehydrated which is lacking water in your skin cells. Then you need humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin in your moisturizer. Usually your skin is somewhere in-between. That's why we create so many different options. Additional ingredients may be there to address other needs for your skin, but the main benefit of moisturizer is to moisturize.

Exfoliants remove dull, dry cells leaving visible fresh skin:

When it comes to a scrub consider the size and number of scrubby particles in the product.

This should correlate to skin thickness. Thinner skins have small pores and are translucent. That means you can often see capillaries under the skin. Thicker skins have large pores, are less transparent and less sensitive and may produce more oil. In either case you should find a scrub with smooth surfaced particles that won't scratch or injure the skin. Some skin's are too thin and sensitive to use any scrub at all. Skin type also determines how often one should use their scrub. Thick skin - three times a week. Normal thickness - twice a week. Thin skin - once a week with smaller particles. If your skin is very thin or delicate you may skip the scrub altogether, or you might choose an enzyme based exfoliant that contains no particles at all.

Exfoliating Acids should be your mainstay products for regular exfoliation. The acids you choose are also determined by skin type. Very sensitive, thin skin or rosacea prone skin should maybe stay away from alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) as they may be too irritating. Choose instead azuleic acid. You may need to use this only once or twice a week. Dry, mature skin might look for an AHA with lactic acid as it's performance ingredient. Lactic Acid is very hydrating and good for brightening the skin along with exfoliating it. This should be done twice a week for most skins. The majority of clients are looking for a cocktail of alpha hydroxy acids as this combined formulation is most effective. My go to choice includes glycolic, mandalic and lactic acid - all in a time released formulation that reduces any irritation. If you have blocked pores like blackheads and whiteheads go straight to a glycolic acid serum. Glycolic has the smallest molecules which allows it to travel deeper into the pores to break up clogging dead cells. Then, if you have acne you should look for exfoliating serums that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic is oil soluble so it is able to dissolve any oil it mixes with and has an antibacterial effect.Whether you use these exfoliating acids 1, 2, or 3x's a week depends on your skin thickness and sensitivity level.

Specialty Serums (the heavy hitters):

Specialty serums are just that, serums that address certain needs of your skin. There are two classes of specialty serums. Hydration serums based on hyaluronic acid with additional performance ingredients in the formula; And repair serums that address problems like discoloration, loss of tone, fine lines, sensitivity and environmental damage.

Hyaluronic Acid Based Serums

• HYDRAESSENCE

  This gentle, oil free, aloe based serum is the perfect hydrator for younger, oily or sensitive skins. The large molecule of HA is non-irritating and great for superficial dehydration.

• DRENCH

  This serum has three different weights of HA molecules. That mean this potent hydrator goes deeper into skin to bring it's super hydrating performance ingredients to rehydrate mature skin.

• BRIGHTENING PEPTIDE SERUM

  This hydration serum has botanical brighteners that effectively interfere with the enzyme responsible for unwanted production of darker spots on the skin.

• STEM STIM

  This super hydration serum also contains growth factors whose molecules have been clinically shown to stimulate reparative molecules in the skin.

Night Repair Specialty Serums

• AGELESS LONGEVITY SERUM

  For maturing skin in need of environmental repair; focusing on external causes like poor diet, sun exposure or blue light. This serum maximizes architectural peptides to build collagen.

• PEPTIDE FIRMING SERUM

  Multi-peptides in a light weight serum for hydration and collagen building. A great preventative serum.

• REVITALIZE CELL THERAPY

  This super serum focuses on intrinsic aging; primarily the loss of cellular energy required to repair and rejuvenate the skin. This much needed energy normally decreases over time.

• ZEN ZONE CALMING SERUM

  This wonderfully soothing serum cools, calms, balances and brightens sensitive skin. It’s highly effective in the treatment for redness and other rosacea like skin conditions.

So as you can see. It's really important to know your skin type. This will enable you to make the best choices for your best complexion possible. Find out more about skin types with this super helpful Skin Types Page.

Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. LONGEVITY is a science - based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.