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SKINCARE DECODED • 20 BASICS 101 • 21

Skin Types

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our skin most likely falls into one of the three

main categories below. In actuality, most people

will cover the entire spectrum of skin types in their

lifetimes. Skin changes because of changes in lifestyle,

climate, stress, hormones, aging—basically, life! While

the thought of micromanaging your routine through these changes may sound

daunting, you may only need a couple of minor adjustments to your routine to

keep up with your skin’s changes and get it back on track.

But first, a very important question: What skin type do you have?

Dry Skin (scientific term: xerosis)

Think tightness, flaking, roughness, itchiness, and an overall lack of pliability.

It’s simply because there’s a lack of fluids in your skin. In science terms, this

happens when there’s a disruption of the fatty lipid matrix in the stratum

corneum—causing water to evaporate out of your skin at a faster-than-normal

rate. This kicks off a cascade of unfortunate events. Skin can become thicker

(and not in a good, plump, collagen-full kind of way) as the process of sloughing

off dead corneocyte cells slows down. This slowdown leads to that undesirable,

rough, uneven texture and dull appearance. Unfortunately, skin tends to

become dryer and dryer as you age. But not to fear! As chemists, the core of our

job is to make moisturizers that can tackle this problem. We gotchu, fam!

Key Traits

Characteristics Skin feels tight, dry, and flaky, has a rough texture, and may

even feel itchy.

Pros Minimal acne and blackheads, and you can get layer-happy with your routine

if you want to.

Cons Flakiness, uneven texture, fine lines, and wrinkles. These issues are often

exacerbated by several factors: the climate you live in, plane rides with close to

zero moisture, seasonal changes, and aging!