How to Identify Your Skin Type and Tone

When the sun comes out to play at the beginning of spring, you will notice the way your skin reacts. Do you tend to get sunburns easily, or just tan? It’s helpful to find out your skin’s exact tone to find out just how much sun you can soak up before you put yourself at risk for sun damage.

It’s also important to identify your skin type- whether it’s oily, dry, combination, or somewhere in-between- in order to understand which skincare products and procedures are safe for you. It also provides a great reference for picking out the best products to ensure your skin looks and feels its healthiest.

What is Your Skin Tone?

Dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale to identify skin tones. The scale was created in 1975 by Harvard dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick, who found a direct correlation between a person’s skin color and how the skin responds to UV light. Which of the following best describes the way your skin typically reacts to the sun?

Type I  Always burns, never tans

Type II  Usually burns, then tans

Type III  Sometimes burn, tans well

Type IV  Rarely burns, tans well

Type V  Rarely burns, tans well, brown skin

Type VI  Very rarely burns, tans very well, very dark

What Determines Your Skin Tone?

It all comes down to pigments. Pigments are responsible for all of the different skin colors in the world. One of those pigments; melanin, is like a natural sunblock, protecting you from damaging UV rays. The more melanin your skin contains, the darker your natural skin color will be. This means that those with naturally darker skin are less prone to burns, whereas fair-skinned people tend to burn easily.

Choosing the Right Products for Your Skin Tone

If you fall on the lighter end of the scale, from Type I – Type III, you can safely use Jessner peels, and the entire range of other peels, including TCA peels up to 30% concentration.

If you have very dark skin, some products may permanently change your skin’s pigment. If your skin tone is darker, Type IV, V, or VI, and are considering a TCA peel, make sure to pick one that has a concentration of 10% or lower. Avoid Jessner peels if you fall into these darker skin tone categories. Glycolic peels are a great, safe option for darker skin tones as are AHA Vitamin C peels. 

Learn more about peels here.

What is Your Skin Type?

Once you have identified your skin tone, you should also consider your skin type. Choose products specifically designed for your skin type in order to meet your skin’s unique set of needs from the following:

Normal Smooth and supple, doesn’t produce excess oil or become dry and flaky. You’re lucky if you fall into this category, and can safely choose from a variety of products.

Oily You tend to have larger pores and can be prone to acne. Acne-prone skin can occur well into adulthood and should be treated with products that remove the dead skin from clogged pores to clear blackheads and acne marks.

Dry Your pores tend to be smaller, with visible dry flakes. Moisturizer is important, so pick one tailored to the amount of moisture your skin needs based on its level of dehydration.

Combination The most common skin type. If you have combination skin, your face will typically be normal or dry with an oily area in your T-zone. You may need to treat these separate areas of your face with different products.

Sensitive Sensitive skin which is easily irritated by products designed for normal skin, and becomes red or itchy. Stick to milder treatments specifically designed for you.

Aging Advanced signs of aging include wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and sun damage. These visible issues can be minimized through a variety of treatments.

Want a personalized skincare routine for you? Take our quiz! 

Benefits Of Sunscreen

Early signs of aging and dryness are a result of unprotected sun exposure. The youthful appearance of the skin is forfeited when the skin has excessive exposure to the sun, causing fine lines, deep wrinkles and loss of collagen. Sun Protection factor can help retain the moisture and create a shield on the skin when exposed to harmful UV rays. An SPF can maintain the skin’s ability to produce collagen. SPF can reduce the risk of developing sun induced skin cancers such as Carcinoma.

A high level SPF can help you avoid the expense of future laser treatments that could be needed for the skin to correct damage to the skin caused by the sun. Discoloration and age spots may start to appear on certain areas due to aging and applying an SPF can reduce the chances of these areas being exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays. There is no question that to maintain the best appearance of the supple, youthful, and healthy skin that an SPF is a must-do in your daily skincare regime.

The truth about what really causes your wrinkles!

Exposure to UV (ultraviolet light) - people who spend considerable time out in the sun during their leisure hours or for work tend to age more quickly, especially if proper sun protection is not used

Smoking - smoking depletes estrogen levels in your body and estrogen is what keeps skin plump, youthful and radiant. Smoking also reduces blood supply to the skin, which experts say provides a direct link to accelerated aging of skin

Light skin - people with lighter skin types tend to experience a higher level of sun damage, leading to an earlier visible signs of aging.

Genetic factors - if your parents maintained a youthful appearance longer than the average, you can expect to follow suit as long as you live a similar life style.

Clothes - people who tend to wear hats and long sleeves usually develop wrinkles later in life compared to people of the same skin type who do not.

Lack of Sleep - Researches have detected that when you don't get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a hormone that breaks down skin cells. Those who get plenty of rest produce more HGH (human growth hormone), which helps skin remain resilient or more "elastic," and is less likely to prematurely wrinkle.



Now that you are aware of the causes of accelerated aging, you can work to control and prolong your youthfulness. All of the above points are all very important factors, but nothing beats good skin care routine. Chemical peels, daily exfoliators along with religious application of SPF 30+ (Sun Shield Moisturizer SPF 30+ Anti Aging Peptide) will give you the foundation for beautiful, healthy skin.

How to Deal with Menopausal Skin

After the steady run of relatively obedient adult skin, the Menopause can often feel like hitting the rollercoaster of puberty all over again.

As our hormones swing out of balance, so does our skin.

For an average of 2 years between the ages of 45 – 55, 80% of women will regularly experience hot flushes, insomnia, aggravated skin and night sweats.

While we can’t offer a miracle cure (let’s face it, who can?), we have got some top tips for relieving the most frustrating symptoms of Menopausal skin.

Hot flushes

The bain of the Menopausal female’s life, hot flushes can strike at any time and usually last for a few minutes.

While some may just feel a short sensation of extreme heat, others will suffer perspiration, faintness and even sickness.

During these hot bouts, the face, neck and shoulders flush red.

Applying a cooling and calming mist or cream to the skin will help relieve these annoying and oppressive symptoms.

Look for ingredients such as green tea, chamomile, hyaluronic acid that soothe, strengthen and protect reactive and flaring skin.

Keeping skin care in the fridge for a cool application can instantly reduce redness and dispel excess heat.

Dry, itchy and lacklustre skin

As Oestrogen levels drop, Collagen production slows down, and the skin needs a bit of extra help staying firm, fresh and toned.

An Essential Fatty Acid (Omega 3,6 & 9) supplement will help condition your skin from the inside out and promote a soft, supple and vibrant complexion.

To combat dry, itchy and aggravated skin, moisturise on a regular basis with an alcohol-free moisturiser and body cream.

Oil produced naturally by the skin that depletes with age, our Natural Squalane Oil is the ideal hydration boost for mature skin.

Insomnia

Though insomnia is not a skin complaint, it can have a direct effect on skin health.

Lack of sleep and the stress it causes often aggravates existing skin conditions and sensitivities, as well as contributing to a general tired, dull and unhealthy complexion.

Lavender is a great organic sleep aid. Keep some dried buds on your bedside table or dot a couple of drops of essential oil into your pillow for a soporific effect.

Also make sure Menopausal insomnia is not made worse by additional stresses and strains.

Yoga and meditation are ideal stress-busters. Try practicing a few gentle exercises before you go to bed to clear and calm your mind.