Despite what celebrities, brands, and influencers may promote, skincare products are not one-size-fits-all. As a licensed and practicing esthetician, I know the power of skincare. I believe a properly tailored skincare routine is essential for unlocking your skin’s highest potential. Understandably, I find clients can get overwhelmed by the choices of skincare and may not understand why it differs for everyone. There are many reasons why skincare routines cannot work for everyone, and why each of our most suitable products will vary so greatly. I’ll break these reasons down a bit.

The 5 Skin Types

Did you know that there are 5 main skin types? These 5 main skin types are normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin, and which one you embody is largely dependent on genetic factors. Therefore, the most appropriate skincare product for your skin type obviously varies for each of us. Think of it as a sliding scale even within these 5 skin types. If you are a dry skin type you may find better results using a cream or oil cleanser as opposed to a gel. If you have an oily skin type you may need to exfoliate more often due to excess build-up of sebum on your skin’s surface. Over time your skin type could change for reasons including environmental changes, nutrition deficiencies, allergies, or genetic predisposition.

Climate

Factoring in the climate you live in when choosing what works best for your skin is also an important reason why customized skincare is important. Colder climates usually produce dry air with a dehydrating low humidity, or exposure to harsh elements may affect your skin’s natural vigor. Warmer climates and a transition to summer brings higher temperatures which may lead to an increase of oil (sebum) production by your sebaceous glands. Combining excess sebum with sweat again changes what the best course of action would be for your routine. Exfoliating more frequently or donning a lighter moisturizer could prove to be the best option for you in a warmer climate.

Age

Age of course plays a vital role in what actions you should take to soften the effects of the inevitable. We lose elastin and collagen fibers as we age, which lend our skin its elasticity and strength. Most fine lines, wrinkles, and premature aging are attributed to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. We can proactively try to slow this process by utilizing sun protection techniques each day. Vitamin C is a great topical ingredient and one of my favorites for aging skin that may boost collagen production and minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and scarring.

Hormones

Your skin also mirrors your body's response to fluctuating hormones. Oil-producing sebaceous glands have receptors that are influenced by androgens, such as the male sex hormone testosterone. An increase of testosterone in both sexes during puberty correlates to higher sebum production, usually progressing to acne. Estrogen levels continue to change for women throughout their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Estrogen has been linked with collagen production, skin thickness, and skin hydration levels.

Skincare is not a one size fits all model, there is much to consider even beyond these reasons when customizing your routine. I recommend consulting with a skincare specialist and receiving professional facials to get you on a unique personalized regimen that will get you glowing!

Amanda Meehan

Licensed Esthetician