How to know if our skin is dry or oily?

In order to know if your skin is dry, oily or dehydrated, you must carefully observe its characteristics. Performing a skin diagnosis with your beauty professional is the most reliable way to determine your skin's needs and adapt your skin care products. The goal is, of course, to solve your concerns and feel beautiful and well! When you wake up in the morning, how does your skin look? Which category do your observations and feelings correspond to?

Oily skin produces excess sebum (an oily, lipidic substance), which causes a shiny appearance on the surface, which becomes more pronounced during the day. The skin texture is thick, the pores are dilated and the impurities that accumulate there cause blackheads. The skin is not uncomfortable, but it may have imperfections and painful pimples. This type of skin is common in teenagers, young adults or women during menopause. Oily skin, which is protected from drying out by an excessively oily but active hydrolipidic film, is not very fragile. It remains fairly well moisturized, supple and with very few wrinkles.

Dry skin, which produces little sebum, is not enough lubricated and protected and is therefore fragile. The hydrolipidic film, which lacks lipids, does not play its role as a protective barrier, which leads to progressive dehydration. Dead skin (scales) accumulate on the surface, which becomes rough and marked with fine lines. It is uncomfortable, with sensations of tightness and irritation and without radiance. The pores are invisible. This type of skin is frequently found in the elderly, as sebum secretion decreases with age.

But the sensation of "dry skin", discomfort and tightness can also come from a lack of hydration. This condition can affect all skin types, even combination to oily skin. Oily skin often has dehydrated areas due to excessive use of harsh cosmetic products. Dehydration is a punctual condition, accentuated by external aggressions (cold, wind, sun, air conditioning, pollution) and by aging or hormonal disturbances. In appearance, the skin shows fine lines, scaling or roughness and the complexion seems lackluster. To provide your skin with the water it needs, choose highly moisturizing products (non-comedogenic if you have oily or combination skin).