The correct choice of a product for the face depends on age, skin type, and condition, whether it is oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or acne-prone skin. Below you will find all the information you need to become a Skincare Expert according to your needs.

At Skincare Universe, we also call the basic skincare routine layering. Below you will find the steps it includes:  

• Cleansing 
• Exfoliation 
• Toner or Mist
• Serum
• Eye Care
• Mask
• Face Cream
• Sunscreen

Let's see based on your needs, what is suitable for your skin.

For Oily Skin

For the care of oily skin, some key ingredients you can choose are:

• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): This ingredient helps balance sebum production, reduces the appearance of pores, and improves skin tone.
• Essential oils with antimicrobial properties: Some essential oils like tea tree oil and lavender oil can help reduce sebum and oiliness.
• Green clay: is a natural ingredient that absorbs and removes excess sebum.

These ingredients can help minimize oiliness, imperfections, and excessive oiliness on your skin. Don't forget to try double cleansing for perfectly clean skin!

For Acne-Prone Skin

For the care of acne-prone skin, some key ingredients you can choose are:

• Salicylic Acid: This acid helps exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells and impurities from the pores. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Benzoyl Peroxide: This ingredient helps control the bacterial infection often associated with acne. It is also exfoliating and anti-inflammatory.
• Retinoids: Retinol and other derivatives of vitamin A, such as tretinoin and adapalene, help boost cell renewal, reducing impurities and improving skin texture. Discover more about what retinol is and its benefits!

These ingredients can help address acne, reducing the appearance of impurities and inflammation. However, it is recommended to consult with a dermatologist before incorporating new products into your routine, especially if you have severe acne or sensitivity to the ingredients.

For Combination Skin

Below are some ingredients you can choose for the care of combination skin:

• Hyaluronic Acid: This ingredient provides hydration to dry areas of the skin while not increasing the oiliness of oily areas.
• Glycolic Acid: This exfoliating acid helps remove dead cells and encourages cell renewal, improving dry skin and its texture.
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): This vitamin helps balance sebum production and improves skin tone without causing dryness.

These ingredients can help care for combination skin, helping different areas maintain their balance. However, as combination skin is complex, it is important to tailor your skincare to the needs of the various areas of your face.

For Dry Skin

For the care of dry skin, some key ingredients you can choose are:

• Hyaluronic Acid: This ingredient offers intensive hydration, adapting to dry skin and improving its texture.
• Ceramides: Ceramides help maintain the epidermal barrier, protecting hydration. 
• Essential Oils: Certain essential oils, such as olive oil, argan oil, and shea butter, are rich in moisturizing properties that can improve the texture and elasticity of the skin.

These ingredients will help you tackle dryness, dehydration, and the feeling of tightness that accompanies dry skin. 

For Sensitive Skin

Below are some products you can choose for the care of sensitive skin:

• Allantoin: This natural moisturizing agent helps soothe and relieve sensitive skin, reducing irritations.
• Vitamin E: This antioxidant vitamin can help protect the skin from environmental aggressors and reduce irritations.
• Avocado (Avocado Extract): Avocado is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

These ingredients can help reduce sensitivity, irritations, and redness associated with sensitive skin. It is always important to choose hypoallergenic products and to test new products in small amounts first to ensure they do not cause irritations.

For Normal Skin

For the care of normal skin, some basic ingredients you can choose are:

• Hyaluronic Acid: This ingredient provides hydration and helps maintain the skin's moisture.
• Antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin C, E): Antioxidants help protect the skin from environmental attacks and premature aging.
• Glycolic Acid: This exfoliating acid improves the skin's texture and brightness.

These ingredients will help you maintain the health and beauty of normal skin. However, remember that the skin's needs can change over time, so you may need to adjust your care according to the conditions.

Which active ingredients should NOT be combined?

Layering, that is, applying one cosmetic product on top of another, can sometimes yield better results for your skin, but other times it can make things worse. This is because while some ingredient combinations work synergistically, others can be incompatible or cause undesirable effects. Therefore, there are certain combinations that require caution. The most common cases are as follows: 

Retinol and Vitamin C 

Retinol and Vitamin C are two powerful ingredients for the skin. Both combat wrinkles, create collagen, and fade dark spots on the skin, but their combination can have undesirable effects. Retinoids together with Vitamin C can cause excessive exfoliation, resulting in increased skin sensitivity to the sun. Use these products at different times, e.g., retinoid at night and Vitamin C product in the morning. 

Niacinamide and Vitamin C 

Niacinamide is active Vitamin B3, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient that makes the skin more radiant. The question has been raised whether Vitamin C converts niacinamide into niacin, another form of Vitamin B3 that may cause redness. The concern for this might be exaggerated. Some individuals with more sensitive skin should consider if they are affected by the combination of these two ingredients. 

Retinol and Benzoyl Peroxide 

Benzoyl Peroxide has changed the skincare routine for acne-prone skin but can make it drier. Retinol and Benzoyl Peroxide should not be combined because they deactivate each other. In fact, Benzoyl Peroxide oxidizes Retinol, which reduces its effectiveness.

Extra Tip For You!

As with all skin types and the disorders that may appear from time to time, it is important to have a medical examination to determine the real causes and needs of the skin, so that you can adopt the most appropriate routine based on your skin.

Enjoy your routine at the Skincare Universe!