Oily Skin

Face Wash

You want something that will leave your face clean, without completely stripping all of your natural oils. When you clean your skin too much, it can send a signal to your body that it should start producing even more oil, which is the opposite of what you want!

Moisturizer

It can be tempting to skip the moisturizer if your skin is oily, but sometimes the deeper layers are desperately in need of hydration. The key is to use a noncomedogenic moisturizer that penetrates beyond that outer layer of skin.

Acne-Prone Skin

Face Wash

There’s a lot of overlap between oily and acne-prone skin, but when looking for a face wash, you want something that won’t strip away moisture and is soothing for inflammation. Some formulations have salicylic acid, which is excellent for combatting breakouts.

Moisturizer

Choose a lightweight moisturizer that is oil-free to keep your pores from clogging. A moisturizer with tea tree oil or anti-inflammatory ingredients like chamomile will help calm your skin, too.

Dry Skin

Face Wash

When you have dry skin, you’ll need to find a face wash that’s creamy; gel face washes will leave your skin feeling parched after washing. A product with hyaluronic acid can moisturize while cleaning, but make sure you avoid anything with sulfates or alcohol.

Moisturizer

The moisturizer you choose is so important if you have dry skin. You’ll need ingredients that repair your skin barrier and act as humectants—think ceramides, fatty acids, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. With dry skin, you can totally go for a thick, rich moisturizing cream.

Sensitive Skin

Face Wash

A creamy face wash won’t strip moisture from your skin, and you’ll want to choose a product with humectants and ceramides. Probiotic skincare is also an excellent choice for sensitive skin, as it helps restore a healthy microbiome, which brings your skin back into balance.

Moisturizer

Here, too, humectants, probiotics, and ceramides are all a good idea for healing and calming your skin. It’s also important to know what to avoid—alcohol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and fragrances.

Combination Skin

Face Wash

While you can use different serums and moisturizers for different parts of your face, it doesn’t really work that way with face washes! A gel or light foam works well for combination skin, with ceramides or hyaluronic acid to bring hydration and balance. 

Moisturizer 

Experts recommend hyaluronic acid moisturizers for combination skin types. Another option is to use different products for different areas of your face—something suitable for oily skin where you’re oily, and a product for dry skin where you’re dry. 

Challenge: Check your current skincare products, are the ingredients right for your skin type? When buying new products, choose the right products for your skin type based on these ingredient lists.