How to Determine Your Skin Type

Understanding your skin type is vital to choosing the right products and regimen for a glowing complexion. For example, if your skin is oily, applying too-heavy moisturizers can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts. Conversely, dry skin can suffer if not moisturized properly. So how do you know if you have oily skin, dry skin, or somewhere in between? Keep reading to learn how to find your skin type.

What Determines My Skin Type? 

Your skin type is influenced by a number of factors, but genetics are the number one determinant of your skin type. For example, if your parents have oily skin, you’re likely to have oily skin as well. However, external influences can come into play. Climate, weather conditions, diet, medications, and hormones all play a role in how skin behaves. This is why some people actually experience a different skin type in the winter or the summer, or why your products can suddenly stop working when you go on vacation in a different climate.

The most common skin types are oily, combination, and dry. While everyone’s skin is unique, most people will fall into one of these categories.

To determine your skin type at home, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry with a soft towel. Do not apply any lotions, serums, or moisturizers. After two hours, take note of how your skin looks and feels. If your skin feels tight or parched, you have dry skin. Shine on the nose and forehead indicates combination skin, while shine all over the face signifies an oily skin type.

How to Care for Your Skin Type 

Now that you know your skin type, here’s how to care for your skin:

Oily Skin  

Oily skin is more prone to clogged pores and breakouts than other skin types, but it’s also the most resistant to the development of fine lines and wrinkles.  

Those with oily skin will want to exfoliate regularly to keep pores clean and acne-free. Steer clear of harsh cleansers and acne treatments, as these can signal oily skin to produce more oil.  

Dry Skin  

Dry skin feels tight and is more prone to fine lines and flaking. However, dry skin types rarely experience acne breakouts.  

It’s important to exfoliate dry skin several times per week to remove the layers of dull, dead skin. Exfoliation also allows nourishing serums and moisturizers to penetrate the skin more deeply. Make sure to wear a hydrating night cream each night, since the skin tends to lose moisture while we sleep.

Combination Skin  

Combination skin has an oily forehead and nose with dry cheeks.  

Exfoliation is also important for this skin type, as it will help to balance oil production throughout the face. Using a toner like witch hazel on your t-zone will also help to control sebum production. Use a heavier lotion on cheeks to keep them hydrated, and a lightweight gel moisturizer on the forehead and nose to prevent them from getting too shiny. 

Remember: skin types can change based on the season or other external factors. If your skin care regimen doesn’t seem to be working, test your skin type again and make adjustments to your routine according to your results.

What is your skin type? Let us know in the comments!

How to Protect Skin from Pollution

With the excitement of big city living comes sacrifices – more traffic, more expensive rent, and, or course, more pollution. Anyone who has experienced the difficult of breathing air pollution knows that smog can wreak havoc on your lungs. But did you know that pollution can also harm your skin?

Luckily, great skin doesn’t have to be one of the sacrifices that comes with living in the city. Keep reading to find out how pollution harms your skin, and what you can do to stop it.

How Pollution Damages Skin 

Cities are a breeding ground for pollution from factories, cars, cigarette smoke, and ozone. These microscopic bits of air pollution are actually small enough to penetrate pores and get into the skin. There, pollutants interact with our skin cells and UV rays to form free radicals, which damage our cellular DNA and impair our skin’s ability to repair itself.

Over time, this can cause all kinds of premature aging. In fact, air pollution has been linked increased pigmentation, decreased collagen production, plus dryness and inflammation.

Unfortunately, pollution isn’t just a problem for city-dwellers. Wind carries pollutants, so they can damage your skin even if you live in a less populated area.

How to Protect Skin from Pollution 

This is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C bind with free radicals, neutralizing them and thus protecting your skin from harm. In general, eating more antioxidant-rich foods (think fruits and vegetables), will help to protect your skin from pollution. You can also protect your skin by incorporating these habits into your skincare routine:

Wear Sunscreen 

Many free radicals come from sun damage, so make sure you’re applying adequate SPF daily.

Apply Antioxidants 

In addition to SPF, you’ll also want to use a daytime moisturizer that’s rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants will protect your skin cell from free radical damage while preventing against the formation of new free radicals. Herbacin Day Cream is formulated with carnosine and vitamin E, both of which bind with free radicals to stop them from causing further damage.

Wash Your Face 

Nighttime is when our skin repairs itself, so you want to make sure that you remove all pollution before going to sleep at night. To make sure you get rid of all the skin-harming pollution, we actually recommend double-cleansing with a facial cleanser and an oil-based makeup remover. Pollution is lipophilic, which means that it can be dissolved with oil, so using an oil-based solution like Herbacin 2-Phase Makeup Remover will ensure that you thoroughly cleanse skin of all pollutants.

Avoid Cigarette Smoke 

We don’t need to tell you that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health and your skin. But even secondhand smoke can cause free radical damage to your skin, so try to avoid any situation where you’ll be exposed to secondhand smoke to preserve your skin.

Exfoliate Regularly 

Exfoliating once or twice per week helps to remove any toxic buildup on your skin from pollution. Plus, it’s key for removing dead, dull skin cells and unclogging pores. If you want great skin, exfoliation is a step you cannot skip!


How do you protect your skin from pollution? Let us know in the comments!