Skincare is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Your skin’s health depends on variables such as genetics, hormones, environmental factors, and lifestyle, all of which combine to create your unique skin type.
Your skin tells a story that follows your genetic line from decades before you were born. Along the way it picks up hormones, grabs onto sensitivities, and snatches up sleep and exercise habits, and all eventually leads to YOU! With a story this diverse, there’s no way you can just slap some random skincare products on your skin and expect them to work. Your skin is way too smart for that.
Committing to personalized skincare in Menlo Park means understanding your skin’s needs and providing it with unique and qualified treatments and care. Your skin is one of a kind, and it deserves one of a kind care.
Our skilled and compassionate medical aesthetics team at Entre Nous Aesthetics takes pride in offering personalized skincare treatment and products to each and every patient that walks through our doors. If you’re ready to make your skin’s story a priority, keep reading to learn about your skin type and better understand its unique needs and wants, or get in touch with our incredible skincare experts today.
Personalized skincare for the skin types
Normal skin
We can’t all be blessed with a normal skin type but if you are, just know we all hate you a little bit 😤😋
Normal skin is typically non-problematic and does not require specific care. Of course, if you have a normal skin type it’s still imperative to drink lots of water, wash your face twice a day, and moisturize daily!
Dry skin
Does your skin tend to feel flaky, itchy, and tight after washing or generally throughout the day? If so, it’s possible that you have a dry skin type. Dry skin produces less sebum than normal skin, which means it doesn’t retain moisture in the way that it should. Dry skin is easily agitated by the elements, and will build a protective layer causing the skin to appear dull or lack-luster.
Personalized skincare for dry skin types will include, most obviously, hydration steps, but also exfoliation. You should be conservative with exfoliation, but a time or two a week will help break down the tough outer layer of skin you’ve built up.
Because your skin has built up that protective surface, the outermost layer of the skin is likely dull, rough, and uncomfy. Here are a couple tips to help alleviate those symptoms:
Use an ointment or cream
Because your skin needs more hydration than other skin types, consider adding an ointment or cream to your routine. These have higher density hydration and lock the moisture into your skin. You can replace your normal lotion with one of these, or you can switch between the different products. Look for an ointment or a cream with one or more of the following hydrating ingredients:
- Jojoba oil
- Dimethicone
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic acid
- Lactic acid
- Lanolin
- Mineral oil
- Petrolatum
- Shea butter
Use warm water instead of hot
Yes, there’s nothing better than a hot shower, but steaming hot water also strips your skin of natural oils and, as we’ve already established, you need as many of those as you can get. Try lukewarm water when washing your face and in the shower, if you can stand it.
Shut the bathroom door when you shower
Take advantage of a homemade humidifier whenever you shower. Keep your bathroom door closed to lock in the moisture from the heat of the water and let your skin drink it all up. Try to limit your time in the shower or bath to 5-10 minutes, though, because you don’t want to dry out your skin even more with excessive washing.
Recommended treatment
If you’re looking for an effective, relaxing way to treat dry skin, microdermabrasion is the perfect solution. With no downtime and immediate results, microdermabrasion treatment uses a handheld device with an exfoliating surface to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells.
This treatment is perfect for those with a dry skin type because it clears away that built up layer of dead skin and replaces it with a glowing complexion! Schedule an appointment for microdermabrasion at Entre Nous today!
Oily skin
At the end of the day, if your skin looks shiny or greasy then–you guessed it–you might have oily skin! As opposed to dry skin’s lack of sebum, oily skin over produces the substance. The build up of oil on the skin can lead to clogged and visibly enlarged pores, black heads and white heads, and acne (Oily skin is the type that is most prone to acne).
Personalized skincare for oily skin types is going to include methods to reduce excess oiliness and soothe the skin. Check out these tips for those with oily skin:
Add a toner to your routine
A toner has multiple benefits, but for people with oily skin the most imperative are the following:
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Reduce excess oil
Toners help remove excess oil and, over time, mattify the skin leaving it fresh, clean, and non-greasy. However, make sure to get an alcohol free toner! Alcohol dries out the skin, and the goal for oil prone skin is to balance your skin, not swing in the other direction.
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Fights breakouts
Oily skin types are those most likely to suffer from acne. A toner proves to be very helpful in getting clear, beautiful skin. Toner removes bacteria from the pores, leaving the skin clean and prepared for anti-acne medication or treatments. Look for toners with rose water, aloe vera, or chamomile. These ingredients soothe irritated, red skin and help even skin tone.
Treat yourself to a face mask (and a bath…it just seems like those two things go together)
Many face masks contain ingredients that absorb excess oil. Look for ingredients like:
- Clay
- Charcoal
- Tea tree oil
- Salicyic acid
These ingredients can also help minimize oil production. And, since we’re already in a relaxing mood, you might as well draw a nice warm bath. Washing your face at least a few times a day can significantly reduce oil build up. So enjoy your mask, and when it’s time to take it off, give your face a nice rinse!
Choose oil free skincare products
Look for products that say “oil free” or “non-comedogenic,” which means they don’t clog your pores. This is a prime example of personalized skincare, as those with dry skin might seek deeply hydrating products containing oils while those with oily skin will want to steer clear of them.
Recommended treatment
LED light therapy at Entre Nous Aesthetics is an innovative new technology that can help reduce inflammation, heal acne, and soften enlarged pores, making it an ideal treatment for those with acne prone skin.
The treatment uses a range of the visible LED light spectrum to target problem areas of the skin. Red light soothes inflammation and irritation, while boosting collagen production. Blue light kills acne-causing bacteria in the pores, treating active breakouts and preventing new breakouts from forming. You can easily make an appointment for your LED light therapy treatment today!
Combination skin
This is the most common skin type. As you may have guessed, people with combination skin have areas on their face that differ in the way they behave. The T-zone is the T shaped area across the forehead and going down to the chin. Typically, combination skin types have oilier skin in the T-zone area, and normal-to-dry skin in the surrounding areas, like the cheeks.
Personalized skincare for combination types will focus on balancing the natural oils your skin produces, and providing treatment for either dryness or oiliness as needed. Here are a few simple but effective ways to do that:
Stop touching your face
Touching your face can transfer oil and dirt from your fingers onto your face. You can also spread oil from your T-zone to other areas of your face without meaning to do so, causing breakouts. We know it can be hard, but just keep reminding yourself it’s worth it!
Blot away oil as needed
If you find your T-zone getting oily throughout the day, you can use oil blotters to maintain the balance of your skin. Most oil blotters come in small, discreet packages and are formulated not to remove makeup, so you can use them anytime.
Recommended treatment
One of our favorite medical spa treatments is the Hydrafacial. This skin resurfacing treatment uses a four-step experience that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydration techniques to shed your skin of dead skin cells and unwanted debris. It leaves your skin plumper, brighter, protected, and feeling incredible!
Another fantastic benefit of the Hydrafacial is that it’s super customizable, making it perfect for those with combination skin types. Here’s what it treats:
- Dehydrated skin
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Excessively oily or congested skin
- Acne & blackheads
- Enlarged pores
- Loss of elasticity or firmness
- Uneven skin tone or texture
Come in for a skin consultation
Entre Nous Aesthetics is the premier medical spa in Menlo Park. Our exceptional team of aesthetics experts takes great pride in helping our patients understand the unique needs of their skin. Personalized skincare in Menlo Park is something we take personally. Schedule an appointment today to discuss your skincare goals and how we can help you get there!
