Skin Q&A
Have a product question? Ask us
Our Skin Experts answer your FAQ’s.
Q. I am new to skincare where should I start? Any Product recommendations?
A. You will want to be sure you know what your skin type is and purchase products accordingly. You can always get a skin analysis either through a professional esthetician or a virtual analysis if you are unsure. Determining your skin type will be essential to glowing skin, if you feel tight and have flaky skin you may fall into the dry category. If you notice an oily t-zone but dryness in the cheeks, you more than likely have combination skin. Normal skin will feel balanced most of the day. Brands like Dermalogica for example, make their products user-friendly by placing them in categories like Age Smart, Ultra Calming, Active Clearing, etc. See below for product recommendations based on type.
Q. How do I know what my skin type or skin condition is?
A. While Skin type is the type of skin you have, your skin condition can change temporarily throughout life. For example, you can have mature skin, but you can experience sensitive conditions. It is always recommended to treat your condition first before using products for your skin type. This would mean using products to reduce inflammation in the skin, and then getting back to preventative aging. We also see this sometimes with skin that is dry or dehydrated but also experiencing breakouts. You would want to treat the breakouts while not over-drying the skin, this would be achieved by using spot treatments alongside a good moisturizer. It is all about balance!
Q. What should I shop for if I have Aging or Mature Skin?
A. For aging skin we want to focus on improving signs of aging and making sure we are keeping the skin balanced. Skin that is dehydrated can show off fine lines and wrinkles. It will be important for this type to look for moisturizing cream cleansers, as well as good serums. Think of a good serum as a multivitamin for your skin. Vitamin C, Hyaluronic, Collagen, and Retinol will be good for this skin type. One thing to keep in mind is as we age our skin will need a little extra help with exfoliation. You may want to choose a gentle exfoliation but use it slightly more often, this will help shed dead skin cells while boosting collagen. An SPF will be crucial to use daily as well, to not only prevent future sun damage but to protect the skin and prevent age spots.
Q. What should I shop for if I have Acne Breakouts or Oily Skin?
For skin that is prone to breakouts and/or oily, we recommend using foam cleansers to reduce the amount of oil and impurities in the pores. It will be important to keep the skin balanced while combating breakouts. One thing to keep in mind is your skin may be producing too much oil from stripping ingredients. Whenever you use drying ingredients for acne it is recommended to use hydrating moisturizers to help add moisture back into the skin. Toner would be a great product in addition because it will balance the skin’s PH, avoid abrasive exfoliation while you have active breakouts. Ingredients in Acne products will dry the skin, so it is important to either spot treat acne with serums or a mask and be sure to still use a good moisturizer. Some brands have oil-free moisturizers which will help the pores recover. Beneficial ingredients for this skin type would be Glycolic, Niacinamide, Charcoal, Salicylic, Benzoyl Peroxide.
Q. My Skin is usually Dry and Dehydrated or even Sensitive, what should I shop for?
A. Dry Skin and Sensitive Skin usually go hand in hand, but you can still experience these on their own. Sometimes our skin can become dehydrated by using too many stripping products, which break down the barrier of our skin causing sensitivity. For starters, if you are experiencing redness or sensitivity you will want to build up your barrier through a barrier repair cream or look for products designed for sensitivity or calming inflammation. Avoid fragrance or perfume if you do have sensitive skin as this can increase inflammation. Retinol should also be avoided if you have dry or sensitive skin as it does work to exfoliate the skin which will essentially just create more dehydration if you are already dry. Now for dry skin, you will want to make sure you are using a cream cleanser, or one designed for adding hydration. Hyaluronic will be a great ingredient as it holds 1000x its weight in water in the skin. Glycerin is usually found in moisturizing ingredients as it helps to pull water to the surface of your skin where it is needed. If you still feel dry even if you are using appropriate cleansers and moisturizers you may need to add a hydrating serum into your routine. If you are experiencing dryness in the skin suddenly, or due to season change, it will be vital to drink the appropriate amount of water for your body.
Q. I think my skin falls in more than one category, sometimes I have breakouts, but it can also be red and sensitive. What should I address first?
A. This is a great question, and one we see often. For starters you always want to address the skin condition you are experiencing first. In this case, you would want to address inflammation first before you look for breakout-reducing products. If you see any redness or irritation in the skin it is best to discontinue the use of all products and slowly add them in one by one to figure out if one of your products is causing the sensitivity.
Q. Any tips for choosing the right skincare for me?
A. Always read the product description as well as ingredients, you can get a good feel for product results by reading both sections. We also have a review section for all the products, so if you are unsure, you can always read customer testimonials, which can help you choose the right product for you. If you like or dislike anything about your product let us know in the review section, this will help future customers decide on a product.
Q. What is the deal with exfoliating? How often should I be exfoliating?
A. To start, there are two types of exfoliation. Mechanical exfoliation usually includes some sort of manual exfoliation agent, this can include jojoba beads, rice, nuts, etc. There is also chemical exfoliation which uses an active ingredient such as glycolic or salicylic to slough away dead skin cells. If you tend to have sensitive skin it will be best to exfoliate less often, and you may want to look for a gentle exfoliator. Someone with oily skin may choose a mechanical exfoliation and exfoliate more often. If you have active breakouts, chemical exfoliation will work best for your skin type. Generally, the rule of thumb is 2-3 a week for exfoliation you can increase or decrease based on skin type and overall health of your skin. For the body, exfoliating more often is best as the skin tends to be thicker than on the face. Gentle daily exfoliation on the body will leave you with youthful, glowing skin.
Q. Should I use products from all the same brand or is it okay to mix and match?
A. Yes, you can mix different products. Some may find that they have a favorite cleanser from one brand and a favorite moisturizer from another. The important thing is to find ingredients that work well with your skin.
Q. Does a serum replace a moisturizer?
A. It is best to apply products from the most lightweight to the heaviest so in this case, you would apply your serum let it fully dry, and then apply moisturizer over top. Some serums are made specifically to add a few drops into your moisturizer reducing the amount of time you spend on your skin in the am or pm.
Q. Do I need different products for morning and night?
A. Well the simple answer here is sort of. We see this most often with moisturizers, an AM moisturizer may include SPF, while a PM moisturizer may be thicker and include more hydrating ingredients. Some people choose to only cleanse their skin at night or use a makeup remover. It can also be common to use two different types of cleansers based on the time of day. One in the AM may be gentle and one in the PM may be designed to remove makeup.
Q. When is the best time to start using Anti-Aging products?
A. The best way to combat signs of aging is to be proactive with your approach. Usually, late 20s is when dermatologists and estheticians start recommending SPF to their clients. When you can start seeing fine lines and wrinkles you can go ahead and add some anti-aging products to your routine.
Q. I purchased some products, and I am not seeing the results I would like to, should I switch to another brand?
A. Our skin can have a tough time adjusting to certain products and ingredients, but the rule of thumb is to wait at least two weeks before deciding if a product isn’t a good fit for your skin. It is normal for your skin to have a few breakouts when starting a new product. Your skin can become more inflamed by constantly switching products, so it is best to stick with the brand you are using. If after two weeks has passed and you aren’t liking results you can go ahead and switch to something else that may work better. Of course, if you have an immediate allergic reaction to a product, we recommend discontinuing use.
Q. Should I be looking for chemical-free products, or can I just use essential oils?
A. Professional brands go through long periods of trials and tests on their products to make sure they will not be reactive to skin. While essential oils can be good in some cases, they may not be the best to apply to the face directly. Oils when applied to clean skin can clog the pores and suffocate the skin. Most professional brands blend synthetic ingredients with all-natural ingredients to make sure your skin will react to the ingredients well. If you are shopping for organic products you are in luck! We do carry quite a few brands that have both organic products and ingredients.
Q. Where can I go to find products with my favorite ingredient?
A. When shopping on our site you can easily navigate products by brand or ingredient. Simply click on the shop by ingredients section at the top and choose the appropriate ingredient. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Let us know! We are always adding more ingredients.
Q. Do you only sell skincare?
A. While we primarily carry skincare, we also carry a multitude of beauty products. We carry supplements, nail care, hair care, fragrance, body care, jade rollers, makeup, and LED light care to name a few. Explore our categories tab to see all our favorite beauty items.
Q. Do you offer samples?
A. Yes, this is a great way to figure out what products will work for your skin. All orders through Skin-Beauty.com will receive 3 free samples that we will try to choose based on the other products you have purchased. If there is something in particular you want to try let us know in the comments while checking out. In addition to our free samples, some of our brands have travel sizes for purchase.
Q. Still have more questions, or want to learn more?
A. Check out our blog section on our website, articles crafted by our Skin Beauty experts to educate you on all your skincare needs.