Science has identified ingredients and textures to “nourish” our skin according to our age. However, its needs can also vary from day to day, time of year, environment, among many other factors… If you really want healthy skin, perhaps it's time to let go of the concept of skin types and learn to listen to your skin at all times.
Skin type versus “skin mood”
The traditional concept of "skin types" is still a valid starting point when creating your skincare routine from scratch. The problem arises when your skin type changes with the seasons. Skin may appear drier or even dehydrated in winter due to factors like central heating. However, during the summer, it can become oilier, especially if you live in a very humid place. For this reason, many people opt for a lighter moisturizer during the summer months, while in winter they look for richer textures.
However, the idea of skin types does not take into account what is happening to your skin at this very moment. That is, your skin mood. Like us, our skin is constantly reacting to external and internal factors. You may have woken up today with skin that is more sensitive than usual or with a pimple. Tomorrow you might have redness or itching. Your skin speaks to you in its own language. You just have to learn to listen to it and adapt your facial routine to its needs.
This may seem like a fairly obvious concept, but nowadays it's very easy to get carried away by the thousand and one adventures that happen to us during endless days and not give our skin the attention it deserves.
How to start listening to your skin and treating it accordingly?
It's not about jumping from product to product or using a different facial routine every day. This only serves to exacerbate any existing skin problems and distance you from the desired results. It's more about learning to see your skin as a map that guides you. It speaks to you and shows you its needs. The secret to healthy and happy skin is to pay attention to your skin's map.
Let's say you already have several Twelve cleansers adorning your bathroom shelf, even though your usual routine consists of only using Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream in the morning and Clementine Cleansing Balm at night. However, you also have Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser on standby for days when your skin appears more congested than usual. This is an example of "listening to your skin," as by replacing Clementine with Charcoal, you are giving it the deep but delicate cleansing it needs at the opportune moment.
Your skin will go through many changes throughout your life. The key is to know your skin in depth, understand its behavior at each stage of life, and accept that there will be fluctuations in its condition.
Give it a lot of pampering and, remember, if it speaks to you, listen to it.