YOUR SKIN TYPE RESULTS: ORPW

Oily, Resistant, Pigmented Skin Tone, Wrinkle-Prone Skin

“My skin is fairly easy but I need advice on how to have a more even complexion and prevent unwanted skin aging. Do these anti-aging creams really work? I am not sure they do anything for my skin.” 

This skin type is characterized by an uneven skin tone and a tendency to wrinkle. Although the skins’ natural oil (sebum) helps prevent aging, this skin type should add antioxidants to the diet and skincare regimen. This Skin Type needs products with higher concentrations of active ingredients.

AN UNDERSERVED SKIN TYPE

For the most part, product researchers and developers fail to formulate products for your special needs. Cosmetic shelves overflow with products for sensitive skin, but none for resistant skin. It’s perceived by the industry to be “easy,” but with multiple skin problems, yours is not the easiest resistant Skin Type. Both resistant and oily, your skin’s strong barrier keeps out irritating ingredients. The downside is it keeps out all ingredients, even beneficial ones your skin needs. That’s why it’s tough to find nonprescription-strength products that work. Have you ever seen skin care products designed for “tough skin”? Companies can’t regulate who purchases their over-the-counter products. They therefore produce products of lower strength, mostly made up of water as the main ingredient, that a sensitive type can safely use because they want to avoid the negative publicity that could result from consumers reacting adversely to their products. Yet the current formulations on the market because of their high water content, require so much more preservatives and synthetic ingredients to reduce cost of manufacturing and increase shelf-life. Hence a vicious cycle for those with sensitive skin types, of which your skin isn't.

A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT YOUR SKIN TYPE

If you have this Skin Type, you may experience any of the following:

• Large pores
• Shiny, oily skin
• Trouble finding sunscreen that doesn’t make your skin oilier
• Dark spots in sun-exposed areas
• Wrinkles
• Occasional acne breakouts
• Easy use of most skin care and cosmetic products
• Increased risk of skin cancer if you have light skin

I recommend sunscreen for all types, but since you are prone to oiliness, it’s essential to find a product that does not increase it. Below, are daily skin care regimens using nonprescription products.

EVERYDAY CARE FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

The goal of your skin care routine is to address dark spots with products that deliver depigmenting ingredients such as kojic acid, niacinamide, licorice extract and alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids and to address wrinkles with products containing retinols and anti-oxidants. In addition, your daily regimen will help treat oiliness and address blackheads and enlarged pores.

This Skin Type of those who are under thirty will have more problems with oily skin; for those who are older, oil production will have leveled off, but you’ll be seeing increased wrinkles. For younger skin type, therefore, your goal is to address oiliness and to prevent wrinkles with appropriate skin care. For older skin type, wrinkle prevention and treatment is paramount. If you choose to forgo the prescription route of retinoids, you can follow a nonprescription regimen indefinitely. In that case, look for toners, sunscreens, facial foundations, and evening treatment lotions or gels that contain retinol, a related but less powerful ingredient. Most retinol products only contain a low amount, so you can safely use several different kinds of skin care products with retinol to increase the results.

*Resistant skin has a healthy solid barrier. Your skin rarely stings, reddens, or develops acne allowing those with resistant skin to use most products without reacting. However, the irony is that most over-the-counter skin care products may not be potent enough to penetrate the healthy lipid barrier and deliver results. This is why KOKOBÉRNA customers see instant results; the ancient formulating techniques we use preserve the life-force of the indigenous West African plant ingredients in their purest yet concentrated form.

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Our skin diagnostic uses Baumann's (2004) science-based skin-type classification system comprised of 16 distinct Baumann Skin Types®.