Do you know your skin type?

Are you the kind of man that wants to look and feel healthier? Do you want to use men's skincare products, but don't know where to start? Maybe you're already using skincare, but you haven't noticed a difference?

That's where your skin type comes in.

Your skin type is the roadmap to the types of products and ingredients you should use and the skincare routine you should follow. Let us explain.

There are 5 main skin types:

• Dry
• Oily
• Combination
• Normal
• Sensitive

DRY

Is your skin:

• Itchy
• Cracked
• Flaky
• Red and tight?

If so, it's likely you have dry skin.

Tips: Use a gentle face wash or cleanser to clean the face, a serum to hydrate at deeper layers and a moisturiser to further hydrate the outer layers of skin. Using a light moisturiser at night will help to keep your skin hydrated and support repair  as you sleep. Exfoliation should be kept to a minimum using a gentle product no more than once a week; no microdermabrasion scrubs!

What to avoid: Dry Skin can be worsened by sun damage, low humidity, heat exposure and windy conditions. It's best to avoid high amounts of ingredients that cause inflammation and irritation, as well as synthetic chemicals, particularly fragrances or high quantities of essential oils. 

Related skin conditions: Eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis can cause and look like dry skin too. If you think you may have one of the above conditions, it's best to get it diagnosed, as this will determine the types of products and treatments you should use. Using the wrong types of products, such as those that dry the skin out, can make your condition worse.

OILY

Does your skin:

• Look shiny or greasy
• Appear thick or rough
• Have large, visible pores?

It's likely you have oily skin. 

Tips: Don't skip the moisturiser! A common misconception is that you shouldn't add moisture to oily skin. Skin can actually become oily due to dehydration which triggers your skin cells to secrete even more oil (sebum).

Oily skin also causes large pores and the build up of dirt, leading to blackheads AND breakouts. 

So how do you get it under control?

1. First, remove the excess oil with a gentle wash/cleanser.

2. Follow up with a moisturiser to rehydrate and prevent the generation of excess sebum.

3. Use a gentle exfoliator twice a week, after washing your face and before moisturising

What to avoid: Don't over wash your face. Most people can get away with washing once or twice a day at most. Favour thin moisturisers with great absorption and if you're still having problems, try oil-free. 

Before we move on, and sorry to brag, but we've had great feedback from people with oily skin when using our Original Face Moisturiser.

COMBINATION

Does all of the above sound familiar?

As the name suggests, people with combination skin may have both oily and dry areas of skin. A common oily area is the 'T-Zone' (forehead and nose). Couple this with dry cheeks and/or chin and you have combination skin.

Tips: Don't treat your whole face the same - you may need a few different products if a standard routine isn't working for you. You may wish to use cleansing and exfoliating products on your T-Zone (remember Joey, Ross and Chandler?), while skipping the dry areas, for example. With experimentation and patience, you CAN have great skin.

What to avoid: Irritating and harsh ingredients, as well as synthetic fragrances.

NORMAL

Is you skin:

• Well....normal?

Normal skin is well balanced and has few imperfections, dry or oily areas. Normal skin isn't prone to breakouts or flaking and generally looks and feels soft. Pores are also usually small.

If you have normal skin, you got lucky! However, skin can change over time and as we age. If you want to maintain your skin and keep it looking this way you still need to look after it.

Tips: Wash, exfoliate and moisturise. Your skin will tolerate more products so you'll have more choice, but that doesn't mean you should reach for those with cheap or questionable ingredients.

SENSITIVE

This is where it gets tricky. Is your skin:

• Irritated easily
• Dry or flaky
• Red
• Cracked
• Painful?

We get it. Sensitive skin can be difficult to deal with and incredibly unique. It's easily irritated and often leads to blotches, inflammation and dryness. It's also not always clear what causes flare ups which is why patience and experimentation is key.

Tips: Firstly, look for products that are dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive skin, as this means they're less likely to cause irritation. Always do a patch test on your arm before applying to your face. It's highly likely that if the skin on your arm reacts, your face will too!

What to avoid: You guessed it: irritants, synthetic chemicals and fragrances, and essential oils. With sensitive skin, you want to keep it simple. Exfoliation should be extremely gentle and no more than once a week: no microdermabrasion scrubs. 

Related skin conditions: Eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and dermatitis can typically cause sensitive skin and many products will cause irritation to sufferers of these conditions. Be gentle, use quality products, patch test and seek advice from a Dermatologist if you're unsure.

All of the products at Gentlemen's Scrub Club:

🧪 Are dermatologically tested and 'suitable for sensitive skin'

🚫 Synthetic fragrance FREE

🌱 Contain natural and organic ingredients

👌🏻 Our 3-step routine takes less than 60 seconds. You can try our 'Sample Pack' and get a 21 day supply before deciding to go all in with a full set.