Source image: Harris Reed
We can all agree that skincare should be for everyone, but the skincare industry is still pretty heavily gendered. But beyond the branding and the marketing, the reality is that everyone's skin is unique and deserves to be taken care of. It doesn’t matter what color the packaging is for a product, if it contains the right ingredients to tackle the issues you face with your skin, then go ahead and use it! Not all products will suit everyone, and there are a massive number of different factors that affect people’s skin in different ways. We’re going to unpack how to care for your skin, with a completely gendrless approach, so you know what to look for to address your skin care concerns. Let’s dig in.
Dry skin
Hydration and hormones both play key roles in managing how dry your skin feels. Keep your hydration levels up by drinking enough water, and using hydrating skincare to give your skin everything it needs to look glowing. That being said, if your estrogen levels are off, your skin will struggle to look its best, so if you’re staying hydrated and are taking good care of your skin but you’re still struggling, then it’s worth chatting to a healthcare practitioner who can check what’s going on. Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout our lives, particularly during transitional periods such as puberty and the menopause.
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Our favorite hydrating skincare: Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum One of the latest launches from Summer Fridays is the perfect pal for dry skin. Its jelly-like texture feels super hydrating, and the ingredients it contains back that feeling up: glycerine, hyaluronic acid, and squalane, along with oatmeal, chamomile, and aloe to soothe irritation. |
Oily skin
Genetics, stress, and the environment are the key factors in determining how oily your skin will be. Some people are simply prone to having oily skin. If it’s a problem you deal with, you might find that it gets worse when you’re stressed, or when you’re in humid and hot environments. Again, hormones can affect how greasy your skin is, with androgen levels affecting how much sebum your body produces. Your diet can also affect how oily your skin is, so eating a balanced diet that is packed with nutrient-rich fresh fruit and vegetables will likely help your skin too.
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Our favorite product for oily skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser Formulated to reduce oil without drying your skin, the Paula’s Choice balancing cleanser is a great way to gently cleanse your skin in the morning and the evening to keep it clean and help to manage how oily your skin looks and feels. It also works super efficiently to remove makeup, too. |
Breakouts
Pimples are the worst. Whether you deal with acne on a daily basis or you experience an occasional breakout, the root cause of your skin’s unwillingness to cooperate can be complicated. Much like with dry or oily skin, genetics, hormones, and environmental factors will all play a role in when your skin will break out, and even where your pimples will be located. Easy switches to make include washing your pillowcase every couple of days, to prevent bacteria and dirt buildup, and try to use skincare products that help reduce inflammation. Ingredients to look out for include ceramides and niacinamide.
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Our favorite product to combat breakouts: Dr. Dennis Gross Acne Eliminating Gel This antibacterial exfoliating gel will help combat breakouts as soon as you feel them coming. Suitable for use by those who deal with acne regularly as well as those who have the occasional breakout, this gel will help give your skin everything it needs to heal and reset. |
Large pores
This common skin concern is generally attributed to genetics, and will vary depending on your levels of testosterone. If it’s something you’re looking to address, then your safest bet is getting into a regular routine of cleansing twice a day and exfoliating one a week or so. Everybody’s skin is different, so try exfoliating once a week, or more, and see how your skin reacts. Once pores have been stretched, they can struggle to go back to a smaller size again, so keeping your pores clear of buildup is the best way to reduce their appearance.
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Our favorite pore reducing product: Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicyclic Serum If you’re searching for an exfoliating serum that feels lovely and gets the job done, then you might well have found it. Strawberry Smooth combines Glow Recipe’s signature 10% Clarity Acid Complex, which is a mix of 2% salicylic acid, and mandelic acid (AHA+BHA). Over time, these ingredients can reduce the appearance of your pores, prevent breakouts, and rid your pores of nasty impurities. |
Dullness
This one is a little ambiguous because different people mean different things when talking about dull skin. In this case, we’re talking about skin that lacks glow, so when you’re standing in direct light instead of your skin reflecting the shine it just kind of gets absorbed. Generally dull skin will also be textured, which is often the root cause of its dull appearance. Gentle acids and vitamin C will both help to address the issue, but it’s one of those things that does take time to improve. In the meantime, go easy on your skin by avoiding harsh chemicals and very hot water.
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Our favorite product to get glowy skin: Lumene Nordic-C [Valo] Arctic Berry Oil-Cocktail It’s unusual that a single skincare product contains everything you need to address a particular concern, but in this case Nordic-C is the perfect mix to get your skin glowing again. It combines vitamin C, along with vitamins A, B3, B5, and E, as well as antioxidant nordic berries. |
Dark spots
Uneven skin tone is often also referred to as hyperpigmentation. It happens when certain areas of your skin produce more melanin than others. These are usually a natural part of aging, and are caused by exposure to UV. Best practice is avoiding getting them in the first place by applying SPF daily. If there is something you’re already dealing with, there are some options to help you even out your skin tone if that’s something you want to do. Using skincare that contains antioxidants will help combat dark areas, as will mild acids. If you’re worried about any areas you can always show them to a dermatologist and they will confirm whether or not they are cause for concern, and can often prescribe a stronger treatment.
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Our favorite product for evening out your complexion: Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter This vitamin C-based serum targets dark spots by getting to work deep into the layers of your skin. Clinique’s proprietary CL302 Brightening Complex™ with vitamin C both reduces the appearance of existing dark spots over time, as well as helping prevent new ones from forming. The formula is also designed to soothe skin to reduce redness that can make dark spots more apparent. |
Fine lines
Aging is a natural process, and will be different for everyone. How you choose to approach it is completely up to you. Whether you opt for prejuvenation by taking care of your skin early, making lifestyle changes to reduce habits like smoking or drinking, or having cosmetic treatments to keep your skin looking smooth, the choice is entirely your own. Skin ages in different ways depending on the sex you were assigned at birth, and hormone levels affect the process too. People with higher levels of testosterone tend to have thicker skin, so they may experience fewer fine lines, but they will be deeper than people with thinner skin. Those with lower testosterone levels will likely have thinner skin, resulting in more fine lines, but they tend to be shallower. Whatever your personal situation, taking good care of your skin and helping it by giving it the nutrients it needs will help your aging process.
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Our favorite skincare to combat fine lines: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum 2.0 Its micro-smoothing technology will help your fine lines appear smoother so you can feel your most confident self when you go makeup-free, and you’ll have a great base on which to apply makeup if ever you choose to. The serum is made from 100% natural ingredients, including narcissus bulb, sea fern, and kimchi ferment. |