I started my blog back in 2009 with the intent of sharing everything I’ve learned about skincare in my thirty years as an esthetician. My goal has always been to create educational posts that help you understand your skin, teach you how to care for it, and allow you to become a smarter skincare consumer. Sharing my knowledge has always brought me great joy and now, eleven years later of my blog, I’m still typing away.
If you aren’t already familiar with my skincare philosophy, I believe there are nine types of skin. I spent so many years working hands-on with skin, three inches away from people’s faces. This quickly taught me that the standard “dry,” “normal,” and “oily” classifications leave a lot to be desired. We’re all much more complex than that! My nine skin types are one of the pillars of my skincare philosophy, but I know sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.
In this post, I thought I’d share with you my top five blog post recommendations for each of the skin types. These are some of my favorite posts that I’ve written over the years, and I hope you find them useful on your quest for clear, smooth, healthy skin.
Skin Type #1: Oily / Clogged Pores / Severe Breakouts All Over
1. Acne is complex, and unfortunately, it’s not always possible to get to the root cause of a breakout. But after helping my blemish-prone clients for over thirty years, I’ve identified these eleven common causes of adult acne and blemishes.
2. If you’re acne-prone, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these five mistakes that could make your acne worse.
3. No one wants blemishes in the first place, but when they do crop up, this post will teach you how to get rid of a blemish fast.
4. Accutane is a confusing and controversial topic, but if you have severe acne and have tried everything else, it’s worth looking into. Read what I have to say about when to consider Accutane.
5. As if blemishes themselves weren’t already frustrating enough, the red or dark marks they leave behind can linger for weeks or even months. Learn how to fade dark marks and acne scars.
Skin Type #2: Oily / Combination / Occasional Breakouts / Anti-Aging
1. If you’re a Skin Type #2, you’re still dealing with some breakouts but have also started to notice the first signs of aging. Learn how to navigate this new chapter of your skincare journey with my Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Aging.
2. Speaking of aging gracefully, you can look 24 percent younger by doing this one thing really well.
3. Pores—we all have them, and we’ve all tried shrinking them at one point or another. Whether you’re looking for instant gratification or a long-term strategy, this is the best way to shrink large pores.
4. When we break out as adults, what we’re often dealing with stubborn, hormonal acne. Learn how hormones affect your skin depending on your age and everything you need to know about preventing hormonal breakouts.
5. We’ve all been there—your skin is doing great and then, seemingly out of nowhere, you start breaking out again. Learn how to treat sudden breakouts that come out of nowhere.
Skin type #3: Oily / Combination / Sensitive / Consistent Breakouts
1. Dealing with both acne and sensitive skin at once can seem like a losing battle, and it doesn’t help that many acne-fighting ingredients can be quite drying. Learn how to repair dry, irritated skin caused by acne treatments.
2. Foundation makeup can be a great tool when you want to conceal a breakout. Unfortunately, it’s also notorious for causing clogged pores and bumpy skin. Read my recommendations for the best foundation for oily, acne-prone skin.
3. As if blemishes themselves weren’t already frustrating enough, the red or dark marks they leave behind can linger for weeks or even months. Learn how to fade dark marks and acne scars.
4. When you deal with hormonal acne, it can feel near impossible to find an effective treatment that won’t dry out or irritate your skin. Enter the hydrating mask that will do wonders for your acne (and so much more).
5. There’s a lot of information circulating out there about how to get rid of acne, and not all of it is accurate. It can be overwhelming—but these seventeen tips might just banish your breakouts for good.
Skin Type #4: Oily / Combination / Sensitive / Occasional Breakouts
1. Dealing with both sensitive skin and occasional breakouts can seem like a losing battle, and it doesn’t help that many acne-fighting ingredients can be quite drying. Learn how to repair dry, irritated skin caused by acne treatments.
2. Sensitive + plus breakouts = redness. Use these five ingredients to quickly calm acne redness for a more even-toned complexion.
3. Do you use spot treatments but notice that your blemishes still take forever to go away? Learn why most acne spot treatments don’t work (and what will).
4. Even when they’re occasional, breakouts can be a real nuisance. Hormonal breakouts are even worse because they can be painful and hard to get rid of. Read about the real reason you’re getting hormonal breakouts and how to stop them.
Skin Type #5: Normal / Sensitive / Red / Anti-Aging
1. In my experience, the cause of red, sensitive skin is usually a damaged moisture barrier. Learn how you’re damaging your barrier and what you can do to repair it.
2. Did you know that not all sensitive skin is created equal? There are four different types of skin sensitivity, and which one you have will determine how it should be treated.
3. When you’re in your late twenties or early thirties, it’s normal to start to notice the first signs of aging skin. The best strategy is to be proactive, and this is something you definitely want to get the jump on. Learn ten things you can start doing now to prevent wrinkles.
4. If your skin feels tight and looks shiny or crinkly, it’s natural to assume you have dry skin. In reality, you’re probably dealing with dehydrated skin. Learning the difference between dry and dehydrated skin is so important because understanding this is one of the major keys to healthy skin.
5. If you’re prone to redness in your skin, chances are you’re also prone to broken blood vessels. Here are nine ways to prevent broken blood vessels on your face.
Skin Type #6: Normal / Anti-Aging
1. Concerned about the first signs of aging, but not sure where to start? Read my Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Aging.
2. Freckles are seen as a sign of youth, but as we age, sun exposure can turn them into larger sun-spots that make our skin appear less even-toned. Learn how to prevent summer sun-spots for a youthful complexion.
3. A key component of youthful, vibrant skin is good circulation. As we get older, our circulation naturally slows down, which can cause the skin to look dull. Learn how to make your skin glow by increasing circulation.
4. We all want to age gracefully, and many of us are diligent about our skincare routines for this very reason. That said, there are things we do unknowingly that can sabotage our efforts and age the skin more quickly. Look out for these seven surprising ways you’re aging your skin faster.
5. As skincare formulations become more and more sophisticated, it can be difficult to know what to choose. There are so many products with exciting ingredients on the market, but how do you know which ones are right for your skin? Read my list of the best active ingredients to improve your skin.
Skin Type #7: Dry / Tired / Aging
1. Everyone wants bright, radiant skin, but achieving this can be easier said than done. If you’re a Skin Type #7, read my blog post about how to get brighter-looking skin without makeup and revive tired-looking skin.
2. If tired, aging skin is one of your top skincare concerns, it’s time to consider retinol. This amazing ingredient really is as close to a miracle-worker as it gets! Get started with my Beginner’s Guide to Retinol and Retinoids.
3. Turning fifty last year was a huge milestone for me. I don’t really feel my age and thanks to these beauty tips, I’ve been told I don’t really look my age, either.
4. Many of us are guilty of having neglected our neck and chest areas when we were younger (I know I certainly am). Because the skin here is so thin, this can mean a lot of sun damage that comes back to haunt us later in life. Learn how to turn the clock back a little by repairing sun damage on your neck and chest.
5. Trying to eliminate dry, flaky skin can feel like a frustrating game of whack-a-mole until you find the right combination of skincare products. The key is using emollient, barrier-repairing ingredients that will restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Learn how to find the best moisturizer to heal dry, flaky skin.
Skin Type #8: Dry / Sun Damaged / Aging
1. Home skincare gadgets have surged in popularity over the past few years. While the idea of treating your skin in the comfort of your own home may sound appealing, not all at-home treatment devices will give you the results you’re looking for. Read my review of the ten at-home skin devices to start and stop using now.
2. Many of us are guilty of having neglected our neck and chest areas when we were younger (I know I certainly am). Because the skin here is so thin, this can mean a lot of sun damage that comes back to haunt us later in life. Learn how to turn the clock back a little by repairing sun damage on your neck and chest.
3. There’s certainly a lot you can do to proactively treat aging skin, but what about the things you shouldn’t be doing? Read about the five ways you could be making yourself look older than you are.
4. Skin not looking as glowy as you’d like? Here are ten ways to give dull skin a healthy glow.
5. When you start to notice the first signs of aging skin, it can be hard to know how to adjust your routine. Here are ten things you can start doing now to prevent wrinkles.
Skin Type #9: Dry / Sensitive / Red / Aging
1. If you have dry skin, it’s important to understand how to properly maintain your skin’s moisture barrier. Learn how you could be damaging your moisture barrier (and how to fix it).
2. I’ve always been a believer in eye cream and personally use one in my routine every night. If you feel like you’ve used eye creams in the past and haven’t seen results, read these five reasons your eye cream might not be working.
3. Trying to eliminate dry, flaky skin can feel like a frustrating game of whack-a-mole until you find the right combination of skincare products. The key is using emollient, barrier-repairing ingredients that will restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Learn how to find the best moisturizer to heal dry, flaky skin.
4. Redness-prone skin is usually prone to broken blood vessels as well. Here are nine ways to prevent broken blood vessels on your face.
5. If you’re a Skin Type #9, be sure to read these six tips for soothing redness and rosacea and learn how to put the fire for calm, even-toned skin.
So there you have it, my recommended reading for each of the nine skin types. I hope you found something helpful in the mix! Of course, I have hundreds of posts on my blog and you can find a lot more information about acne, dry skin, redness, sensitivity, wrinkles, or any other skin concern you can think of. Happy reading!
Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”
