Short answer, yes.
But how and why?
We are diving into a look at the various different factors that can affect your skin type and sometimes cause a complete 180 in how your skin behaves (bit rude, really.)
And more importantly, how you can handle these skin changes.
Where you live and the environmental conditions can have a considerable impact on your skin.
Moving from an arid environment to a place with more moisture in the air can cause your skin to sweat more and produce more oil, while in the other hand, moving from a humid environment to a dry climate can cause your skin to lose moisture, and become dehydrated, which in turn can speed up the aging process. In the same vein, if you have recently started working in a constantly air-conditioned environment, this can dry out your skin. As your skin dries out, day after day, the acid mantle protecting your skin can become damaged, thus causing an increase in skin sensitivity.
If you are experiencing a change in your skin, think first about the conditions you live and work in and adjust your skincare accordingly, by either adding a more balancing cleanser and serum if your skin has suddenly become more oily, or adding in hydrating elements if you find your skin is feeling dry and tight.
Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life - as we mature, our skin loses its ability to retain moisture, produces less collagen and becomes less elastic. So as we age, your skin is naturally going to tend towards a more dry skin type. By adding ultra-hydrating serums and moisturisers to your routine, you give your skin the best chance to stay hydrated and supple.
We would also recommend adding Vitamin C, A and E rich products to your routine, as well as a super-targeted anti-aging element, such as Coenzyme 10 to help boost collagen production, retain moisture and boost elasticity. You can find all these elements and more in our stand-alone anti-aging routine, Ageless.
Your hormones play a big role in your skin type. Think about the surge of hormones that hit your body as a teenager - these are the main culprits for acne and breakouts and excessive sebum production. The same goes for stress-related hormones, or menopausal hormones, or pregnancy hormones.
This is especially true if you are experiencing more oil production on your skin, you need to consider how your hormones are related, as they can be a big trigger for increased sebum production.
If you are experiencing these fluctuations in hormones, it can be beneficial to transition to or add an oil balancing skincare routine, as well as regular exfoliation to help keep pores clean and remove dead skin cells.
Stress can be a big trigger for breakouts, caused by an overproduction of sebum, as we mentioned above. Hormones released during stress can cause inflammation, which in turn bring on stress-related acne and breakouts. Acne caused by stress is usually accompanied by redness, itching, and an increased number of blackheads and whiteheads.
There is a wide range of medications that can cause a fluctuation in your skin type, either causing more oil production or dehydrating your skin.
Some of the main culprits for drying out your skin are blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, antihistamines, and acne medication, such as Accutane. Consider using a skincare routine specifically designed to help hydrate your skin.
On the other hand, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement medication can cause an increase in oil production, and well as certain kinds of steroids.
It’s important to look at any recent diet changes if you are experiencing a change in skin type. Especially for oily or combination skin types moving more towards a dry skin type. Your skin can become dehydrated from not consuming enough water and drinking excessive coffee, alcohol or other diuretics. When your skin becomes dehydrated, the acid mantle protecting your skin can become compromise and cause your skin to become more sensitive.
In saying that, dehydration can cause overproduction of oil on the skin. If your skin is severely dehydrated, it may start to overproduce sebum and oil to compensate for the lack of hydration, resulting in oily skin.
If you do experience skin type change, it’s important to adjust your skincare routine accordingly.
You wouldn’t continue using heavy moisturizers if your skin is suddenly producing too much sebum and starting to breakout, and in the same way, it wouldn’t be wise to keep using oil-balancing skincare products if your skin is starting to dry out.
For oily or acne-prone skin, we recommend the simple 3 Step Supercharged Trio, as well as regular exfoliation, such as the Bright Skin Powder to keep your pores clean and reveal fresh, clear skin.
For dry or sensitive skin, we recommend our 3 Step Nourishing Trio to help replace moisture and lock it in, as well as regular exfoliation, such as the UnMask Powder to promote skin cell regeneration and remove dead skin cells.