This article serves as the foundation for understanding skincare, presenting a new mindset that can redefine your approach. Just as every field needs a fundamental concept, the same applies to skincare. Before exploring skincare techniques, you must understand its core principle.
The essence, or “Tao,” of skincare can be summarized in one simple sentence: Skin is an organ, “skin texture” is a symptom, and skincare products are medications.
This means that skin texture can be changed, and the problems that trouble you can be treated. Healthy skin doesn’t require extensive skincare (except for sun protection and cleansing), just as a healthy person doesn’t need medication. When your skin is not in good condition, it isn’t a “skin type”—it’s a symptom. And symptoms can be treated, allowing most people to return to balanced, neutral skin with the right approach.
The Misleading Concept of “Skin Types”
The idea of skin types is nothing more than a cleverly marketed concept designed to create a sense of dependency on products. It’s no wonder that confusion reigns in the world of skincare when we’ve been conditioned to think of our skin as belonging to a specific “type.” This oversimplification neglects the reality that skin conditions are fluid, constantly changing based on environmental, lifestyle, and hormonal factors.
If you think back to years ago, during the era of aloe vera gels and horse oil, the idea of “skin type” wasn’t as entrenched. Professional literature never mentioned “skin types” but rather described skin in terms of symptoms and treatments for specific problems. Major reputable brands with a long history rarely categorize products by skin type. Instead, they focus on offering different textures to cater to individual preferences, with the active ingredients often remaining the same.
So, how did “skin types” become default common sense? The answer is simple: it’s a marketing strategy, not a scientific truth. Business concepts thrive on simplicity, even if they distort reality. As a result, skincare became another industry that pushes a product-first narrative, capturing immense commercial value.
The Origin of Skin Type Classification
Dr. Leslie Baumann, one of the early proponents of skin type classification in the cosmetic industry, never intended it to be a fixed label. Instead, she used it as a way to understand a patient’s skin condition at a particular moment. But as this concept became popular, it led people to believe that their skin was destined to be a certain way. This mindset discourages us from investigating and addressing the root causes of our skin issues.
Once you buy into the notion of having a “skin type,” you’re more likely to buy products marketed as solutions for that type, even if they don’t address the real underlying issue. This marketing ploy encourages us to accept problems instead of treating them.
Symptoms, Not Skin Types
Personally, I was once labeled as having extremely dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin. However, after changing my mindset and products, my skin now tolerates AHA treatments and high-concentration whitening agents without needing excessive moisturization. So, what’s my skin type now? This experience shows that our skin is not defined by static categories but by symptoms that can change with the right care.
The truth is, every skin symptom—whether it’s dryness, oiliness, acne, redness, or roughness—has different causes and should be treated as such. These are not permanent characteristics but temporary symptoms that need to be diagnosed, addressed, and cured.
The Skincare Industry’s Closed Loop
The beauty of the “skin type” narrative is that it creates a perfect closed loop for the skincare industry. If a product doesn’t work, it’s not the product’s fault; it’s simply because it’s not meant for your “skin type.” If the product worsens your condition, it’s because you have “sensitive skin,” and that’s just how it is. This mindset keeps consumers buying more products, often without seeing real results, and ensures the survival of ineffective or even harmful products in the market.
The Reality: Treat Skin Like You Would Any Other Health Issue
The truth is: skin is an organ, skin texture is a symptom, and skincare products are treatments. There’s no such thing as a permanent skin type—only symptoms that can and should be treated. Just as a patient would seek a diagnosis and appropriate treatment for any health issue, skincare should be approached in the same way.
Ask yourself:
- Is dryness really a skin type, or is it a symptom of poor self-moisturizing function?
- Is acne-prone skin a type, or is it a symptom of overactive sebaceous glands and inflammation?
- Could redness be a result of allergies, over-cleansing, or even H. pylori infection?
Common Causes of Skin Issues
Skin symptoms often have multiple causes. For example:
- Acne can be due to Propionibacterium acnes, mites, allergies, skincare ingredients, diet, and more.
- Dryness can result from the environment, over-cleansing, or even improper skincare routines.
- Enlarged pores could be related to aging, acne scars, or clogged pores.
Shift Your Perspective and Approach
Stop seeing skincare as a collection of products you “must” use. Instead, think of it as treating symptoms. The goal should be to return to a state where you only need basic cleansing and sun protection. If your skin is healthy, you shouldn’t need a full arsenal of products.
If you’re already in good skin health, your primary concern may eventually be anti-aging, but even here, skincare products play only a supporting role. Advanced treatments and phototherapy often offer more significant results.
The Essentials of Effective Skincare
- Diagnose First: Identify the root cause of your skin symptoms.
- Change Habits: Fix lifestyle factors contributing to skin issues.
- Choose Ingredients Wisely: Active ingredients matter, not the branding or packaging.
- Less is More: Use fewer products, focusing on quality and effectiveness.
- Adapt and Stop When Needed: Use products only when needed, and stop if symptoms are resolved.
The Harsh Truth About Skincare Products
Unfortunately, the skincare industry is rife with “ineffective and harmful” products disguised as miracle solutions. If most skincare products truly worked, we’d all have flawless skin. Instead, products that are truly effective are often found in medical-grade formulations rather than commercial skincare.
In Conclusion:
Skincare should be about understanding and treating symptoms, not about adhering to a prescribed “skin type.” When you approach skincare as you would any other medical issue—diagnose, treat, and resolve—you’ll find yourself less swayed by marketing and more in control of your skin’s health.