Normal skin is best defined by what it isn’t: neither oily nor dry, nor sensitive and generally problem-free. With a complexion like this, you may be tempted to leave it alone. Why mess with perfection, right? But even normal skin needs care and attention.
What Is “Normal” Skin?
Skin is generally classified as “normal” if it isn’t overly oily or dry and doesn’t face any persistent skin concerns or conditions. This well-balanced healthy skin type has even levels of moisture and hydration, uniform texture and no obvious problem areas (in other words, you’ve hit the skin care jackpot). That said, normal skin can experience slight variations in oiliness and dryness (and even the occasional breakout) when exposed to environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution.
Balanced Oil Production
Because of a healthy balance of oil and water, normal skin feels even and balanced. It can simply do its job: be a barrier, eliminator, regenerator and absorber. If you have this healthy skin type, you only require maintenance with a great skin care routine, which we will unpack below.
Barely Visible Pores
Your pores are not obviously large (which would be a sign of oily skin). In fact, they’re barely visible. Lucky you!
Cleansing Feels Fine
Whether you use a foaming cleanser, balm or oil cleanser, your skin always feels clean and calm. Overall, your healthy skin doesn’t feel tight, dry or sensitive.
Minor Breakouts
You rarely experience breakouts. If you do, you can usually attribute it to neglecting your skin care routine, forgetting to remove makeup and sunscreen or hormonal fluctuations (such as your period).
Minimal Sensitivity
You don’t react to new skin care products or ingredients. Your skin tone is even and smooth.
Now that you’ve identified that your skin type is a normal skin type, here’s how to take care of your complexion so it continues to perform optimally.
Key Steps For Maintaining Healthy Skin
Normal skin may not have obvious problems, but it still requires proper care to stay healthy and youthful. Caring for normal skin takes a three-pronged approach: Treat immediate issues, maintain your skin’s health and protect your skin from future damage.
Treat
Treat your skin according to its needs of the moment. You can make minor adjustments to your skin care routine to tackle intermittent dryness or oiliness as well as target the odd dark spot or blemish. Feeling dry? Swap your lightweight moisturizer for a richer formula. Blemish emerging? Add a spot treatment to your nightly routine. Pick products that you can easily incorporate into your skin care routine so you can make these quick game-time decisions.
Maintain
No immediate skin concerns or conditions to address? Normal skin types likely don’t have to focus on skin concerns like acne or hyperpigmentation. But you’re not off the hook — yet. Even normal skin requires proper care to maintain its healthy glow. You get to focus your energy on maintaining the happy, healthy-looking complexion that you already have. For example, a spa facial is still a great way to prevent potential skin concerns and enhance your glowing complexion. You can talk to your esthetician about the Blueberry Detox Firming Peel, a professional-grade treatment that combines blueberry, raspberry and blackberry juices, as well as pineapple extract to refresh the skin. Your esthetician will also recommend a set of at-home products to help maintain skin’s health and appearance. If you can’t make it to a spa, we have collated a skin care routine you can do at home below.
Protect
Maintaining your skin’s health requires protecting it from drying environmental stressors. UV rays, blue light radiation and pollution expose skin to free radicals — unstable and highly reactive molecules that damage otherwise healthy cells. Over time, cumulative exposure leads to premature skin aging and the development of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. You can protect your skin by minimizing sun exposure, adjusting your lifestyle habits and adding SPF and antioxidant-rich products to your skin care routine.
Normal Skin Care Routine
Choosing the right products is essential to keeping normal skin strong and healthy. Here is what our Eminence Organics Product Support Team recommends for a normal skin care routine.
1. Cleanser
Gel Cleanser: Stone Crop Gel Wash
This gentle gel cleanser washes away impurities without stripping the skin of moisture. Stone crop, chamomile and shea butter combine to hydrate and brighten the look of the skin.
Cream Cleanser: Coconut Milk Cleanser
If your normal skin occasionally experiences dryness, try a cream cleanser. Our Coconut Milk Cleanser is very gentle for dry skin types and uses rich coconut milk to improve the look of the skin for a dewy finish.
Oil Cleanser: Stone Crop Cleansing Oil
For a normal-to-oily complexion, try an oil-based cleanser like our Stone Crop Cleansing Oil. This non-greasy cleansing oil lifts away impurities and excess oil for a fresh-looking complexion.
Watch this video to learn how to add a cleansing oil to your skin care routine:
2. Toner
Cleansing and toning work together like shampoo and conditioner: Toning completes the cleansing process by providing hydration, moisture and essential nutrients to keep your skin as healthy as possible. For normal skin, try a hydrating facial mist such as the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist, which keeps skin looking clean, fresh and dewy all day long with stone crop juice.
3. Exfoliate
Try the rice flour-based Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant to help absorb oil and buff away dead skin cells for a bright, radiant appearance. The strawberry ingredient helps cleanse, while salicylic acid gently exfoliates and removes impurities to brighten the look of your skin and reduce the appearance of pores. Rhubarb is a good source of ascorbic acid and vitamins to fight the appearance of wrinkles, while lactic acid sloughs off dead skin cells to improve skin texture.
4. Mask
Our Stone Crop Masque contains hydrating stone crop, used by herbalists for centuries to smooth and firm the appearance of the skin. This gel mask contains our BioComplex formulation, a booster of antioxidants, Coenzyme Q10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the look of your skin overall. You only need to apply a small amount which you leave on for five to ten minutes.
5. Serum
Protect your complexion from the appearance of drying environmental stress by adding an antioxidant-rich serum to your daily skin care routine. Our Product Support Team has suggested a few favorites including the Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum and the Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum. Even with normal skin, you may want to minimize the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, which is exactly what the Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum is designed to do — helping the skin appear firm and plump. To ensure your skin remains hydrated, the Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum supports skin that’s been dried out by cold weather. Keep the serum on hand and apply a thin layer a few times a day (no more than three). Feel good knowing it contains wholesome, natural ingredients like strawberry, rhubarb and honey.
6. Moisturizer
All skin types require moisture to stay soft, supple and protected. Moisturizing supports the skin’s natural lipid barrier, helping it to better retain water and repel external irritants and stressors. Again, the consistency you choose comes down to preference:
Light: Mangosteen Gel Moisturizer
The Mangosteen Gel Moisturizer contains mangosteen, an antioxidant-rich super fruit that helps the appearance of skin and minimizes the appearance of pores. This hydrating formula is also the winner of Allure 2021 Best of Beauty: Clean Beauty Product. This formula starts as a dewy gel that melts beautifully into the skin, leaving a smooth, matte finish.
Medium: Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream
If you prefer a medium consistency, reach for the Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream. This daily moisturizer features an exclusive Peptide Illuminating Complex that helps the skin appear smooth and firm.
Rich: Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer
For a richer cream, our Product Support Team recommends our Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer. Infused with coconut oil, a Natural Retinol Alternative and PhytoCellTec™ Swiss Green Apple, this moisturizer firms and tightens the appearance of the skin.
SPF Moisturizer
To decrease the risk of skin cancer and keep your skin healthy, it’s important to apply a sunscreen or SPF moisturizer each day, preferably one that has an SPF factor of at least 30. The Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 is an all-in-one lightweight daily moisturizer formulated to improve the appearance of skin exposed to blue light stress and pollution.
7. Eye Cream
Our Product Support Team tells us: “Everyone should use an eye cream! The Wild Plum Eye Cream would be a fabulous choice for normal skin. It is rich in vitamin K (from iron-rich wild plum) to reduce the look of dark circles.”
8. Facial Oils
Facial oils can be applied before or after moisturizers, depending on the skin care products that you’re using. If you prefer, facial oils can be applied to treat your skin before your moisturizer, or you may wish to leave this step until last so that the facial oil can sink through the moisturizer into your skin. The third option is to mix your oil with your moisturizer. Select which method works best for your skin and try out the Camellia Glow Solid Face Oil. This luxurious facial oil contains the highly moisturizing camellia oil that revitalizes and rejuvenates the look of the skin. This oil leaves the complexion looking soft and supple.
Trust us: Even normal skin types will benefit from a skin care regimen, and your favorite facialist can help you pick out the best products. Visit our spa locator to find the nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner.
Do you believe you have a “normal” complexion? We’d love to hear how you care for your skin’s needs! Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.
