SECTION: FACIAL SKINCARE

Effective skincare starts with correctly identifying your skin type. How can you quickly and easily determine which type you have — and how to care for it?

There are four main skin types: normal, dry, oily, and combination. The key factor that distinguishes them is the activity level of the sebaceous glands.

Oiliness Test

A simple test can help determine how oily your skin is. Perform it 2 hours after washing your face — without applying any moisturizer, serum, or makeup:

1. Take blotting paper or a thin tissue

2. Prepare 5 pieces — for the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin

3. Gently press each piece to the corresponding area of your face

How to evaluate the results:

SIMPLIFIED SKIN TYPE CLASSIFICATION

• If your skin becomes oily and shiny quickly — you likely have oily skin

• If you experience tightness, sensitivity, visible capillaries or flaking — it’s dry skin

• If you have oily zones (typically the T-zone: forehead, nose, chin) and dry zones (cheeks, temples) — it’s combination skin

• If your skin feels comfortable, balanced, and has no visible concerns — you have normal skin

But it’s not always that simple. Skin type isn’t just about oiliness.

WHY OILY SKIN CAN STILL BE DRY

The lipid barrier helps retain moisture and protect the skin from environmental damage. But sebum production and barrier integrity are separate factors.
You can have high sebum activity (oily skin) and still suffer from dehydration due to a weakened lipid barrier — resulting in skin that feels both oily and dry.

This condition requires special care focused on barrier repair and hydration.

For example, our Face Cream-Gel for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin:

• Squalane to restore the skin’s lipid barrier and prevent moisture loss

• Grape Seed Oil and Jojoba Oil to nourish the skin with essential fatty acids and improve elasticity

• Lecithin and Panthenol to support skin regeneration and strengthen its defenses

• Bakuchiol and Azelaic Acid to balance sebum production and reduce inflammation without over-drying

This targeted combination helps regulate oiliness while deeply hydrating the skin, restoring comfort and balance.

INFLAMMATION AND ENLARGED PORES ON DRY SKIN

Dry skin can still experience inflammation and enlarged pores. In this case, the issue is not excess oil, but rather a lack of hydration and an imbalanced skin microbiome. When the skin is dehydrated, its protective barrier becomes compromised, causing pores to dilate in an attempt to retain moisture — often leading to irritation, redness, and breakouts.

To restore balance, the skin needs deep hydration, barrier repair, and cellular regeneration.

Vivance Cosmetics offers a complete solution for dry, sensitive, and inflammation-prone skin:

• Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Serum
  A powerful blend of low- and high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, peptides, and antioxidants that delivers intense hydration, improves elasticity, and minimizes the appearance of pores. Perfect as the first step after cleansing to rehydrate and prep the skin for moisturizer.

• Face Cream for Dry & Dehydrated Skin
  Rich in shea butter, jojoba oil, squalane, and amino acids, this cream restores the skin’s lipid barrier, soothes irritation, and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Ideal for strengthening dry and sensitive skin.

• Replenishing Face Mask
  A deeply hydrating, nutrient-rich treatment designed to support skin regeneration overnight. Use 1 times per week to visibly improve texture, reduce irritation, and minimize pore appearance.

This skincare routine helps restore the skin’s microbiome, balance hydration levels, repair the protective barrier, and leave dry skin visibly healthier and more resilient.