Published: April 30, 2025
Wondering why you haven’t been seeing any major results from your skincare routine? This could be due to a few reasons, one being that perhaps your skincare routine isn’t actually well matched to your skin type. How can you tell if this is the case, and what can you do to make things right? Keep reading as CBGärdN explains!
First, Determine Your Skin Type
Before you can assess whether or not your skincare routine is suited to your skin type, you need to make sure that you know what your skin type actually is. Sure, you may have assessed your skin a few years ago, but if that’s the information that you’re still going with, there’s a good chance that things may have changed. From hormones to environmental conditions to lifestyle, your skin type will keep shifting as you make your way through life, which is why it’s important to stay up-to-date with your skin’s needs at this current time.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to figure out your skin type, making it easy to do this regularly. Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser. Then, pat your skin dry and leave it bare for 30 minutes. After this, take a close look at your skin in the mirror…
If your skin looks and feels greasy, and your pores also look quite noticeable, then this means that your skin type is oily.
If your skin looks and feels dry, rough, and tight, this points toward dry skin.
Combination skin is a combination of both oily and dry. Some parts of your face will resemble oily skin whereas others will be much drier.
Sensitive skin will feel a little like dry skin, but much more irritated and inflamed. You may also notice red and blotchy patches on your face.
What about if none of the above relate to what you can see/feel? This means that your skin type is normal – the rarest of them all!
Is Your Current Skincare Routine Right For Your Skin Type?
Now that you’ve confirmed your skin type, how can you tell if your current skincare routine is suitable for your skin’s needs? Let’s take a closer look at the various products that make up a skincare routine, along with how to choose each one based on your skin type:
Choosing Cleansers
While some cleansers can be used on all skin types, cleansing is a very important step of your skincare routine, making it worth picking a cleanser that has been formulated with your skin type in mind.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, this means going with a very gentle cleanser. The last thing that you want to do is remove too much sebum from your skin as dry/sensitive skin doesn’t have enough sebum in the first place! A cleanser like the CB Facial Cleanser from CBGärdN, which is infused with amino acids, jasmine oil, and nettle leaf extract, would be ideal.
Meanwhile, if you have combination or oily skin, you may prefer to use a more powerful cleanser. You’ll need a product that’s capable of lifting all of that excess oil away from your skin in order to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. Foaming cleansers tend to be highly effective at dealing with greasy skin. However, always go for a sulfate-free formula, like the CB Silk Facial Foaming Purifier.
Choosing Exfoliators
Although exfoliation won’t (and shouldn’t) be a part of your daily skincare routine, this is still an important step that needs to be carried out regularly. Use the wrong exfoliator for your skin type and you’ll either end up over-exfoliating or under-exfoliating. Neither will do your skin any good!
If your skin type is oily or combination, you’ll likely need an exfoliator that contains hydroxy acids. Salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, is particularly popular among those with oily skin due to its oil-soluble nature. This means that it’s capable of cutting through the grease that coats the skin, enabling it to thoroughly clear excess oil out of the pores.
On the other hand, those with dry skin will find salicylic acid to be way too harsh. A much gentler touch is needed, like that provided by the CB Microexfoliant Peel. It has a gel-like consistency that gathers together dead cells and other impurities when applied to the skin. It’s a great exfoliator for sensitive skin too, although you won’t need to use it quite so often. Since sensitive skin already has a damaged skin barrier, take it slow with your exfoliation efforts.
Choosing Toners
While not everyone uses a toner, these products can be very useful. Not only do they help to rebalance the pH level of the skin’s surface (cleansing and exfoliating can often throw this off), but they also work to soothe the feeling of inflammation and irritation while prepping the skin in a way that enhances the absorption of any other products that are applied.
Those with oily or combination skin may be tempted to opt for an astringent toner. These formulas dry up excess oil. However, they often do this a little too well, over-drying the skin in a way that only increases sebum production in the long run!
Instead, no matter your skin type, the best toner to use will be a gentle and hydrating product, like the CB Facial Toner from CBGärdN. This one immediately quenches the skin with a blend of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and castor oil. It also contains niacinamide, which evens out the skin tone, calms the complexion, and provides antioxidant properties.
Choosing Serums
When choosing a serum, your skin type isn’t the only factor to keep in mind. Instead, with serums being such highly concentrated products, this is a great opportunity to tackle the other visible skin concerns that you’re dealing with.
Say, for example, you’re hoping to brighten your complexion while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A vitamin C serum would do just that. If your skin type is oily, pick a lightweight vitamin C serum. On the other hand, if your skin type is dry or sensitive, go for a vitamin C serum that also boasts moisturizing ingredients, just like the CB Illuminating Vita C Serum.
Of course, some serums can be used on all skin types. Hydrating formulas tend to fall under this category. These serums usually contain humectants – lightweight ingredients that bind moisture to the skin. A product like the CB Replenishing Serum, which brings together several humectants and antioxidants, can be enjoyed by everyone.
Choosing Moisturizers
While toners and serums aren’t essential products, a moisturizer is, no matter your skin type. However, it’s so easy to get things wrong when trying to match a moisturizer to your skin type.
Those with oily and combination skin often struggle with this the most. It’s so easy for a moisturizer to clog up the pores and contribute to breakouts, so much so that people with these skin types are often tempted to skip moisturizing altogether. Rather than doing that and depriving your skin cells of the moisture that they need, find a face cream that moisturizes without weighing the skin down, like the CB Rehydration Cream. It’s exceptionally hydrating, but the addition of salicylic acid means that you won’t have to worry about this moisturizer clogging your pores.
If your skin type is dry or sensitive, you’ll need a much richer moisturizer. The cream that you use needs to compensate for the lack of sebum that your skin produces. Look for a moisturizer that contains a selection of plant oils and butters, like the CB Night Renewing Creme.
Choosing SPF
SPF can be another contentious topic among certain skin types. There’s no denying the importance of it – with the sun responsible for causing up to 80% of the wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging that develop on the skin with age, keeping your skin protected from UV rays will go a long way in maintaining a youthful complexion.
While dry skin can get away with using heavier and thicker sunscreens, nobody enjoys having their skin coated with a greasy white product. Lightweight sunscreens are the way to go, which is why the CB Multi-Active Moisturizer With SPF 30 is such a hit. Being an SPF moisturizer, it’s much lighter and silkier than a regular sunscreen. However, it’s just as good when it comes to preventing the appearance of UV damage. It also contains a plethora of antioxidants to help repair the look of any UV damage that has already occurred.
Choosing Face Masks
If you want to give your skin some extra TLC, face masks are a great way to do so. They can really help to counter the visible skin concerns that have arisen due to your skin type, while also giving your complexion a big boost at the same time.
If your skin type is dry or sensitive, you’ll want a face mask that can give your skin the extra moisture that it’s craving, along with ingredients that will help to keep your skin barrier feeling bolstered. A leave-on formula, like the CB Midnight Melting Mask, would be ideal.
That same mask can be used on oily and combination skin too. However, if you’re concerned about clogged pores, a clay mask would be a better bet. Clay is renowned for being able to absorb excess oil, leaving the skin looking matte. The CB Purifying Heating Mask from CBGärdN takes this to the next level with its thermal properties. It gently heats up when applied to the skin, making it even easier for the clay to extract unwanted grease.
Summary
There’s a lot to think about when putting together a skincare routine, and your skin type should always be at the forefront of your mind. Make sure that your entire routine is tailored to your skin type and you should soon start to see much better results from your efforts.