You may have been taught to define your skin once and for all: dry, oily, combination, or sensitive. However, your skin is not static. It is constantly evolving with time, seasons, your lifestyle, and your environment.
Your skin changes. Your routine should evolve with it.
Skin type: a useful but limited basis
Identifying your skin type provides a useful starting point. But this classification is not enough to understand your skin's true needs.
Two people with "combination" skin can have completely different problems: dehydration, sensitivity, imperfections, or discomfort. Skin type is a starting point, not a definitive definition.
An essential distinction that many ignore: dryness and dehydration are two different things. Dry skin lacks lipids structurally. Dehydrated skin lacks water in its superficial layers and can affect all skin types, including oily skin. Confusing them leads to unsuitable product choices.
Why your skin evolves over time
The skin is a living organ, in constant interaction with your environment and your internal state. Stress, sleep, hormones, diet, and the care products used directly influence its sebum production, tolerance, and balance.
What your skin tolerated before may no longer suit it today. And that's normal.
The impact of age on your skin
Before 25 years old, cell renewal is fast (about 21 to 28 days) and sebum production is often high due to hormones. The skin can be prone to imperfections, but it can also be weakened by overly aggressive treatments applied too young.
Between 25 and 40 years old, cell renewal begins to slow down. Collagen production decreases by about 1% per year from the age of 25. Needs become more complex: dehydration, sensitivity, complexion irregularities, or first expression lines.
After 40 years old, the drop in estrogen in women accelerates the loss of skin density: reference works report a decrease in skin collagen of about 1 to 2% per year after menopause. The skin becomes thinner, drier, and sometimes more reactive. Priorities clearly shift towards supporting the barrier and stimulating cell renewal.
These benchmarks remain general. What truly matters is your individual profile.
Seasons and lifestyle: often underestimated factors
Skin that is comfortable in summer can become uncomfortable in winter. A period of stress can be enough to accentuate shine, redness, or imperfections. Your environment also plays a major role: pollution, air conditioning, sun exposure, physical activity, or lack of sleep.
