Skincare is an important step in maintaining youthful and healthy skin. There are many factors that should be considered when choosing specific cruelty-free products, especially in the skincare realm. To begin, it’s a good idea to find cruelty-free brands that you trust. You can reference the “How to go cruelty-free” section of my post called Cruelty-Free Questions Answered for tips on verifying a company’s cruelty-free status.

Please note that I am not a skincare professional. I am simply an individual that enjoys learning about and using skincare products. There is a wide world of skincare products available to us, and I hope to provide you with some things to consider when choosing the best cruelty-free skincare products for your unique skin.

Skin type

The term “skin type” refers to your skin’s level of oil production. Each individual’s skin type should play a major role in which skincare products are used. ALL skin types require hydration, but some need more than others. There are four basic skin types:

• Dry
  • Very little oil production
  • Needs more hydration from skincare products than any other skin type
  • Skin may feel tight or sensitive without proper hydration
• Normal
  • Average oil production which results in skin that is neither overly dry or oily
  • Typically has fewer imperfections than other skin types
• Combination
  • Some areas of the skin are dry while others are oily (typically the T-zone will be oily for this skin type)
  • Moisturization and exfoliation are important to keep the skin balanced
• Oily
  • Excessive oil production
  • Needs hydration from lightweight moisturizing products to prevent the skin from over-producing oil

Skin concerns

There is a wide array of skin concerns that skincare can help to address. Evaluate your skin and decide what you would like to work on. Some of the most common skin concerns that can be addressed with skincare are as follows:

• Dryness
• Oiliness
• Breakouts/Acne
• Large pores
• Rough texture
• Sensitivity
• Redness
• Discoloration
• Uneven skin tone
• Dullness
• Fine lines
• Puffy eye area
• Dark circles under eyes

You will find that a lot of skincare ingredients are great at multitasking. Even if you have multiple skin concerns, you might be able to find the ingredients best suited for you within just a few products.

Look past marketing tricks

A very important thing to keep in mind when shopping for anything, is that companies are formed with the goal of making money. Cosmetics companies are notorious for using “marketing tricks” to convince consumers to purchase products they may or may not need. There are many lies skincare companies might tell you (either implicitly or explicitly) to make a sale:

• Their product will give you perfect flawless skin
• You need their product whether it treats your personal skin concerns or not
• Expensive luxury products are more effective than affordable options
• Celebrities use their products so they must be superior to competitors’ products
• Products are non-toxic, hypoallergenic, natural, or organic (these terms are not regulated by the FDA for cosmetics)

I am just scratching the surface of the methods companies may use to mislead you. It is important to be wary if you feel pressured by a company’s marketing strategies. However, not all companies have bad intentions and many care very much about providing a good experience for customers. 

Long-term use is key

Do not expect to see results from any skincare product overnight. This will vary depending on the person and the specific product, but generally it takes at least six weeks of consistent use to see the effects of skincare that is meant to address specific concerns.

When considering purchasing a new skincare product, it is important to ask yourself if you will use it consistently. If the answer is “no,” you might be better off skipping that product.

My skin type and skin concerns

I plan to share my thoughts on many skincare products through product reviews here on IntegriBeauty. When reading my reviews, please keep in mind that everyone’s skin is unique. What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa.

For reference, I am 32 years old with a combination skin type. Like the majority of people with a combination skin type, I have an oily T-zone while the rest of my skin is normal. My skin is in good condition, but I do have some skin concerns like large pores (especially on my nose and either side of my nose), uneven skin tone, and fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes.

It is not always easy to figure out which skincare products will work best for you. I hope the information I have provided here has made you feel more confident about making informed buying decisions.

I look forward to sharing many skincare product reviews with you in the future! 

Lauren