Acne has many different causes – everything from diet, genetics, hormones, and bacteria plays a role.

Ultimately, it manifests in the same symptoms – blackheads, whiteheads, oiliness, and sore, swollen red blemishes which heal slowly and persistently pop up again in the same areas.

See our range to combat blemishes

Typically, sensitive skin is prone to redness and easily irritated, leading to small bumps and uneven tone and texture. These flare ups can be triggered by anything from removing your makeup to trying a new product or a treatment with strong or active ingredients.

From our early- to mid-twenties, our bodies produce less elastin and collagen (the proteins that keep skin plump and firm), this leads to skin being looser and thinner, which in turn causes lines and wrinkles to form easily. This also effects skin’s moisture levels, so you’ll find your skin gets drier as you get older.

Oily skin is caused when you have overactive oil glands – sometimes it’s genetic and sometimes it’s a result of using the wrong skincare products – if you strip too much moisture from your skin, it compensates by overproducing oil. If you have oily skin, you’ll experience shine, enlarged pores, and blackheads. You may also be prone to breakouts (caused by oil clogging pores) and will find your makeup doesn’t last well in your oily areas.

Combination is skin is neither oily nor dry, in fact, it’s both – which means it can be confusing to diagnose. You’ll experience the main symptoms of oily skin – excess oil, clogged pores, and shine in your T-zone, but you’ll also have dry patches (with flakiness and redness) in areas such as your cheeks, jaw, or hairline.

Dryness is triggered when the skin’s surface becomes damaged and invisible cracks allow moisture to escape (and irritants to get in). The symptoms? Skin feels tight, looks dull, lacks elasticity, and feels rough and itchy – often with patches of flakiness.