Understanding Your Skin Type: Seasonal Challenges & Natural Solutions

 Skin is the largest organ of the body and tells us what is going on in our body every single day, may it glowing, breaking out, flaking or even getting irritated. Navigating both dry and oily skin depending on the season is a problem I face and I understand how frustrating it is when your skincare routine does not seem to “get it.” For instance, During a hot summer afternoon, there was this time while looking at the mirror I felt as if my skin was melting. And then, it winter, there were days where it felt as if my face was a patchy dry desert. What skin type you have is crucial because embracing your skin type is the first step to healing and treating it with care.

In this blogpost, I am going to cover the five main skin types, how to identify your skin type, what causes the different types, the impact of seasonal changes on them and most importantly, how to use gentle organic and natural products to take care of skin which no harsh chemicals or complicated routines. Just mindful self care which is the core of The AnnaQuari.

Recognizing Your Skin Type: The Tissue Test 

For defining skin types, here's a simple experiment to identify yours: 

1. Throughout the day, do not touch your face or put on any makeup 
2. First, wash your face with the cleanser you commonly use. 
3. Grab a clean facial tissue and place it beside your bed.
4. Without pulling any tissues out of the box, pressed the entire box against the regions of your face containing the forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and the others. 
5. Now, take out one tissue and observe it. 

• Observe. “Oil” is not present and eroded bits of skin are absent? You skin type is normal skin. 
• A big proportion of the tired zone (forehead and nose) has oily strips smeared? That skin type is “oily skin”. 
• Bumpy skin and rough spots or tightness around the skin’s periphery? That skin is “dry skin”. 
• In some regions (dried heavily in the tired zone) oil is present but skin is dry at other areas? This is “combination skin”. 
• Reddish skin, scrapping and burning? This is indeed sensitive skin. 

Now, let’s look at each type more closely.

1. Dry Skin

Why It Happens: Dry skin is caused by a lack of natural oils (sebum) or moisture in the skin’s outermost layer. This can be due to one's genes, hot showers, weather (particularly winter), or the use of harsh cleansers.

Seasonal Impact: During the winter months dry skin is more of a problem due to the lack of humidity, making it more flaky and itchy.

In summer, dry skin can feel tight and uncomfortable, particularly after being in the sun. 

How I Handle Dry Patches: Because it’s winter, I also experience dry areas which motivates me to use a hydrating mist followed by a cream-based moisturizer to provide long-lasting moisture without greasiness.

Organic Products for Dry Skin: 

1. Earth Rhythm Phyto-ceramide Moisturizer

• Ingredients: Ceramides, squalane, oat extract.
• Benefits: Skin barrier restoration, deep moisturization, and non-comedogenic. 
• Why It’s Great: Plant-based and no synthetic fragrances. 

2. Juicy Chemistry Bulgarian Rose Water Toner

• Ingredients: Steam distilled rose petals.
• Benefits: Dry and irritated skin is both hydrated and soothed. 
• Why It’s Great: Free from alcohol, preservatives, and artificial colors.

3. Raw Beauty Wellness Cold-Pressed Marula Oil

• Ingredients: Pure marula seed oil.
• Benefits: Packed with antioxidants, locks moisture in, leaves skin radiant.
• Why It's Great: Cold-pressed and unrefined; a real superfood for your skin. 

2. Oily Skin

Why It Happens: Oily skin is when sebaceous glands secrete excess oil, usually because of hormones, stress, over-cleansing, or genetics.

Seasonal Impact: During summer, oil production ramps up, clogging pores and causing breakouts. In winter, skin can be oily and dehydrated simultaneously, leading to perplexed skin reactions.

How I Manage My Oily Areas: Particularly during summer, I change to gel cleansers and apply lightweight hydrators which don't block pores but maintain my skin in balance.

Organic Products for Oily Skin:

1. Dot & Key Cica Calming Blemish Clearing Face Wash

• Ingredients: Centella Asiatica (Cica), green tea, salicylic acid.
• Benefits: Gently removes excess oil, soothes inflammation.
• Why It's Great: No parabens, SLS, or artificial coloring.

2. SoulTree Neem & Aloe Mattifying Moisturizer

• Ingredients: Organic neem, aloe vera, basil.
• Benefits: Moisturizes without the heaviness, antibacterial and anti-acne.
• Why It's Great: Natural ingredients in a certified Ayurvedic formula.

3. The Moms Co. Natural Green Tea Face Toner

• Ingredients: Green tea, apple cider vinegar, cucumber.
• Benefits: Controls oil, reduces pores, revives skin.
• Why It's Great: Alcohol-free, pH balanced, toxin-free.

3. Combination Skin

Why It Occurs: Combination skin has areas of oiliness and dryness, often oily along the T-zone and dry on the cheeks or jaw. This is due to uneven oil production, which is typically dictated by weather and hormones.

Seasonal Impacts: During summer, the T-zone region becomes oily and is prone to breakouts. During winter, dry zones may be even drier while the T-zone may be oily.

My Background: I do it all the time! I put some products on some parts—a lighter moisturizer on the T-zone and a heavier one on the dry areas.

Organic Products for Combination Skin:

1. Just Herbs LivelyClean Honey Exfoliating Face Wash

• Ingredients: Organic honey, jojoba beads, neem.
• Benefits: Gently exfoliates while oil-balancing.
• Why It's Great: It's sulfate-free, paraben-free, and mineral oil-free.

2. Ilana Organics Clarifying Skin Serum

• Ingredients: Witch hazel, tea tree, grapeseed oil.
• Benefits: Removes acne, regulates oil, moisturizes.
• Why It's Great: Designed for double skin areas; dries fast.

3. Plum Hello Aloe Caring Day Moisturizer

• Ingredients: Aloe vera and Vitamin E.
• Advantages: Lightweight, calming, non-comedogenic.
•  Why It's Great: Vegan, cruelty-free, has no artificial fragrance.

4. Sensitive Skin

Why It Happens: Sensitive skin responds rapidly to products, the weather, or even water. It is usually hereditary or associated with a faulty skin barrier.

Seasonal Impacts: During winter, the skin is more susceptible as it is dry. In summer, it can easily become red, painful, or develop rashes because of sweating or sun exposure.

Tips from My Own Practice: Always patch test new products. I use fragrance-free and essential oil-free products on irritated skin.

Natural Products for Sensitive Skin

1. Sukin Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

• Ingredients: Rosehip oil, shea butter, aloe vera.
• Benefits: Calms and quietens redness and inflammation.
• Why It's Great: No parabens or artificial fragrance.

2. Forest Essentials Pure Aloe Vera Juice

• Ingredients: Juice from fresh aloe.
• Advantages: Soothes, moisturizes, and refreshes delicate skin.
• Why It's Great: Cold-pressed and bottled freshly; no additives.

3. Kama Ayurveda Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

• Ingredients: Sandalwood, turmeric, and chickpea flour.
• Benefits: Calming powder cleanser that soothes skin. 
• Why It's Great: Ayurvedic ancient formula; no synthetics.

5. Normal Skin

Why It Happens: Normal skin has an ideal balance of oil and moisture. It's neither oily nor dry. It's usually genetic and is an indicator of a normal barrier function.

Seasonal Impact: Yes, Minor disruptions, but sun and hydration precautions are still necessary.

How to Keep It Glowing: Even if you have good skin, I recommend a light regimen—a non-stripping cleanser, lightweight moisturizer, and daily SPF.

Natural Products for Normal Skin

1. Organic Harvest Daily Nourishing Day Cream

• Ingredients: Mallow, sea buckthorn, and aloe vera.
• Benefits: Keeps skin hydrated and soft.
• Why It's Great: ECOCERT certified, organic ingredients.

2. Pure By Priyanka Dew Skin Mist

• Ingredients: Glycerin, cucumber, and rose water.
• Benefits: Revitalizes and firms without dehydrating.
• Why It's Great: No alcohol and no artificial fragrance.

3. Vilvah Store Honey Fix Face Cleanser

• Ingredients: Raw honey, black seed oil, rose extract.
• Benefits: Lightens, cleans without stripping natural oils. 
• Why It's Great: Chemical-free, handmade, for all skin types.

How It Feels When Your Skin Is Healthy

When your skin is in harmony—regardless of your type—you unwind. Your makeup is improved, your selfies pop, and you feel good going out with little on. That's mindful skincare in a nutshell—listening, not covering up.

My Skin Story: True and Honest My skin is not perfect. It changes with the weather, my moods, and even the number of hours I sleep. It is oily in some places on my nose some days, and dry in others on my chin. But I have abandoned the fight. I pamper it with water, deference, and patience. This change of heart has done more for me than any wonder product.

I hope this entry provides you with the clarity and concern you require to begin loving your skin just the way it is.