Love Your Skin
SKIN IS A STORYTELLER. THROUGH THE SINGULAR SENSE OF TOUCH, WE FEEL THE WARMTH OF THE SUMMER SUN, THE STING OF A SCRAPED KNEE, OR THE RUSH OF A LOVER’S KISS. SKIN CRAWLS WITH EXCITEMENT, GETS GOOSEBUMPS IN THE COLD AND SERVES AS A SOCIAL CANVAS FOR A PIERCING OR TATTOO, BIRTHMARK OR SCAR, LIP COLOR OR EYE SHADOW. OUR SKIN IS ALWAYS GROWING AND CHANGING – A REFLECTION OF OUR AGE, ANCESTRY AND EVEN OUR CURRENT HEALTH.
THIS IS WHY WE TAKE SKIN SCIENCE SO SERIOUSLY. WHY WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO FIND THE CUSTOM FORMULATION THAT IS BEST – NOT FOR THE MASSES OR FOR MOST… BUT FOR YOU. SINGULAR, INDIVIDUAL AND DESERVING.
QUICK LINKS
Skin Types
DRY SKIN
Dry skin can look and feel tight. It can also feel rough and become itchy and/or flaky. Exfoliating with a gentle, non-abrasive formula can help remove the top layer of dead skin and allow for better absorption of serums and other treatments, while also promoting healthy skin cell turnover. Staying hydrated is key. Look for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid (also called sodium hyaluronate), glycerin, and marine actives like algae for their ability to attract water and deliver it directly to skin cells. Additional emollients like squalane and other oils help smooth and hydrate your skin evenly and effectively.
NORMAL SKIN
If you’ve got normal skin, your skincare concerns are usually pretty minimal. You may still find your T-zone (forehead, chin and nose) a bit oily, but overall, your skin is balanced and not prone to sensitivity.
To help maintain healthy skin, you can use a gentle cleanser, hydrate with a daily moisturizer, and protect from environmental damage with a broad-spectrum daily sunscreen.
COMBINATION SKIN
People with combination skin often experience an oily T-zone and dry cheeks, making it important to find a routine that can address both for uniformity in the way your skin looks and feels. Gentle exfoliators can keep the oily T-zone in check, while moisturizers with a gel-like texture absorb quickly and are less likely to cause breakouts. Start with a small amount and increase as needed to avoid over-moisturizing.
OILY SKIN
Excess oil can leave pores congested and clogged, but we can help you with that. The good news about more moisture in your skin means it’s less prone to wrinkles. To prevent too much oil and sebum from building up, it’s smart to use a daily enzymatic exfoliator that promotes cell turnover. A gentle physical (do we need this world?) exfoliator is a great way to balance the tone and texture of your skin.
SENSITIVE SKIN
We get it—managing sensitive skin is a challenge. To make it easier to determine which products are causing irritation, introduce only one new formula at a time. Before using a new product, patch test it on your inner forearm. If the skin on your arm doesn’t react, move on to trying the product behind one of your ears. If that goes well, then try it on your face.
Still feeling sensitive? Look for labels that call out non-irritating ingredients, and focus on finding products free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, essential oils, DEA, and TEA – as many of these ingredients can result in redness and itchiness.
IDENTIFY YOUR SKIN TYPE
Here are two easy ways to determine your skin type at home:
The Bare-Faced Method
1. Use a mild cleanser to wash your face. Pat skin dry and leave it bare; no moisturizer.
2. After 60 minutes, examine your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead for any shine.
Is it tight when you smile? Your skin is likely dry. What if it’s shiny on your nose and forehead, but not elsewhere? That’s combination skin.
If you are shiny all over, cheeks included, your skin is probably oily.
If you’re one of the lucky ones whose skin feels natural and comfortable after an hour, you probably have normal skin.
The Blotting Sheet Method
1. Use a mild cleanser to wash your face. Pat skin dry and leave it bare; no moisturizer.
2. After 60 minutes, gently pat a single sheet of blotting paper on each area of your face: forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. Hold the paper up to the light after blotting each area.
If the sheet picked up little to no oil from any area of your face, you most likely have dry skin.
If the forehead, nose, and chin sheets show just a touch of moisture, your skin is normal.
A mix of dry or oily areas means you have combination skin.
And of course, if all blotting papers are fairly oily, you have oily skin.
Skin Conditions
For the most part, each of us is born into a skin condition and over the course of our lives, we can experience a range of concerns. Acne, dehydration and hyperpigmentation are a few of the skin conditions that can vary for individuals at different times in their lives. Additional factors like climate, pollution, medication and stress impact your skin – and luckily there are a number of ingredients and skincare routines to help you stay fresh-faced and smiling.
Wrinkles
As skin ages, it loses volume and density, which leads to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and changes in pigmentation. There are a few ways you can combat wrinkles on your own – by limiting sun exposure, avoiding poor air quality, and eliminating the use of tobacco. You can also look for products with algae, ginger, and sea fennel extracts, as they stop the breakdown of collagen. Peptides are great too, because they reinforce the natural proteins found in your skin.
Hyperpigmentation
Having an uneven skin tone is a common complaint from people of all skin types. Dark spots and patches that appear on the face, neck, and hands are often caused by hormones and exposure to the sun. And while sun protection can help, it is not 100 percent effective in avoiding dark spots and melasma. When SPF isn’t enough, licorice extract and Vitamin C can be helpful in removing skin pigmentation and melasma.
Redness
What causes flushed skin? Harsh weather, a poor diet, and stress are all factors in skin redness. Redness can be prevented by wearing sunscreen (even on cloudy days), eating a balanced diet, and getting a good night’s sleep. To treat existing redness, try products with soothing, anti-irritation ingredients like arnica and peony.
Dehydration
Dehydration is different than a perpetually dry skin type. Drinking lots of water, avoiding diuretics like alcohol and caffeine, and finding products with ingredients like glycerin and ureae can help re-hydrate your skin.
Enlarged Pores
There are two types of pores. The first, called sebum, releases the body’s natural oils, while the other releases sweat. When oils and dead skin mix together inside a pore, it causes a clog, which creates the appearance of larger pores. Sun damage can also contribute to misshapen, enlarged pores, so it’s important to wear SPF daily. Extracts like witch hazel, wintergreen, calendula, and rosemary leaf are also effective ingredients that help reduce excess oil and remove dead skin cells to reduce the appearance of pores.
Ingredient Library
All the best, local ingredients in the world
Natural vs Synthetic Ingredients
Our ingredient formulations are all natural. Pure, but not simple.
Our clean skincare products use the finest ingredients growing in the lush Pacific Northwest. Some are gentle and soothing, others potent and productive. Our products do not contain parabens, synthetic fragrances, silicone-derived emollients, PEGS, glycols or other toxins are used – ever. At Untamed Humans, we understand what works for you may not work for your best friend, and every choice is individual.
































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