We all have skin and hair that has the same base structure; every human being has a dermis and an epidermis composed of the same types of cells and molecules. However, that’s where the similarities end. Different skin types, conditions and external factors make endless amounts of unique combinations which require different methods of care and products to help keep it healthy and beautiful.

Brewing Beauty Company was born from a realisation that everyone’s skin and hair are unique in this sense and the products should respect that and perform accordingly. Although there are many different factors that can affect the skin's health and looks, when we made our formulations, we focused on the most important combinations that truly make an impact. We simply looked into different skin types, skin conditions and how they get impacted by changing seasons.

With this approach, we created our collections that differ by season addressing various needs of different skin types and conditions. To simplify your product selection, we also mapped these combinations to our products using the Smart Skin Wheel that guides you to make the right selection for your skincare needs. 

Why skin types matter

Skin type is the structure of our skin, largely determined by genetics. Your skin type depends on either pore size and unique oil production for normal, oily, dry, and combination types or heightened skin reactivity for sensitive types. Your skin type will typically stay the same your whole life.  During seasonal changes, it’s possible for certain conditions to intensify, such as oily skin types getting oilier and dry skin types getting drier, but for the most part, your genetic skin type will stay the same seasonally.

DRY SKIN

It seems like a no-brainer: dry skin lacks sufficient moisture. But what causes this lack of moisture in the first place?

Under normal circumstances, the top layers of skin (epidermis and dermis) contain natural oils which help trap moisture, which keeps skin soft and supple. If the skin isn't producing enough of these protective oils, moisture can easily escape. The result? Dry skin.

An adequate moisture balance also helps skin maintain its natural elasticity. The drier the skin, the less elastic it will be. This can emphasize the appearance of stretch marks, as well as signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles.

Dry skin can occur anywhere on your body. For many people with this skin type, dryness can worsen with exposure to certain environmental factors.

These factors might include:

Heat. Central heating, space heaters and fireplaces reduce humidity and can dry out skin during the winter months, when people spend most of their time indoors.

Hot baths and showers. Bathing in very hot water can dehydrate skin, as can swimming in heavily chlorinated pools. The minerals in hard water might also make matters worse.

Cleansing products. The "squeaky clean" feeling that soaps, shampoos and other household chemicals promise, comes from drying out natural oils. This can strip skin of moisture with repeated exposure.

Other skin conditions. People with eczema and psoriasis are especially prone to dry skin.

Age. Maturing skin produces less oil. A person with normal skin can develop dry skin as part of the ageing process.

Seasonality

Skin tends to be driest during the winter months when temperatures plummet and the air (both indoors and outdoors) is driest.

Signs of dry skin

• Redness
• Roughness
• A greyish or ashy complexion
• Flakiness, scaliness, or peeling
• Itchiness (also known as pruritus)
• Feelings of tightness, especially after bathing or showering
• Chapping, which might eventually lead to the formation of deep cracks or fissures

Dry skin solutions

• Gently exfoliate skin at least once a week to slough off dry, dead skin cells and improve circulation.
• While drinking plenty of water can improve complexion by staving off dehydration, it doesn't do much on its own for dry skin. Gentle, soap-free cleansers and moisturizers help replenish the lipids that dry skin lacks.
• Our Renovate collection is packed with carotenoid-rich winter ingredients that stimulate cells' ability to fight dryness and signs of ageing. Nourishing nut butters and omega-rich oils replenish lost moisture and restore radiance.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin occurs when oil glands go into overdrive, producing too much sebum. Sebum, a waxy substance that is essential to skin health, seals in moisture, prevents dryness, and forms a protective barrier. When there's too much of it, however, it makes skin greasy and clogs up pores, causing acne and other issues. The face, scalp, neck and chest have the highest concentration of sebaceous (sebum-producing) glands. This is why these areas seem especially prone to oily skin and acne breakouts. Genetics are a major factor, but hormone changes or even high stress levels can also ramp up sebum production.

Seasonality

Oily skin typically increases during the humid summer months.

Signs of oily skin

• Greasy or shiny appearance, or developing one as the day goes on
• Very large or obvious pores
• Clogged pores, resulting in occasional or persistent acne

Oily skin solutions

• Keep shine under control throughout the day by using an oil-control or mattifying primer in the morning.
• Use oil-blotting sheets for T-zone touch-ups as needed. (They can be used over makeup.)
• Oily skin still needs to be moisturised regularly. In fact, trying to "dry out" oily skin by skipping moisturiser, overwashing, or using harsh cleansers often has the opposite effect. Sebaceous glands will produce even more oil to compensate. Keeping oily skin well-hydrated and using gentle cleansers and skincare products helps it achieve equilibrium.
• Our Depurate collection is made with chlorophyll-rich summer ingredients perfectly suited to oily skin types. Microbiota-balancing noni fruit and natural astringents like refreshing cucumber and tea tree oil purify pores while promoting a healthy recalibration of sebum levels.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Sensitive skin occurs when the skin's pH levels are outside of the normal range, compromising its natural barrier and allowing irritants to penetrate more easily. These irritants might include certain skincare and household products, soaps, fragrances, and detergents. Exposure to certain weather conditions, like sun, cold and wind can also trigger flare-ups. While sensitive skin can occur anywhere on the body, the face is most commonly affected.

Sensitive skin often goes hand-in-hand with dry skin. It can be hard to distinguish one skin type from the other, as sensitive skin is prone to dryness, and dry skin is prone to sensitivity. When skin's moisture balance is restored, its barrier is strengthened and better able to protect against irritants.

Seasonality

Seasonal fluctuations in temperature and climate conditions can increase skin sensitivity. In winter, skin is drier and easily aggravated. In summer, increased sweat and oil secretions can also lead to irritation.

Signs of Sensitive Skin

• Itching, stinging or burning
• Tightness or discomfort
• Redness, which can take the form of a blushing, flushing, bumps, rash, or even dilated blood vessels
• Susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun

Sensitive Skin solutions 

• A healthy diet rich in skin-friendly vitamin C and antioxidants can help stressed skin recover and repair itself. Likewise, it's important to rule out potential food allergies or intolerances, as they can trigger skin flare-ups.
• Reducing stress with regular exercise and relaxation techniques help reduce cortisol levels, which can speed up skin repair and recovery.
• Avoid harsh cleansers. Clean skin gently and use mild products.
• Using pre- and probiotic science, our Calibrate collection works deep within the skin's layers to recalibrate pH levels and restore its microbiome. Soothing demulcent liquorice soothes the complexion and oat lipids restore moisture balance as milk-derived probiotic peptides work their magic.

COMBINATION SKIN

As the name suggests, combination skin is a mix of two or more skin types on the body. Skin might feel oily in some spots, and dry in others. Facial skin type is often different in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) than it is in the U-zone (cheeks and jawline). Most people who think they have dry or oily skin have combination skin.

Combination skin can be caused by hormonal fluctuations or it may be hereditary.

Seasonality

Combination skin may come and go, or vary in accordance with typical seasonal skin changes.

Signs of combination skin

• Oily T-zone with a dry U-zone
• Skin type changes with hormonal fluctuations throughout the month. (It might be dry for part of the month, and oily and prone to breakouts for the rest of it.)

Combination skin solutions

• Balance skin with a toner after cleansing to restore pH levels.
• Exfoliate regularly.
• Moisturise often, even in places where the skin is oily.
• Our Radiate and Cultivate collections help bring balance to combination skin with targeted pollution protection, and nourishing natural ingredients.

NORMAL SKIN

Normal skin is the Goldilocks of skin types. It's not too dry, not too oily, and it's not too sensitive either — it's just right! Sometimes referred to as "eudermic" by scientists, normal skin is perfectly balanced and functions exactly as healthy skin is meant to.

Seasonality

Normal skin is most commonly seen during the spring and autumn months. (In summer, normal skin might become oilier, while in winter it might become drier or more sensitive.)

Signs of Normal skin

• Redness
• Fine pores
• Few blemishes or imperfections
• Soft, smooth texture
• Fresh complexion with uniform transparency due to good blood circulation
• Not highly reactive to irritants

Normal skin solutions

• Our Radiate and Cultivate collections are key to keeping normal skin healthy. Radiate products contain anthocyanin-rich autumn ingredients that protect skin against pollution and shield it from stressors, while Cultivate products harness spring's restorative energy with skin-loving bioflavonoids, hyaluronates, and Vitamin C for ultimate hydration and exfoliation.

Discover the differences in skin condition

Your skin condition is the state of your skin at the present moment—taking into account factors like weather, diet, stress, pollution, and response to skincare products. Skin conditions encompass a wide range of issues that can affect your skin's health and appearance. From dehydration to loss of elasticity, each condition presents its own set of challenges and considerations. Understanding these various skin conditions empowers individuals to tailor their skincare routines and seek appropriate treatments to achieve healthy, radiant skin. By recognizing the factors contributing to your skin's condition, you can take proactive steps to address concerns and maintain optimal skin health.

DEHYDRATED SKIN

Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin is a condition that can happen to anyone, regardless of their skin type. It happens when there's a lack of water in the stratum corneum or the top layer of the skin. Dehydrated skin looks dull and lifeless, and it might show increased signs of ageing, like fine lines and a lack of elasticity.

The quickest way to determine if the skin is dehydrated is the "pinch test": grasp a small amount of skin on the back of the hand and let go. If the skin snaps back, it's not dehydrated. If it takes a moment or two to snap back, however, it likely is.

Here are our products that target dehydrated skin.

CONGESTED SKIN

Congested skin is most commonly seen in combination and oily skin types. The sebum from overactive oil glands mixes with dead skin cells and other impurities, clogging pores and creating blackheads and acne. While hormones are usually to blame, certain products can aggravate the condition.

Here are our products that targetcongested skin.

MATURED SKIN

As skin matures, it gradually loses elasticity. As connective tissues within the skin layers lose their structure and ability to retain moisture, they start to degenerate. This eventually leads to noticeable changes in facial contours, a loss of volume, and the development of deep wrinkles. Reduced blood flow makes skin appear duller, thinner, and flatter and broken capillaries may start to appear.

Here are our products that target matured skin .

IRRITATED SKIN

Itchiness, redness, discomfort: These are all signs of an irritated complexion. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other substances can irritate the skin and cause rashes and itching. Sometimes the substance, such as poison ivy or cosmetics, causes an allergic reaction. Extreme weather—both hot and cold—can also cause the complexion to become dry, itchy, or red.

Here are our products that target irritated skin.

DAMAGED SKIN

Skin is affected by external environmental factors every day. These factors lead to an accumulation of molecular damage, which gradually changes skin's structure over time. This results in premature signs of ageing, like fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

Environmental factors that damage the skin over time include:

• Sun damage from prolonged exposure to UV rays
• Lifestyle habits, like poor diet, excessive drinking and smoking
• Exposure to pollution, like exhaust fumes, smog, and smoke

The good news is, that fighting skin damage is fairly simple. Wearing sunscreen, avoiding poor health choices, and using products that contain antioxidants can slow and even prevent molecular damage.

Here are our products that target damaged skin.

DISCOLOURED SKIN

Uneven pigmentation of the skin, such as spots or darkened patches, is referred to as hyperpigmentation. People with darker skin tones are usually more affected by hyperpigmentation than those with lighter skin tones. There are several types of hyperpigmentation:

• Age spots, also known as sunspots, are small darkened patches of skin caused by UV damage. For that reason, they mainly appear on body parts that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, arms, neck and chest.
• Melasma, also known as the "mask of pregnancy", is a condition where large areas of hyperpigmentation develop, mainly on the face. It's usually triggered by hormonal changes, and is particularly common in pregnant women.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens after skin trauma heals, leaving areas of discolouration behind. This condition is very common in people who suffer from acne.

Here are our products that target discoloured skin.