Skin Talk with Steph
Welcome to Skin Talk with Steph — beginning with a four-week educational skincare series designed to simplify the science of healthy skin and empower you with real, professional knowledge.
My name is Stephanie, a licensed aesthetician, educator, and founder of S-TEEM SKIN. I believe that healthy, radiant skin begins with understanding and consistency, not complexity. Skincare should never feel overwhelming or unattainable—it should feel empowering, approachable, and grounded in knowledge.
Through years of working with many skin types, I’ve learned that the most powerful results come from simplicity: knowing your skin, respecting its rhythm, and making informed choices every day. Skin Talk with Steph was created to help you do exactly that—learn the “why” behind your skin’s behavior, discover what truly works, and build confidence in your own skincare journey.
Over the next four weeks, I’ll guide you through the essential foundations of real skin health—how to identify your skin type, create purposeful routines, understand common skin concerns, and choose ingredients that deliver results. Each week will give you education, clarity, and practical steps you can immediately apply at home or in the treatment room.
Week 1: Know Your Skin Type Before Anything Else
Week 1: Know Your Skin Type Before Anything Else
Every great skincare journey begins with awareness. Before serums, exfoliants, or treatments come into play, the first and most important step is understanding your skin type. Without this foundation, even the best products can lead to inconsistent results—or worse, barrier damage and chronic irritation.
Most people describe their skin based on how it looks — “dry,” “oily,” “sensitive,” or “combination.” But true skin typing goes deeper than appearance. It’s about understanding your skin’s natural oil balance, hydration levels, and barrier health. Without that knowledge, even the best products can deliver disappointing results.
Why This Matters
Your skin type determines how your barrier functions and what it needs to stay balanced. Most clients I meet believe they know their skin, but they’re often treating symptoms, not causes. For example, a client may describe their skin as “oily,” but what they’re really experiencing is dehydration, skin that’s producing excess oil to make up for a lack of moisture. Another may believe their skin is “dry,” when it’s simply lacking consistent exfoliation or water-based hydration.
When you understand your true skin type, you stop fighting your skin and start working with it. The goal isn’t to strip, hide, or overcorrect, it’s to bring your skin into harmony.
The 3-Step At-Home Skin Type Test
You don’t need a lab or professional equipment to learn your skin type. Try this simple, esthetician-approved test.
Cleanse: Wash your face with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser, then pat dry.
Wait: Leave your skin bare for 20–30 minutes—no moisturizer, serum, or mist.
Blot: Press a clean tissue across your forehead, nose, and cheeks. Observe what you see and feel.
Results:
Oily Skin: Tissue shows oil across most areas; skin may appear shiny or feel slick.
Combination Skin: Oil appears on the T-zone only (forehead, nose, chin); cheeks feel normal or dry.
Dry Skin: No oil on tissue; skin feels tight or flaky.
Normal Skin: Balanced, smooth, and comfortable—neither tight nor greasy.
This test helps you identify your natural oil balance and how effectively your barrier retains hydration.
Dry vs. Dehydrated — A Common Misunderstanding
Many people confuse dry and dehydrated skin, yet the two are fundamentally different.
Dry skin lacks oil. It benefits from nourishing creams or emollients that restore lipids and strengthen the barrier.
Dehydrated skin lacks water. It can still appear oily but feels tight, tired, or uneven. It needs humectants (like hyaluronic acid) and a consistent moisturizer to lock in hydration.
If your skin feels both tight and shiny, chances are you’re dehydrated, not oily.
Steph’s Professional Insight
Your skin type isn’t fixed, it evolves. Seasonal changes, hormones, stress, and lifestyle all influence how your skin behaves. That’s why I recommend reassessing your skin every few months or any time you notice shifts in texture, oil production, or sensitivity.
The goal is to understand your skin, not control it. When you listen to its needs, you can create balance, maintain resilience, and reveal your natural glow.
