basic skin types

Just as each person is different, each skin is also different with its own skin type consisting of a balance of different factors. Some factors you can control and others you cannot. All play a part in your skin's behavior. Skin peaks around age 25 and is then considered "mature". As the natural skin components begin to decrease around age 30 and time takes its toll, there is a steady increase in the appearance of an aging skin. This appearance accelerates around age 40 once hormones begin to decline with peri-menopause. Aging increases rapidly once post menopause is reached around age 55.


Natural Factors:

* moisture content - natural skin water determines suppleness, hydration and dehydration, comfort
* lipid content - natural skin oil or sebum for nutrition, lubrication, protection, softness


Biological Factors:

* genetics ~ DNA plays the largest role in your skin's behavior
* metabolism ~ produces a sluggish or overactive complexion, sebaceous activity
* sensitivity level ~ determines resistance and tolerance
* hormone level ~ determines hormonal breakouts, vitalized or devitalized tissues, sebaceous activity
* bacteria level ~ determines abscence or presence of infection and inflammation


External Factors:

* lifestyle, stress, environment, air pollution, allergies, geographical location, medications, illness, smoking, water intake, diet, exercise, sleep, traveling, mental attitude, etc.



Very Dry Skin
Mature skin is a thinner and more severe dry skin that may be rough and scaly. The outer skin layer many develop tiny cracks, mainly on the back of the hands, outer side of the arms, forearms, and legs. Genetic or hormonal aging, and extreme external factors such as wind and UV radiation, can lead to very dry skin. Almost invisible pores and a dull, very rough complexion with red patches.


Mature skin
* Over 35
* Complexion has a tendency to be dull and superficially dehydrated
* Irregular patches of pigmentation
* Broken capillaries around the nose and cheeks -Couperose
* Lines are becoming deeper and more obvious around eyes, forehead, and top lip
* Skin appears looser around the chin and under the eyes
* May have enlarged pores on cheeks and chin, even though the skin appears dry
* Aging begins to show around the late 20’s to early 30’s
* A natural sun block should be worn daily, as UV rays are a major contributor to ageing skin


Dry Skin ~ Under active
Dry skin is the opposite of oily skin and occurs when the oil glands are not producing sufficient oil to satisfactorily lubricate the skin. Dry skin is thin and often flaky, with pores that are almost invisible. Many fine lines are likely to form, even when the skin is relatively young, and there's a tendency for dry skin to be more easily irritated. This skin type is sometimes essentially normal and not oily, but sometimes can be fine and delicate. Alternately, this skin type is temporarily dry when exposed to physical elements such as sunburn, burns, cold temperatures, abrasions, and certain medications. When the skin repairs itself after being exposed to these elements, dryness and flaking usually occurs, and sometimes itchiness. Certain people suffer from a dry-skin condition that runs in families. Their skin doesn't itch, but the disease makes their skin flake and sometimes crack. Genetic or hormonal aging, and external factors such as wind and UV radiation, can lead to dry skin. Almost invisible pores, and a dull, rough complexion with red patches.


Dehydrated/Devitalized
* One of the most common skin conditions the result of skin lacking water
* Skin looks dry, dull, scaly and flaky
* When gently pulled the skin crinkles similar to tissue paper in appearance
* Can vary from superficial to deep dehydration, which needs to be addressed internally
* Parched appearance
* Fine lines with rough texture to touch
* Appears to have an additional thin layer especially on the nose and forehead


Combination Skin ~ Asymmetric
Combination skin is, by far, the most common skin type, observable in approximately 80 percent of all cases. As the name implies it is a mosaic of dry, oily and normal areas. In most instances, a person with combination skin has dryness around cheeks, eyes and neck, while oiliness is found in the spell T- zone, the area extending from chin to nose and upward across the forehead. Combination skin requires more effort than other skin requires more effort than other skin types because each area has its own special needs. And the oiliness and dryness can change, too, depending on the time of year (skin is usually drier when the weather is cold). Even oily skin can become rough and irritated in the winter.


Oily Skin ~ Overactive
Oily skin is caused by over secretion of the oil glands, situated in the under layers of the skin. This skin type is not necessarily bad since it is less prone to wrinkling and other signs of aging than other skin types. This is the result of the oil helping to keep precious moisture locked in the epidermis, or outermost layer of the skin. The negative aspects of this skin type is that oily complexions are especially susceptible to clogged pores, blackheads, and buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. Oily skin can be sallow and roughing texture and tend to have large, clearly visible pores everywhere except around the eyes and neck.

The oiliness of your skin can change from day to day, depending on the sun, the wind, the time of year, and the weather. Hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands caused by puberty or other hormonal imbalances, stress, antibiotics, and exposure to heat or excessive humidity can lead to oily skin.


Acne/Rosacea/Couperose Skin ~ Imbalanced
Excess oil, dead skin cells, bacteria and weakened capillaries can all come into play in this skin type, whether the occasional blemish, monthly hormonal breakout, or flushing with couperose. This includes acne, which is not necessarily due to adolescence. This type of skin requires special products and a more intensive regimen.


Dry Skin ~ Under active
Dry skin is the opposite of oily skin and occurs when the oil glands are not producing sufficient oil to satisfactorily lubricate the skin. Dry skin is thin and often flaky, with pores that are almost invisible. Many fine lines are likely to form, even when the skin is relatively young, and there's a tendency for dry skin to be more easily irritated. This skin type is sometimes essentially normal and not oily, but sometimes can be fine and delicate. Alternately, this skin type is temporarily dry when exposed to physical elements such as sunburn, burns, cold temperatures, abrasions, and certain medications. When the skin repairs itself after being exposed to these elements, dryness and flaking usually occurs, and sometimes itchiness. Certain people suffer from a dry-skin condition that runs in families. Their skin doesn't itch, but the disease makes their skin flake and sometimes crack. Genetic or hormonal aging, and external factors such as wind and UV radiation, can lead to dry skin. Almost invisible pores, and a dull, rough complexion with red patches.


Normal Skin ~ Balanced
Normal skin has an adequate amount of water and lipids and a moderate sensitivity level. An ideal balance between the rate of sebum production and cellular exchanges leads to normal skin, in which all physiological processes, most notably the secretion of oils, circulation of the blood, and the sloughing of old cells, happen in perfect equilibrium. Normal skin has an even rosy color with no blackheads or other blemishes, a minimum of lines and wrinkles, albeit a few tiny ones around the eyes, and pores that is uniform in size and barely visible. It is the rarest, and most desired, of all skin types.


Sensitive Skin ~ Delicate
Any skin type can be a reactive skin, exhibiting allergic reactions to chemicals, over the counter products, food, clothing, environment, etc. Tiny red bumps, red rash, red flaky skin, itching are key indicators of a sensitive reaction.


Combination Skin ~ Asymmetric
Combination skin is, by far, the most common skin type, observable in approximately 80 percent of all cases. As the name implies it is a mosaic of dry, oily and normal areas. In most instances, a person with combination skin has dryness around cheeks, eyes and neck, while oiliness is found in the spell T- zone, the area extending from chin to nose and upward across the forehead. Combination skin requires more effort than other skin requires more effort than other skin types because each area has its own special needs. And the oiliness and dryness can change, too, depending on the time of year (skin is usually drier when the weather is cold). Even oily skin can become rough and irritated in the winter.


Oily Skin ~ Overactive
Oily skin is caused by over secretion of the oil glands, situated in the under layers of the skin. This skin type is not necessarily bad since it is less prone to wrinkling and other signs of aging than other skin types. This is the result of the oil helping to keep precious moisture locked in the epidermis, or outermost layer of the skin. The negative aspects of this skin type is that oily complexions are especially susceptible to clogged pores, blackheads, and buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. Oily skin can be sallow and roughing texture and tend to have large, clearly visible pores everywhere except around the eyes and neck.

The oiliness of your skin can change from day to day, depending on the sun, the wind, the time of year, and the weather. Hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands caused by puberty or other hormonal imbalances, stress, antibiotics, and exposure to heat or excessive humidity can lead to oily skin.


Please remember that skin changes all the time. Many factors come into play including genetics, lifestyle, medications, illness, climate, stress, X rays, anesthesia... Product Directions will help you use our products for optimum results.


Sebum, Sweat, Skin pH and Acid Mantle

Sebum is an oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands, tiny ducts adjacent to hair follicles. Sebum is secreted into the follicle, from which it spreads over the hair and skin. The main role of sebum is to waterproof the skin and hair. Both excess and lack of sebum are undesirable. Excess sebum is associated with oily skin and acne. It is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production. Lack of sebum, which is common in middle and older age, leads to skin dryness and accelerates wrinkle formation.

Sweat is a salty, watery solution produced by sweat glands, numerous microscopic channels opening onto the skin surface. As sebum and sweat mix up on the skin surface, they form a protective layer often referred to as the acid mantle. Acid mantle has a particular level of acidity characterized by pH from about 4 to 5.5. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, above 7 is alkaline, and below is acidic. The pH of acid in the human stomach, for example, is usually from 1 to 2, which is highly acidic. The skin, on the other hand, is mildly acidic. In addition to helping protect skin from "the elements" (such as wind or pollutants), acid mantle also inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. If acid mantle is disrupted or loses its acidity, the skin becomes more prone to damage and infection. The loss of acid mantle is one of the side-effects of washing the skin with soaps or detergents of moderate or high strength.


The skin loses its ability to retain moisture. The body is 80% water – not water as we know it – it's more like a life-enriched saline fluid – filled with amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes all working together to sustain life. Our cells survive on this fluid as it passes back and forth through cell walls, but as we age the loss of this fluid is a major factor in the breakdown of the skin structure with the resulting aging appearance. Our powerful skin nutrients and enzymes, with deeply hydrating properties can, in most cases, dramatically slow down the aging process of the skin.


The Circadian rhythm is the day-awake, night-sleep cycle that most people naturally observe. The skin reaches its 'getting ready to shut down for the day' between 9-11 pm, this is also when the skin is at its peak absorbing potential. So it makes sense to do the evening regimen at this time when the skin can take the best advantage of drinking in the nutrients and hydration.


Spagyric essences are high-quality phytotherapeutics which exploit the full healing power of plants. The special alchemical manufacturing process both purifies and potencies the plant substance producing a clear, highly-refined essence that is easily absorbed. The advantage of spagyric essences is that they stimulate auto-regulation of the organs of the human body.

Spagyric essences are made in strict accordance with regulations and processes described in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia in registered laboratories in Germany and Switzerland in accordance with strict regulations.

The word Spagyric comes from the Greek words spao meaning to separate, and ageiro meaning to join together. By means of distillation, the plant is separated out into its essential oils and naturally occurring alcohols. With calcinations and filtration, the minerals and water-soluble salts (electrolytes) can be separated from the heavy (toxic) metals which are discarded. These components, the essential oils, alcohols and electrolytes, are then combined, filtered, and very slightly potentized.