The DSNT Skin Type is Dry, Sensitive, Non-pigmented, and Tight, with two barriers to skin health: dehydration and inflammation.

While dry, sensitive skin can be a challenge for this skin type, the right skincare regimen that includes a barrier repair moisturizer and anti-inflammatory ingredients can leave DSNT types well on their way to healthier, clearer skin.

DSNT skin types only have two of the four barriers to skin health, so pigmentation and wrinkles are a non-issue for you. Continue practicing good sun-protection habits like wearing daily sunscreen and avoiding indoor and outdoor tanning to maintain smooth, even, and wrinkle-free skin.

Like other dry Baumann Skin Types DSPT skin and have an impaired skin barrier which means that the protective barrier between your skin and the environment is not able to properly do its job.

An impaired skin barrier results in moisture loss. To repair a damaged skin barrier, use a barrier repair cream that mimics the natural lipids found in healthy skin. This allows moisture to escape from the skin into the atmosphere, and also allows irritants and allergens to easily reach your skin.

A barrier repair cream is the best way to repair an impaired skin barrier and restore healthy hydration and protection to your skin.

As a sensitive skin type, DSNT skin is also prone to inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and others.

Skin-soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, feverfew, and chamomile can help to calm inflammation.

The best skincare ingredients for DSNT skin types provide crucial hydration and calming properties to combat dryness and inflammation. Because acne is a common concern for DSNT skin, your dermatologist may also recommend acne treatment ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil.

In general, look for ingredients like:
 

Allantoin

Argan oil

Benzoyl peroxide

Beta-sitosterol

Borage seed oil

Ceramides

Chamomile

Cholesterol

Cucumber

Dexpanthenol (pro-vitamin B5)

Macadamia oil

Myristoyl/Palmitoyl oxostearamide/arachamide mea

Niacinamide

Panthenol

Stearic acid

Tamanu oil

Tea tree oil

Willow bark

The worst ingredients for DSNT skin are those that will cause dryness or irritation to already dry and sensitive skin. Avoid ingredients like:

Alcohols

Anionic surfactants

Anything causing allergy

Dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine

Hard water (increased calcium)

Isopropyl myristate

Lauryl sulfates

Mechanical exfoliation

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Sodium laurel sulfate

The best skincare products for DSNT skin should include a moisturizing, non-foaming cleanser. If you tend to develop redness and irritation when you wash your face, consider using filtered water or a cleansing water or a thermal spa water to rinse your face, as the calcium and other minerals in hard tap water can cause irritation in some sensitive skin types.

These are our favorite cleansers for Skin Type 2

All DSNTs should use a barrier repair moisturizer with soothing and calming anti-inflammatory ingredients. Here are some of our favorties:

All 16 Baumann Skin Types should use a daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, or 30 or higher when outdoors. DSNT types often prefer moisturizing physical sunscreens that are untinted like these:

Dry skin types like DSNT should not use foaming cleansers, because they are formulated to control excess oil in oily skin types. Thus, a foaming cleanser will strip away the natural oils that your skin does produce, causing even more dryness and redness. Specifically, fat soluble ingredients like salicylic acid should be avoided.

Retinoids can be a good choice for acne-prone DSNT skin types, though you will need to introduce retinoids to your skin slowly and gradually, starting with applications once every three days. During this acclimation process, do not use a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, because hyaluronic acid will increase the penetration of the retinoid, making side effects like dryness and flaking worse. Instead, start by applying retinoids on top of a barrier repair moisturizer like Zerafite to slow the absorption rate.

Because inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea are some of the most common problems for DSNT skin types, treatment procedures are often aimed at resolving these conditions.

If you have DSNT skin and are struggling with acne, a glycolic acid chemical peel can be an effective treatment option. DSNT types with rosacea can benefit from vascular lasers or red light therapy to treat redness and visible blood vessels.

The dryness and sensitivity that DSNT skin types struggle with can be resolved with consistent use of a barrier repair moisturizer and anti-inflammatory ingredients, as well as acne or rosacea treatments when needed. Once these two barriers to skin health are under control, DSNT skin types can enjoy a healthy, clear complexion!