How to Understand What Your Skin Needs - According to Dr Sebagh

Many people assume their skin type is fixed: dry, oily, sensitive, combination.
But according to Dr Sebagh, this way of thinking oversimplifies how skin really works.

Skin is not static.
It changes daily, sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically, and understanding those changes is the foundation of effective skincare.

Why Your Skin Feels Different from Day to Day

Your skin is a living organ, constantly responding to what’s happening both inside and outside the body.

Its condition can shift due to:

• Stress and emotional pressure
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Climate, temperature and humidity
• Air-conditioning and heating
• Travel, sleep and lifestyle

This is why your skin may feel comfortable and balanced one day, then tight, dull or reactive the next, even if you haven’t changed your products.

“Skin reacts to life,” explains Dr Sebagh. “What it needs today may not be what it needed yesterday.”

Using the same skincare routine every day assumes your skin never changes, biologically, that’s not true.

How Stress Affects Circulation and Glow

Stress is one of the most underestimated factors in skin health.

When the body is under stress, blood circulation is reduced as energy is diverted elsewhere. The result is often skin that looks tired, dull or uneven in tone.

“Stress inhibits blood circulation,” says Dr Sebagh, “That’s why the complexion looks grey and loses its glow.”

Stress can also contribute to:

• Dehydration
• Redness and sensitivity
• Breakouts
• A compromised skin barrier

This is why skin may suddenly feel different — even overnight — and why skincare must adapt accordingly.

The Simple Daily Skin Check Ritual

Understanding your skin doesn’t require tools or tests.
It requires attention.

Dr Sebagh recommends a simple daily ritual:

“Touch your face and ask yourself: where is my skin today?”

Each morning (and evening), take a moment to assess:

• Does your skin feel tight or comfortable?
• Does it feel oily or dry?
• Does it look dull or luminous?
• Does it feel calm or sensitive?

This tactile check is more accurate than relying on labels like “dry” or “oily”.

“Your fingers will tell you what your skin needs,” says Dr Sebagh.

Water vs Oil: Knowing What Your Skin Needs

One of the most common mistakes in skincare is confusing hydration with moisturisation.

They are not the same.

• Hydration refers to water in the skin
• Moisturisation refers to oil that nourishes and protects

Your skin may be:

• Oily but dehydrated
• Dry but adequately hydrated
• In need of water one day, oil the next

“Some days your skin needs more hydrating water,” explains Dr Sebagh. “Some days it needs more nourishing oil.”

Understanding this distinction allows you to respond precisely — rather than adding more of the wrong thing.

Why Fixed Skincare Routines Fall Short

A single cream contains a fixed ratio of water, oil and active ingredients.
That ratio never changes, even when your skin does.

This is why fixed routines often feel:

• Too heavy on some days
• Not nourishing enough on others
• Irritating during periods of stress or travel

Responsive skincare means adjusting hydration and nourishment daily, based on how your skin feels, not following rigid rules.

Listening to Your Skin Is the Key to Healthy Ageing

Healthy skin is not about doing more.
It’s about doing what is right, consistently.

When skincare responds accurately to your skin’s condition:

• The skin barrier stays strong
• Inflammation is reduced
• Glow returns naturally
• Ageing appears slower and more harmonious

This is the principle behind Dr Sebagh’s philosophy of Ageing-Maintenance, supporting skin intelligently rather than aggressively.

From Understanding to Precision

Once you understand your skin’s changing needs, skincare becomes simpler, not more complicated.

You stop chasing trends.
You stop over-treating.
You start responding.

“When you listen to your skin, it tells you exactly what it needs,” says Dr Sebagh.

Once you understand your skin, you can treat it precisely.

Discover how the Serum Bar allows you to tailor hydration, nourishment and active ingredients daily, based on what your skin needs today.