At the start of 2011, we surveyed more than 8,000 men and women of all ages around the world to see if there is any link between our personalities and our skin. But we found more than just a link.
We identified five ‘skin personalities’ that cover almost everyone in the world. Each of these personalities has distinctive traits and behaviours – and all can be directly linked to specific skin types and skincare issues.
1: Doers
Proactive, in control, sociable and sensuous: these are the 30% of people who are Doers, the most active skin personality.
Doers take responsibility for their own lives. So even though they’re more likely to have oily or shiny skin, this doesn’t bother them. They simply seek out skincare products to help them deal with it.
In fact, they’re the heaviest users of skincare products. They believe beautiful skin is key to their success and sex appeal, and they love to be touched.
2: Thinkers
Around 27% of people are Thinkers – introverted, pragmatic, quick-witted and rational types who enjoy spending time alone, and don’t place huge emphasis on the power of touch.
Thinkers have normal skin, which they see as serving a primarily biological function. So unsurprisingly, they only use practical skincare products, such as deodorant, sunscreen, and basic care items.
And you won’t find Thinkers getting upset about everyday changes to their skin. To them, wrinkles and so forth are just a natural part of life.
3: Seekers
Around 12% of people are ambivalent Seekers. On one hand, they like to follow their intuition. On the other, they want to conform to rules and expectations, and long for acceptance.
These conflicting desires end up making Seekers quite passive, and often leave them feeling like they’re at the mercy of the world. The stress of this can play havoc with their skin, making them more likely to suffer from blackheads, impurities, and unhealthy skin.
4: Helpers
Around 11% of people are Helpers, the most emotional skin personality. Driven by feelings, moods and intuition, Helpers are spontaneous, live life to the full, and love forming relationships with others.
Helpers place a huge emphasis on touch and skin-to-skin contact. And they’re much more likely to find their emotions literally getting under their skin, making them more prone to sensitive skin, irritation, and allergies.
5: Moralists
The smallest category at 6%, Moralists have high social and ethical standards. They long to influence others – yet they’re the most passive and introverted of all the skin personalities, and tend to avoid situations that might leave them frustrated or disappointed.
Moralists don’t like being touched – even by friends – and claim not to idealise beauty. Despite this, they’re heavy users of skincare products.
This lack of harmony between their attitudes and actions is reflected in their skin, which tends to be dry, combination, and/or very sensitive. Moralists are also the only group that describe their skin as dull, uneven in tone, pale, and prone to dark rings under the eyes.