Right Product Wrong Place

From oil-prone foreheads to parched cheeks, skin zoning asks us to treat the face as terrain, not template

- By TANISHA SAXENA

In an age where skincare is both science and ceremony, “skin zoning” is emerging not merely as a buzzword, but as a dermatologist endorsed rethinking of how we treat the face—zone by zone, need by need.

In 2016, Cosmetics Business reported on the early evolution of facial mapping systems, which divided the face into rudimentary areas like the T-zone (typically oily) and U-zone (often dry). But recent advances—ranging from digital imaging to tools that measure skin capacitance and transepidermal water loss—have enabled researchers to visualise detailed gradients in hydration, sebum, pH, and sensitivity across the face. This data reveals what many have suspected: not all skin behaves the same, even within the same face.

Your nose, for example, might be a slick oil-slick by noon, while your lips remain flaky despite constant balm. That acne-prone chin? It may respond differently to stress, seasons, and skincare than the under-eye region or cheeks. The new paradigm views the face not as a flat canvas, but as a composite of microclimates—each deserving its care.