Knowing your skin type is one of the first steps most people take when putting together a skin care regimen. However, what most people don’t understand is that a person’s type usually doesn’t fall into one of the rigid categories that are often used to define skin type. Before you can design a body care plan this is right for you, it is a good idea to get past the oily, dry, normal and sensitive definitions and realize that everyone has some form of combination skin. Combination skin is simply one way of saying that parts of each person may have one type on part of the skin and some parts will have another.
For example, on your face, you may experience dry skin on your cheek and neck areas and then notice an oily forehead, nose and chin, also known as the T-zone. For others, this type of situation may exist on the back, arms, chest, etc. When using skin care products, you should be cautious not to simply use ones that treat one specific type. A heavy moisturizer on oily skin is not a good idea since it can block your pores and cause even more oil (sebum) to be produced.
Here is a short guide that will help you determine which skin type you have so you can make a more informed decision the next time you go shopping for beauty supplies.
Step 1: Clean Up!
Wash your face thoroughly. Refrain from using a cleanser that is soap-based, and do not use a moisturizing type of cleanser. The problem with soaps being used on the face is they leave a soapy film hinders in getting the correct skin type diagnosis. The same applies when using a moisturizing cleanser. It will moisten your skin and give you an incorrect result. Also, make sure not to over wash or over scrub your face because you can easily dry out your skin by over scrubbing or washing for too long. This ruins any chance of you getting inaccuracies.
Step 2: Be Patient
Wait for at least an hour, and do not touch your face during this period of time. Your fingers have a great deal of oil on them, and if you touch your face during this waiting period, it may give a false designation of your having oily skin. Work on your computer, send some text message, watch a movie for an hour, or better yet, read some more of my posts that you may have missed before you get your results.
Step 3: A Gentle Dab Will Do
Now take a tissue and gently dab your face in the T-zone region, which is your forehead down to your nose and then on down to your chin.
Last Step: Determine Your Skin Type
Based on the results of the tissue dabbing along your t-zone, you should be able to determine your skin type.
Generally, skin falls into 4 different categories:
- Does your skin feel tight and flaky? If so, it is dry. Dry skin is a thirsty skin and needs lots of water, not oil. Drink plenty of water and use moisturizers with high water content such as the Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel-Cream.
- Oily skin? If so, you’ve hit the jackpot. Oily skin ages best, the oil keeps skin soft and subtle. Furthermore, it turns hard in keeping your makeup in place and could cause some outbreaks. When combating oily skin, ensure that you are using moisturizers that come in lotion form and are oil-free, after all, you’ll have enough of your own. I recommend the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Moisturizer for oily skin.
- Combination skin is as near to “normal” as any one skin type gets. If you find that your skin is both thirsty in areas (usually on the cheeks) and oily everywhere else it is considered a combo. You need to treat the separate sections with separate products or trade of daily between the two. You can try the The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream for your combination skin.
- If you are unlucky enough to have genuinely sensitive skin then you already know it. If you flair up often, be sure to avoid products with fragrance, live plant extracts and alcohol. You will most certainly have to be careful with makeup as well as care. So, try testing products on a very small area before using it on your whole face.
There you go. These are basically the 4 skin types and that is all, what you do find though are conditions which can be an issue for the various types of skin like, dehydration, sensitivity, excessive oiliness, premature aging and so much more. However, the good basic knowledge is important to know so that when you want to find your favorite product. You will know your skin type and be able to purchase the right product that will make a huge difference which you will feel and see.
Keep in mind that…
Your skin can improve regardless of its skin type as it responds to care and its condition. Many beauty products such as cleansers, moisturizers, face masks and makeup have labels stating which skin type it is for. However, your skin type can change several times throughout the year. Remember that your skin is the largest organ on our bodies. It is recommended to take the extra step in using the right care for the right type. After saying that, guess where the first place all stress shows up?
You got it
So, drink your eight glasses of water a day, cleanse and moisturize accordingly, get yourself into a daily routine today. Also, it is most preferable that you choose organic beauty products when choosing skin care products. Please note that it is important that one should choose a product that is apt for your skin. Read labels before purchasing to make sure you have something that will attend to your skin’s special needs. The effectiveness of a facial product often depends on the type of skin you have. How can it be effective if the ingredients are not for this skin type? I hope this helps. Thank you for reading. 🙂
