Find Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is the first step in making the right decisions in your skin care regimen.
An inappropriate skin care regimen is highly problematic as it can lead to all sorts of skin care
problems such as dried or cracked skin, breakouts, allergic reaction or poor complexion.
There are basically six skin types: normal, dry, oily/acne, combination, sensitive and mature.
Each skin type has unique characteristics that require its own unique care and treatment.
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Normal Skin: Your skin’s basically the envy of all of your
friends. It’s never too oily or too dry – it’s always just right, Goldilocks - and
blemishes are rarely an issue. Your skin type is the easiest to care for and will most
likely stay firm, healthy and smooth well into those decades most other women dread.
(Yeah, its really not fair for the rest of us.)
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Dry Skin: While you’re young and invincible, your skin can
look great with minimal effort. But due to aging and sun exposure, your skin can lose
its ability to freely produce natural oils and moisture, therefore making your skin prone
to wrinkles and even a leathery appearance. To maintain healthy looking skin, use gentle,
creamy soaps and cleansers that won’t dry out your skin. It’s also helpful to pair that
with non-salt scrubs and deep moisturizing creams, all of which should contain ingredients
like aloe vera, vitamin E and shea or cocoa butter.
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Oily/Acne-Prone Skin: You are fortunate enough to not have to
worry about early aging and wrinkling. However you have you can have your own set of issues.
Your skin accumulates oil more easily which can lead to breakouts, shiny, coarse skin, and
enlarged pores. To prevent these issues, steer clear of rich creams and moisturizers and
stick to oil-free and non-comodegenic products. If acne is an issue, soaps and cleansers
containing salicylic acid are your magic tickets to clearer skin.
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Combination Skin:This is the most common type of skin, where you
have oily skin in some areas (especially your back and the T-zone on your face) and then dry
skin everywhere else. You unfortunately get the exciting task of being aware and mindful
of these areas so that you can apply the necessary treatments for each.
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Sensitive Skin: Your fragile skin usually tends to feel very tight
and dry. Due to broken capillaries, these areas can often breakout into blotchy, reddish spots
that can become itchy and tingly. Be careful not to over stimulate your skin by only using
products made for sensitive skin which are usually fragrance-free and don’t contain harsh
chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate.
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Mature Skin:As we age, our bodies are going through all sorts of
biological changes. These changes lead to slower cell regeneration, causing skin to lose its
elasticity and firmness. This creates wrinkles and loose skin tissue, making your skin appear
less smooth and supple. However over the past couple of years, many breakthroughs in skincare
have been made to help reduce and even reverse these signs of aging.