What’s Your Skin Type?
Everyone
wants great, healthy-looking skin, but few are born with it. By knowing your
skin type and the factors that influence it, you can have beautiful, radiant
skin. And you don't have to stumble upon the fountain of youth to get it.
Your skin type can
change over time. One’s skin types vary depending upon factors such as:
heredity, environment, exposure to the elements, diet, health and sensitivity
level. Irregardles of your skin type
everyone should protect their skin by using a broad spectrum sunscreen
(one the blocks UVA and UVB rays) with a SPF of 30.
The first step in
proper skin care is to know your skin type. It's likely you fall into one of
the basic categories:
·
NORMAL -- Normal
complexion is what many would call the ideal skin type. The skin is not too
oily or dry, and it appears smooth, clear and healthy. Normal skin has a nice
balance of moisture and oil, with good elasticity, nearly invisible pores, even
radiant tone and few imperfections. The
pores are minimally visible, and the skin has an even tone.
·
DRY -- Dry skin does not retain enough
moisture, which causes can lead to premature wrinkles and fine lines. A lack of oil makes the skin flaky and
fragile and reduces its ability to act as a protective barrier, which results
in skin that is more susceptible to the effects of external elements such as
pollution, UV radiation and extreme weather. Small pores, less elasticity,
dull, rough complexion are another characteristic of this skin type.
·
OILY
-- Oily skin has large
pores and produces excessively large amount of oil, which gives it a greasy,
shiny appearance. Oily skin can produce enlarged pores and thick complexion.
People with an oily complexion tend to develop lots of blemishes, pimples and
blackheads, because dead cells do not shed as quickly due to the excess oil.
·
COMBINATION-- Combination skin has both dry and oily
areas. The skin is usually most oily in the T-zone -- the forehead, nose and
chin -- with dry patches on the cheeks and around the eyes. Combination skin
can be difficult to manage because the various areas of the skin require
different treatment.
·
SENSITIVE-- This skin type is the most fragile.
Individual with this skin type need to try and find out what your triggers is so you can avoid them.
You may have sensitive skin for a variety of reasons, but often it's in
response to particular
People with sensitive skin tend to burn easily, and the skin is prone to
irritation and redness.
Test To Determine Your
Skin Type
There are a few ways to determine what type of skin you have.
For some, just reading through the descriptions of the various types will make
it obvious. If you’re still having
trouble determines your skin type there is a simple tests you can do to figure
it out.
This test
you need a clean piece of tissue or some face blotting strips. When you wake up
in the morning, immediately use the tissue to blot your face and take a close
look at the results.
1.
If the tissue has lots of transparent spots,
then you most likely have oily skin. If the tissue is clean and your face feels
tight, then you have dry skin.
2.
If the tissue only
picks up a tiny amount of oil in the T-zone, then you have normal skin. Even
though the skin appears smooth and clear, people with a normal skin type need
to practice good skin care techniques to maintain the health of their skin.
3.
If the tissue has
oil spots from just your forehead, nose and chin, then you have combination
skin. Combination skin can be hard to manage because different areas of the
skin require different treatments.
4.
If the tissue is
clean and your face feels tight, then you have dry skin. People with dry skin
are prone to premature signs of aging, which makes proper skin care
particularly important. A good moisturizer with SPF protection should be worn
on a daily basis.
Care For Each Skin Type
While the follow is a suggested
list of care for the various skin types only you know what products work best
for you and your skin.
OILY SKIN: Wash
with an oil free cleanser or one that contains Salicylic acid. After washing the skin,
use a toner to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells from the face. An
oil-free moisturizer can then be applied to hydrate the skin.
DRY SKIN: Use a
gentle face wash to cleanse the skin.
After washing apply a good moisturizer and for the evening
apply a night cream before going to be to seal in the moister.
NORMAL SKIN: Wash your face daily with a
good cleanser and moisturize the skin with a lotion that contains SPF protection
COMBINATION SKIN: Wash
the skin daily with a good cleanser and use a toner on your T-zone to remove
oil and dead skin. Apply an oil-free moisturizer all over your face, but make
sure to concentrate on particularly dry areas of the skin
SENSITIVE SKIN: Wash with hypoallergenic facial cleansers
and lotions to avoid irritation. I strongly suggest that you speak with a
dermatologist to determine what products you are reacting to.
Sources: MayoClinic, WebMD, The National Skin Care
Institute, Glamor Magazint,
Allure Magazine & Lucky Magazine
