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> Determining Your Skin Type
Determining Your
Skin Type – And Care Tips
 There's
no point spending a fortune on skincare products if
you are buying the wrong products for your skin type.
The key to developing a skincare regime that works
for you is to first analyze your skin type.
The different skin types
OILY
SKIN
This type of skin usually has large
pores and an oily surface, with a high tendency towards
blackheads and pimples. This is caused by the over
production of sebum(oil) by the oil glands in the
lower layers of the skin which lead to skin's pores
becoming clogged and causing breakouts.
The good news however is that, people
with oily skin are the least likely to wrinkle early
due to the oily nature of their skin.
Although it may be temping to treat
your skin with harsh products, oily skin with can
also be quite sensitive and may become irritated by
aggressive treatment. The best way to treat oily skin
is to use products that gently remove the oil from
the surface of the skin, and unclog the pores without
drying the skin.
Daily Care Tips
- Gently cleanse, preferably with
a foaming facial wash, which will remove excess
oil and dirt without stripping moisture away from
the skin.
- Follow with an alcohol free astringent
lotion or toner to remove any oil or dirt residue
from the skin and also to help tighten pores.
- Even oily skin needs moisturizer
to seal in water to keep the skin hydrated. Choose
a light formulation – preferably one with
sunscreen.
- Allow the moisturizer to sink into
the skin for a few minutes, and then blot with a
clean tissue or oil blotting paper to absorb excess
oil before applying makeup.
DRY
SKIN
If your skin often feels tight and uncomfortable,
almost as if it's being stretched, then you most probably
have dry skin. It is caused by too little oil in the
lower levels of the skin, and too little moisture
on the surface.
Dry skin can feel tight an itchy and
can sometimes flake and even peel if severe. The key
here is to give your skin soothing care to keep the
surface smooth and supple.
Since this condition can be aggravated
by the use of soap or harsh toners, opt for the gentle
approach, concentrating on nourishing the skin to
boost its moisture level.
Daily Care Tips
- Cleanse with a rich, creamy cleanser
to help emulsify and lift dirt and makeup from the
surface of the skin. Allow the cleanser to sit on
the face for a few moments before gently removing
it with a cotton pad.
- Splash your face with cool water
to remove excess cleanser and refresh the skin.
- Moisturizing to nourish the upper
levels of the skin is the most important step for
those with dry skin. Choose a rich cream which contains
sunscreen to seal in the moisture.
- Allow a few minutes for the moisturizer
to penetrate the skin before applying makeup.
NORMAL
SKIN
Normal skin is the perfectly balanced
skin type which we all aspire to. The Normal skin
type has a smooth and even toned complexion with no
enlarged pores. It rarely develops blemishes or dry
patches.
It is quite rare to have this skin type,
but if you are lucky enough to have normal skin, you
simply need to concentrate maintaining it by following
a simple skincare routine with products that won’t
disturb the skin’s natural balance.
Daily Care Tips
- Cleanse your skin by massaging in
a gentle cleanser for about 30 seconds before rinsing.
- Cool your skin with a refreshing
toner.
- Smooth your skin with a moisturizing
lotion to ensure a there’s balanced moisture
content in your skin.
- Apply makeup as usual
COMBINATION
SKIN
It's quite common to have a complexion
with a blend of both oily and dry patches. The center
panel, or T-zone, across the forehead and down the
nose and chin tend to be oily, and needs to be treated
like oily skin. However, the other areas are prone
to dryness and flakiness due to the lack of moisture.
Because your skin type has a combination
of dry and oily patches, you need a twin approach
to skincare. This means you need to deal with different
areas of skin differently with products to suit.
This process is not as difficult as
it sounds, and the result will be a softer, smoother
and more radiant skin.
Daily Care Tips
- Use a foaming facial wash, concentrating
on the oily areas to ensure that your pores are
kept clear to prevent blackheads and blemishes.
- Switch to a creamy cleanser in the
evening concentrating on the dry areas to ensure
that these areas are soothed and cleaned on a daily
basis.
- To freshen your skin, use 2 toners
of different strengths to deal with differing areas
of your skin. A stronger astringent for oily areas
and a mild freshener for dry areas.
- Smooth moisturizer over your entire
skin concentrating on the drier areas. Blot off
any excess from the oily areas with a clean tissue
or blotting paper before applying makeup.
SENSITIVE
SKIN
Sensitive skin is usually quite fine
in texture, with the tendency to be easily irritated.
This sensitivity can be caused by the wrong skincare
products or external factors.
Sensitive skin is also prone to redness
and allergy, and may have fine broken veins across
the cheeks and nose.
Your skin needs extra-gentle products
to keep it soothed and healthy. Choose your skincare
products from hypoallergenic ranges that are specially
formulated to protect sensitive skin.
If you feel you can’t use any
products on your skin without irritating it, cleanse
with whole milk and moisturize with a solution of
glycerin and rose water.
Daily Care Tips
- Choose a light hypoallergenic
cleansing lotion – steer clear of facial washes
and soaps on your skin, as these are most likely
to strip your skin of oils and moisture which can
increase sensitivity.
- Freshen by simply splashing
warm water on the face. This will also remove any
final traces of cleanser from your face.
- It’s essential to keep
the skin well moisturized with an unscented moisturizer
to strengthen it and provide a barrier against irritants
that can lead to sensitivity.
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