We spend millions on Skin products every month, but are we buying the right ones? Do you know which cleanser and lotion is the best for your skin? Knowing your skin type is necessary to decide on the right products and treatments for your skin care program. You can do it at home but it is best to visit a professional skin doctor or a cosmetician and ask them what your skin type is.
Your skin type is dependent on two basic factors : genetics ( you were born with a certain genetic inheritance that you cannot alter) and your lifestyle ( things you are able to change) : your diet, emotions, exercise habit, stress and hormones. Weather conditions also effect your skin so you need different products in winter and in summer times as well as on dry -windy days and rainy - windy days.
There are three basic skin types, but you may find yours isn't exactly like any of those described here. Most skin is a mixture of these types . The basic skin types are dry, oily, and normal. The most popular mixture types are combination and sensitive skin.
The Skin Type Test:
The easiest way to determine the most basic characteristic of your skin- that is oiliness- you just need to wipe your face with a clean tissue one hour after washing it or right after you woke up in the morning. It is advisable to wipe each part of your face - like forehead, chin, cheeks, eyes and nose area - separately because they might have different features.
If there are no traces of skin particles or oil than your skin is normal. Oil indicates oily skin while dry skin particles are sign of dry skin. It is also important to analyse how your skin feels after wiping it with the tissue. Normal skin areas feel revitalized and elastic while dry skin areas can start to be itching and burning.
Pore size is another indication of skin type; small pores generally indicate dry skin, while large pores mean oily skin.
The Skin Types:
Normal Skin
It is neither oily nor dry. The skin is vibrant, elastic and has a good circulation. Normally the pores are small and invisible but they can have blackheads in the T-zone. This type of skin has a balanced oil and moisture production and has a smooth texture.
Dry Skin
Lacks moisture and oil. It feels tight, dry and rough. This type of skin is very sensitive to weather conditions, prone to irritating and ageing. People with dry skin usually have dry hair and hands too. The most important product for them is the moisturizer.
Oily Skin
This type of skin has a greasy shine and a coarse texture. The pores are often enlarged and visible, and blackheads and whiteheads are re-appearing frequently. Make-up doesn't stay too long. The benefit of this skin type is that it does not age quickly. The cleanser is the most important cosmetic product for this skin type.
Sensitive Skin
It is most recognisable after the dry, itchy, red spots appearing in several areas on the face. Being extremely sensitive this skin types gets irritated easily from exposure to heat, cold,cosmetic products, strong emotions or stress. Care should be taken even with natural cosmetics not to over stimulate the skin.
Combination Skin
This is the combination of dry and oily skin areas on ones faces. The usual combination is oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with dry areas around the eyes and cheeks. The best is to use two different products to serve the needs of each area.
