Often we buy the wrong skin care products because we are unsure of our skin type and because our skin type can change over time, what once worked well for our skin can grow to no longer suiting our skin’s needs.
There are four basic skin types and determining our skin type can mean the difference between causing more trouble for our skin or addressing exactly what our skin is asking for in the products we that buy for it.
Here is an easy guide to determining the four basic skin types and also helpful in choosing the right skin care products for your needs.
1. If the skin is dry all over the face the skin is considered to be Dry skin.
2. If the skin is comfortable in the T-Zone (the forehead, nose and chin area) but dry in the cheek area, the skin is considered to be Combination Dry.
3. If the skin is comfortable in the cheeks, but oily in the T-Zone, the skin is considered Combination Oily.
4. If the skin is Oily all over the face, visibly and to touch, the skin is considered to be Oily.
Some fine themselves unsure how to determine their skin type because they immediately put on product after a shower and haven’t felt what their skin is telling them long enough to determine their actual skin type. A simple way to determine it is by holding off on applying any moisturizer after a shower for a few hours, then one can properly determine their correct skin type. Another simple way of determining one’s skin type is monitoring how the skin feels after swimming in a pool, again, before applying anything onto the skin.
Dry skin and Combination Dry will feel tightness, or rough feeling skin, whereas, Oily combination skin may feel tightness only in the cheek area, whereas, Oily skin types, may feel very comfortable.
Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient seen in a flurry of products, as it is a humectant, which attracts and retains water molecules that helps to keep the skin hydrated. It also plays a role in protecting the skin barrier and aids in improving skin elasticity, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid can be used for all skin types, however, Oily, and Oily Combination, can also benefit from Salicylic Acid.
Salicylic Acid, which can also be found in shampoos, cleansers, serums and lotions, is often used in skin care products to treat acne, to unclog pores, and it reduces oiliness and helps promote the skin’s natural exfoliation process, thereby improving the skin’s texture and brightness. For Dry skin, the use of Salicylic Acid can cause irritation, redness, peeling along with additional dryness, therefore, Salicylic Acid should be used for Oily skin types, and for Combination Oily skin types, (but only in the T-Zone-forehead, nose and chin areas).
Sensitive skin is also a skin type, but all skin types can be categorized as Sensitive. When having sensitive skin, one does best to avoid products which contain alcohol.
The daily maintenance of the skin is key to having healthier skin. Twice a day, everyone, regardless of their skin type, should have a daily skin care regime which includes:
Morning Basic Skin Care Regime
1. Cleansing the skin with an appropriate skin type cleanser.
2. Exfoliating the skin with an appropriate skin type exfoliant.
3. Moisturizing the skin with an appropriate skin type moisturizer.
4. Sunscreen application with an appropriate skin type moisturizer.
This is the basic Morning skin care regime.
Evening Basic Skin Care Regime
In the evening, if make up is worn, an additional step is added, a Pre-Cleanse should be added, to remove the make up, using an appropriate skin type make up remover.
1. Pre-Cleanse (make up removal) with and appropriate skin type make up remover. 2. Cleansing the skin with an appropriate skin type cleanser.
3. Exfoliating the skin with an appropriate skin type exfoliant.
4. Moisturizing the skin with an appropriate skin type moisturizer.
When to use serums, or special treatments for the skin? When using products, such as Retinol, if the skin is dry, or sensitive, it is best to, “sandwich,” method the serum. Cleanse, exfoliate, adding a thin layer of moisturizer to create a buffer, then apply the retinol over the first layer of moisturizer, then add a second layer of moisturizer over the retinol, to seal it in.
For Oily skin, Cleanse, Exfoliate, pat dry the face, apply the Retinol product evenly over the skin, wait a few seconds for the serum to absorb, then follow with a moisturizer to lock in the product and also to help hydrate the skin.
Many believe Oily skin cannot suffer from dehydration due to the amount of oil produced in the skin, but one must remember, oil is different from water. Oily skin can become dehydrated, so moisturizer is as crucial for Oily skin types, as it is for Dry and other skin types.
Lastly, one of the acronyms, KISS, is truly applicable when addressing skin. Keep it simple, silly. If the treatments one chooses for their skin, whether it be wrinkles, acne, dark spots, redness, or other skin needs, it is always best to address one condition at a time, and once desired results has been achieved, then begin to treat the other condition. The very most importance aspects of healthy skin care regimes, is to be consistent, to use the appropriate products designed especially for the skin type, and regardless of skin tone, to always follow the Morning Basic Skin Care Regime with a sunscreen, because in the day, even walking to the car and being in a car, is still exposure to both UVA and UVB rays, which both radiation exposure can damage unprotected skin, so sunscreen is vitally important for all skin types, as skin cancer has zero predjudice. Healthy cleansed, exfoliated, moisturized and sunscreen protected skin protects the skin’s barrier and helps in keeping it’s first line of defense strong against the daily exposure from the sun, pollution and free radicals.
In summary, when in doubt, keep it simple, less in more, address one skin condition at a time, always wear sunscreen in the daylight hours, and the key to healthy skin is being consistent in doing the basic Morning and Evening Basic Skin Care Regime, and using products, appropriate for your individual skin type.
About the Author
Krista Katrina is a licensed Esthetician and writer, combining both my love of writing with the beauty industry. She writes solely on women’s topics, ranging from Health, Beauty, to Yoga and Spirituality,
