HOW TO KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE

Skincare shouldn’t be complicated. We all deserve healthy skin. Every person’s skin is unique and different in its own way. Understanding and knowing your skin type will help you to choose the right products for yourself. These are the most common skin types;

  • Oily skin refers to skin that has excess oil especially around the forehead, nose, and chin. Oily skin looks shiny, feels greasy and is susceptible to blemishes and breakouts. This skin type often looks younger and supple because it has more natural moisture and is less prone to wrinkle.
  • Normal skin is not too dry or too oily (balanced).
  • Combination skin is both dry and oily. For example, the skin can be shiny on the forehead, nose and chin and then dry or normal on the cheeks.
  • Dry skin is rough, scaly, flaky, itchy or irritated. Dry skin is due to genetics, environmental factors such as lifestyle & diet, hormonal changes, and climate. It feels and looks dehydrated.
  • Sensitive skin is characterized by visible redness and dryness. It does not always show visible signs and may simply have feelings of discomfort when using certain product ingredients.
There are two methods that can be done at home that will help you determine the type of skin you have;
  1. Bare-faced method; wash your face with a mild cleanser and pat dry. Leave skin bare and refrain from apply any skincare products like moisturizers. After 30 minutes, observe what your skin looks like. If it appears shiny on your cheeks, forehead and nose you might have an oily skin. If your skin feels tight with flaky areas, your skin is likely to be dry. If you see an unbalanced mix of oiliness and dryness, you most likely have combination skin.
  2. The blotting sheet method; this method is much faster and often an excellent differentiator between oily and dry skin types. Gently press a clean blotting paper on the different areas of your face. Hold the sheet up to the light to determine how much oil was absorbed. If the sheet picked up little to no oil visible, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet reveals minimal oil from the forehead and nose areas, your skin is combination or normal. Finally, if the blotting paper has more oil on the paper, it is extremely likely that you have oily skin.

When caring for your skin, you need to fully understand it’s before using skin products. Below is a guide on what product ingredients are good for the different skin types;

Dry Skin

Dry skin produces less sebum than normal or oily skin, the key to caring for it is to keep the skin barrier properly hydrated and exfoliating daily with gentle, non-abrasive ingredients. The best moisturizers for dry skin contain hyaluronic acid listed as sodium hyaluronate in ingredients, glycerin, and marine actives like algae. All these attract water and deliver it directly to skin cells. Emollients, squalane and camellia oil, smooth and hydrate your skin effectively. People with dry skin should look for formulas that hydrate, nurture and moisturize, and are free from alcohol, fragrances, dyes, or chemicals. The more moisture the skin holds, the healthier the skin.

Oily Skin

For oily skin, always look for products that help balance excess oil and are non-comedogenic meaning that they won’t clog your pores. Oily skin is susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation a condition that leaves dark spots on the skin after a breakout has healed. Exfoliating 2-3 times a week will help to lighten dark spots by removing dead skin cells from skin’s surface. Use a gentle foaming face wash that will not irritate your skin or increase oil production.

Combination Skin

Combination skin can be challenging to care for. It often has a well moisturized t-zone that is; the forehead and the nose but a lot of dryness around the cheeks. Exfoliation is important to keep the t-zone and cheek areas balanced. Moisturizers with a gel-like texture absorb quickly and are not susceptible to breakouts.

Normal Skin

Normal skin has minimal skin concerns. To help maintain balanced, healthy-looking skin, it is essential to cleanse gently, hydrate with a daily moisturizer, and apply sunscreen during the day to protect the skin from sun rays.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin can be cared for by choosing skincare products one at a time that can help strengthen the skin barrier and look for treatments that identify formulas as non-irritating and non-sensitizing and free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, urea, as these ingredients can result in visible redness and skin discomfort. Before you apply these products or formulas on your face, try testing them on other parts of the body like the arms, behind the ears and observe how they react.

We sometimes make skincare so complicated, but it shouldn’t be. Visit a dermatologist for a professional opinion if you can.

Cheers to Healthy Glowing Skin.

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