Know your Skin Type

My mother would usually advice me not to put just anything on my face as it is the most sensitive and crucial skin part of our body, right isn’t it? Our face is the first thing people would usually notice moreso than our small eyes, cute nose, or curved eyebrow, our skin attracts more attention as it occupies more surface.

Each of us is concerned on how to care for our skin, but it must first root on identifying our skin type so we can best identify which skin regiment to use. Beauty products usually come specialising on a specific skin need or skin type, so it is but important to determine your skin type before you buy certain beauty product for your face.

Like others, I too have this dilemma on which skin type my skin falls. I suspect it to be oily, but sometimes I feel it’s normal or T-zone. LOL. So I’ve come up to write this article to help me, and you, identify our skin type.

I came across several articles discussing skin types, and it still makes me hard to decide without a beauty expert or dermatologist’s consultation. So I condensed several website articles regarding skin types and came up with my own conclusion. Stick around!

From CLEAR ESSENCE

Clear Essence was very graphical in showing your skin and even has a Skin Type quiz. But it wasn’t very objective. Check this out if you can relate with the photo representation of your skin.

From ALL WOMEN TALK

This article is very detailed on the characteristics and gives specific locations of your face. It also gives minor tips on how to care on your specific skin type. What is just disturbing with the article, is it shows an image of a beautiful woman every after skin type but her skin, I think, does not correspond to the article of the skin type. It could have been better if they have realistic examples, or just discarded the photo.

Anyway, here are the 5 Basic Skin Types article from All Women Talk.

Normal Skin - If your skin belongs to a normal type, the tissue will not reveal any traces of oil after wiping to your face. Your skin should feel vibrant, elastic, and supple. normal skin is the least problematic.

Your skin looks clean and smooth, and has good circulation and healthy complexion. Even with a minimum care, it will look good into your advanced age.

Dry Skin - If your skin is dry, try to wipe a paper or tissue to your face, and if you see spots of facial oil on it especially when wiped from , then you have an oily face. Oily skin is problematic - it usually looks greasy, thick, coarse, and shiny, as enlarged pores and tends to give you acne breakouts. 

A good thing, though, is that oily skin is not prone much to ageing and wrinkling. Careful cleaning, minimizing of carbohydrate consumption, and avoiding rich creams can be helpful in improving the skin quality of those with oily skin.

Combination Skin - If your skin is combination, like that of most women, if you wipe a tissue on your face, it will have traces of coil coming from your nose and forehead, but clean in your cheeks.

Combination skin has patches of both dry and oily skin, and it requires different types of care in relation to particular facial areas.

Dry zones, which are usually located on the cheeks and around the eyes, should be treated with rich creams and moisturisers, while oily areas usually on the forehead and nose, will benefit from frequent and thorough cleaning.

Sensitive Skin - Sensitive skin is usually very dry, tends to feel tight, and becomes inflamed and irritated easily. Typically, sensitive skin develops reddish and scaly areas, can be very itchy and tingly, and is prone to breaking into spots. It is the most problematic and fragile type of skin, which needs very special type of care.

(http://allwomenstalk.com/what-skin-type-do-you-have/)

From Herbal Luxuries 

The article explains the reason for acquiring such skin type, and offers some suggestions on how to counteract or maintain your skin type.

Dry Skin - Dry skin is caused by under or inactive oil glands that do not produce enough sebum to keep the skin naturally lubricated. It usually has a dull appearance, feels dry and itchy and is sometimes sensitive. Dry skin must be hydrated regularly from the inside (by drinking water) and outside (mists), as well as moisturising.

Oily Skin - Oily skin is caused by glands that produce too much sebum, resulting in skin that has a greasy slippery texture, appears shiny and is frequently has large, clogged pores. Oily skin types are prone to develop acnem a condition resulting from sebum trapped or blocked inside the skin and causing pus-filled lesions known as comedones. Despite these drawbacks, pily skin generally remains younger looking and more supple over time than other skin types. Oily skin benefits from periodic herbal steam treatments and clay masks.

Normal Skin - In normal skin, the oil glands produce sebum at moderate rate, resulting in a balanced state, not too oily and not too dry. Normal skin looks consistently plump, moist, and vibrant. What a great blessing but it still requires no less attention than other skin types. It benefits from regular cleansing, toning, and moisturising.

Combination Skin - Most people have at least two different types of facial skin at any given time. The combination of skin is frequently characterized by an oily T-zone area, which covers the forehead, nose, and chin. While the skin around the cheeks, eyes, and mouth is normal or dry. These different skin types of skin call for different treatments, so people with combination skin should assess their skin regularly and use different products on different areas of the face.

Sensitive Skin - Sensitive skin can be dry, normal, or oily and is characterized by delicacy which is why we feel it is more of a skin condition than a skin type.

(http://www.herballuxuries.com/face-skin-types.html)

From the time of my mom’s advice, I had been very picky and choosy, also testing every product first before purchase and paying attention to its ingredients as some may contain harsh components not suitable to my skin.

I hope this article has helped you in identifying your skin as it helped mine. I have combination skin. LOL :D