Why do you need to know your skin type? Whether your skin is dry or oily, or both, certain products work better on your face depending on your skin’s personality! To avoid reactions (more dryness, more oiliness, breakouts etc) Check out the characteristics of each skin type to find out yours.
Start with a clean hands and use a gentle cleanser to wash your face. Do not use too much cleanser. Rinse well with tepid water (not hot). Gently pat dry and wait a few minutes for the skin to recover before looking for these skin type characteristics. Step back from the mirror a bit to view your complexion:
Dry Skin: Is your skin visibly dry, flaky, have tiny lines or sometimes is itchy, or allergic? Are your pores very tiny? Is it clear of blackheads?
Oily Skin: Is your face always shiny? Try blotting your face with a piece of tissue and see if oil shows on the paper. Are your pores very visible? Do you tend to get blackheads, bumps and/or pimples?
Combination Skin: Do you see characteristics of both oily and dry skin, but in different parts of your face? Is your face oily only in the “T–Zone” — the nose, chin, center of forehead — and do you have dry cheeks, sides of the jaws and on the sides of your forehead?
Normal Skin: Do you rarely have complaints about oil or dryness? Are your pores just a little noticeable?
So Let’s Review:
Skin Surface Characteristics
- Dry and/or Sensitive Skin: Dry. Flaky Tiny Lines. Sometimes Itchy.
- Normal Skin: Well–balanced. Almost never too dry or oily.
- Oily Skin: Almost always shiny. Blotting with a piece of tissue will reveal oil on the paper.
- Combination Skin: Oily T–Zone (nose, chin, center of forehead). Dry Cheeks, sides of jaw, and sides of forehead.
PORES
– Dry and/or Sensitive Skin: Very tiny.
– Normal Skin: Noticeable but acceptable.
– Oily Skin: Very large.
– Combination Skin: Both large and small.
BLACKHEADS
– Dry and/or Sensitive Skin: Very rare.
– Normal Skin: Occasionally.
– Oily Skin: Often.
– Combination Skin: Sometimes but limited to oily areas.
SKIN ALLERGY
– Dry and/or Sensitive Skin: Common.
– Normal Skin: Occasionally.
– Oily Skin: Sometimes.
– Combination Skin: Sometimes.
BUMPS/ PIMPLES
– Dry and/or Sensitive Skin: Rare.
– Normal Skin: Occasionally.
– Oily Skin: Often.
– Combination Skin: Sometimes.
Knowledge of your skin type will tell you whether you can use products with alcohol, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA), chemical exfoliants or scrubs, water–based formulas, creamy moisturizers etc. Avoid bad reactions so that you always put a fresh face forward; be skin–smart!
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