Know the Skin You're In
Believe it or not a large majority of people have no idea what's their skin type. Some may be able to guess, but probably won't be able to tell you with certainty. We all fall into four categories when it comes to skin type. Our skin is either oily, dry, combination of oily and dry, or normal. Knowing your skin is very important. This is how you're able to purchase the correct makeup and skin care products. The last thing you want is to put the wrong thing on your face. In order to help you avoid making this mistake, here a few things you should look for when determining your skin type and how its best treated.
Four Types of Skin
Oily Skin
Your skin would fall under the category of oily if you find that it always looks shiny. The area that really gets oily is called the T-zone. This is the area going across your forehead and straight down from the middle of your forehead to your nose. If you've noticed that that area is always shiny then chances are you have oily skin. Another way of determining if you have oily skin is to do a skin examination. This really isn't as complicated as it may sound. You're simply examining your pores. If you notice that your pores are big that's another indication that you have oily skin. Your makeup is another determining factor. Your skin is oily if you find it hard to keep foundation on or if you've noticed that it tends to crease on the forehead or around mouth.
When it comes to oily skin, look for cleansing products that's oil free. The last thing your skin need is more oil. A very important step in cleaning the face is the toner. This helps to clear away any makeup and dirt that may have been left behind by the cleanser. After cleansing and toning you'd need to moisturize. It's best to use water based moisturizers for oily skin.
Dry Skin
When it comes to dry skin the thing you want to look for is flakes. Dry skin tends to be flaky, especially around the eyebrows and nose. Unlike oily skin, dry sky is associated with having very small pores which is why moisturizing is very important. You can also tell if your skin is dry by the texture. Dry skin has a rough feel. You may also notice that your skin gets tight and itchy. The itching and tightness may be more noticeable after you've cleaned your face. Dry skin also tends to be more sensitive than oily and combination skin. If you have skin that's very sensitive to the sun, wind, or cold weather, then your skin would most likely fall under the dry category.
Contrary to popular belief, dry skin is not caused by a lack of oil it's actually caused by lack of water. So, the key is to look for ways to add more water to the skin. Look for cleansing products that are specifically for dry skin. You'll find that these products are water based. Because the skin is dry you'll need to keep it moistened often.
Combination Skin
This is actually the most common skin type. Combination skin has characteristics of both oily and dry skin. You'll find that your face is oily some places, usually around the T-zone, and dry around the cheeks. If you'd found that skin products work well on part of your skin but irritated other parts, then that's a good indication that you have combination skin.
Caring for combination skin is probably the most difficult because your skin is both dry and oily. The good news is there is help for combination skin. The key is to choose a mild cleanser. Use the cleanser on the entire face at least twice a day. After cleansing choose a good moisturizer and use it on the dry area of your face.
Normal Skin
Normal skin is just what its name suggests, it's normal. There's no flaking or excessive oil. The skin is has a very smooth texture. Not many people are fortunate enough to have normal skin, but if you're one than consider yourself very lucky.
Even though the skin type is normal, it's still important to keep it cleansed well. Choose a cleanser specifically for normal skin. Clean the skin twice a day once in the morning and again at night. Use a light moisturizer on the skin. Keep the skin looking great by protecting it from the sun with the use of sunscreen. Monitor what you're eating and drinking. If you're fortunate enough to have normal skin, you'd definitely want to keep it that way.
Four Types of Skin
Oily Skin
Your skin would fall under the category of oily if you find that it always looks shiny. The area that really gets oily is called the T-zone. This is the area going across your forehead and straight down from the middle of your forehead to your nose. If you've noticed that that area is always shiny then chances are you have oily skin. Another way of determining if you have oily skin is to do a skin examination. This really isn't as complicated as it may sound. You're simply examining your pores. If you notice that your pores are big that's another indication that you have oily skin. Your makeup is another determining factor. Your skin is oily if you find it hard to keep foundation on or if you've noticed that it tends to crease on the forehead or around mouth.
When it comes to oily skin, look for cleansing products that's oil free. The last thing your skin need is more oil. A very important step in cleaning the face is the toner. This helps to clear away any makeup and dirt that may have been left behind by the cleanser. After cleansing and toning you'd need to moisturize. It's best to use water based moisturizers for oily skin.
Dry Skin
When it comes to dry skin the thing you want to look for is flakes. Dry skin tends to be flaky, especially around the eyebrows and nose. Unlike oily skin, dry sky is associated with having very small pores which is why moisturizing is very important. You can also tell if your skin is dry by the texture. Dry skin has a rough feel. You may also notice that your skin gets tight and itchy. The itching and tightness may be more noticeable after you've cleaned your face. Dry skin also tends to be more sensitive than oily and combination skin. If you have skin that's very sensitive to the sun, wind, or cold weather, then your skin would most likely fall under the dry category.
Contrary to popular belief, dry skin is not caused by a lack of oil it's actually caused by lack of water. So, the key is to look for ways to add more water to the skin. Look for cleansing products that are specifically for dry skin. You'll find that these products are water based. Because the skin is dry you'll need to keep it moistened often.
Combination Skin
This is actually the most common skin type. Combination skin has characteristics of both oily and dry skin. You'll find that your face is oily some places, usually around the T-zone, and dry around the cheeks. If you'd found that skin products work well on part of your skin but irritated other parts, then that's a good indication that you have combination skin.
Caring for combination skin is probably the most difficult because your skin is both dry and oily. The good news is there is help for combination skin. The key is to choose a mild cleanser. Use the cleanser on the entire face at least twice a day. After cleansing choose a good moisturizer and use it on the dry area of your face.
Normal Skin
Normal skin is just what its name suggests, it's normal. There's no flaking or excessive oil. The skin is has a very smooth texture. Not many people are fortunate enough to have normal skin, but if you're one than consider yourself very lucky.
Even though the skin type is normal, it's still important to keep it cleansed well. Choose a cleanser specifically for normal skin. Clean the skin twice a day once in the morning and again at night. Use a light moisturizer on the skin. Keep the skin looking great by protecting it from the sun with the use of sunscreen. Monitor what you're eating and drinking. If you're fortunate enough to have normal skin, you'd definitely want to keep it that way.
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