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Have you ever jumped from one product to another, wondering why they’re not working out for you? Well, you might be having trouble determining your correct skin type.
Knowing your skin is the single most important step in fighting any skin issues such as acne or hyperpigmentation, not to mention having a suitable and effective skincare routine. Mistaking their skin type for another is one of the biggest mistakes people make in their skincare journey.
The skin is our biggest organ, after all. It makes sense that if you mistreat it by using unsuitable and harsh products, it won’t respond well. Knowing your skin type might not be a quick and easy process, but it’s definitely worth it. And it will save you a lot of time in the future. So, where should you begin?
There are actually ways in which you can figure out your own skin type, just by doing a couple of tests. Of course, you can always consult a professional, but with a little patience and perseverance, you can come to a correct conclusion all on your own. What are these tests then?
The simplest way to determine which skin type your skin falls under is by removing any makeup that’s sitting on top of your skin, washing your face thoroughly and dry it using a soft towel. Don’t continue with your skincare routine just yet. Before applying any toner, moisturizer, serum or spot treatment, take a good look at your skin. Feel it on your fingertips. Now that you’ve felt your skin right after washing it, let half an hours pass before you repeat the same physical examination. Again, you shouldn’t apply any skincare just yet, your skin needs to be bare in order to get a proper diagnosis. Pay close attention to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. Does it feel oily? Does it feel dehydrated? Is there a subtle shine or does your texture feel like the Sahara desert?
Let another half an hour pass. Then, make a few facial expressions and see if you’re having any trouble smiling or raising your brows. If it feels like your skin is going to crack and is too tight, chances are you have dry skin. If your skin feels as per usual, you’re one of the lucky ones who has normal skin. If it feels lubricated from within and there’s a shine, then it’s probably oily or combination skin. If only your T-zone (the area consisting of your forehead, between your brows, nose, and chin) is affected from the shine then it’s probably combination skin. However, if your cheeks feel greasy as well, then you definitely have oily skin. If you notice red patches, then you might be suffering from sensitive skin.
Another good determiner of your skin type is your pore size. Take a close look in the mirror and pay attention to the size of your pores. If they’re visible, but not overly large, then you probably have normal skin. Step away from the mirror and take another look. if your pores are still visible, chances are you have oily skin. Dry skin types tend to have invisible pores. A mash-up between large and small pores is typically associated with combination skin types.
Now that you’re done playing your own detective, you might want to refer to another skincare test just to double check that you’re correct. Luckily for you, there is another method which can help you determine your own skin type. This one is even faster than the first one!
This method is not only quicker but it’s going to determine for certain whether your skin falls under the oily or dry spectrum. For this method, you’ll need bloating sheets. These are typically found in conventional drugstores and supermarkets, and even some makeup counters carry them. Take a bloating sheet and gently pat it all over your face. Make sure to wait a few seconds in order for everything to be absorbed. Take the sheet and bring it to light. If you see visible traces of oil on it, then you have either oily or combination skin. if there’s no oil in sight, then you have dry skin. If the oil is coming from the T-zone, then it’s definitely a case of combination skin. this is one of the quickest and most precise ways of determining which skin type yours falls under.
Since we’ve mentioned all the ways you can determine your specific skin type, let’s delve into the peculiarities of each of them and which treatment options are the best.
Having dry skin is not a walk in the park. You constantly have to reapply moisturizer, makeup can look very cakey on your skin, you feel like your skin will crack after taking a shower and many other inconveniences. It feels rough and tight all throughout the day, and there are visible dry patches on the surface of your skin.
So, which factors influence dry skin? Truth be told, our skin types depend mainly on our genetics. Those genetics can be exasperated by certain environmental factors such as diet, not getting enough sleep, hydration levels, excessive sun exposure, chlorine, hormonal imbalances, hard water, climate changes, and extreme temperatures.
But what can be done in order to help your skin as best as you can? You do have some control after all. Here are a few tips which will help you to battle extremely dry skin.
Nourishment comes from within, so make sure you’re staying hydrated all throughout the day. Include many fruits and vegetables in your diet, since they’re a primary source of antioxidants. Make sure you exercise a couple of times a week and get enough sleep.
In terms of skincare, moisturizing on a regular basis is crucial! Pick a moisturizer that’s specifically designed for dry skin. on top of that, you should also exfoliate regularly and apply hydrating face masks, although try not to do it more than three times a week.
The most obvious trait of oily skin types is the production of excess sebum. The sebaceous glands can overproduce sebum for various different reasons, but, for the majority of people, oily skin is the result of genetics. If there’s excess oil present, then your pores become clogged, and if there are acne-causing bacteria in your skin, chances are you will break out.
Oily skin can leave people who wear makeup frustrated since the oil can come through even after you’ve applied powder on your skin. In order to fix this problem, it’s best to use blotting sheets and mattifying foundations which are specifically targeted for those who have oily skin.
It’s not all doom and gloom though! Believe it or not, there are actual upsides to having oily skin. it’s less likely to show premature signs of aging and it looks younger as a result. This is due to the fact that the natural oils in your skin making it less prone to cause fine lines and wrinkles.
Sometimes it might seem like there’s nothing that can help remove the excess oil. However, there are certain steps you can take in order to minimize the amount of sebum which your skin produces. Exfoliating on a regular basis will do wonders for preventing regular cell detoxifying. It’s important to keep in mind that even though your instincts might tell you to pick up the most abrasive skin exfoliator out there, it’s best to choose gentler ones. By doing so, you will make sure that you aren’t causing any damage to the skin in the long run.
Don’t overdo the exfoliating though, because, as paradoxical as it might sound, that can actually cause even more sebum to be produced. This is due to the signals which your skin sends to the glands. If you’re stripping your skin from its natural oils, the skin will signal to the glands to produce even more oil than before, causing oily mayhem.
While we’re on the subject, some people might feel inclined to over wash their face with a cleanser as soon as they notice any shine. This is not optimal for getting rid of excess sebum, so it’s best to wash your face only two times a day – in the morning and before going to bed.
A drawback of having oily skin that needs special attention is that it’s more likely to cause hyperpigmentation after breaking out. Getting rid of hyperpigmentation is not an easy task, so it’s best to do all you can in order to prevent it from happening. Regular exfoliation, wearing sunscreen and using proper skincare such as Retin A creams will help you minimize the chance of getting any dark spots or marks.
If you have oily skin, you will definitely want to avoid any skincare and makeup products which contain oil. It can clog your pores and lead to acne. Another ingredient you might want to avoid is any kinds of alcohol because it can dry out the skin.
Combination skin is characterized by oiliness in the T-zone and dryness in the cheek area. This can be a problem for many people because they don’t know which skincare ranges to go for. Using products which are suitable for oily skin won’t be beneficial for the dry areas and vice versa. Thankfully, nowadays there are many ranges which are specifically designed for people who have combination skin. Opt for moisturizers which aren’t too heavy on the skin so that you don’t throw off the oily parts, but rather moisturizers which will hydrate the skin properly without aggravating the T-zone.
As with oily skin, those who have combination skin should avoid putting any alcohols on the skin since it will likely cause dry patches. Reading ingredients on your skincare products is a rather mundane task, but by doing so, you’re saving yourself from a lot of trouble in the future.
If you have normal skin – consider yourself lucky! People with normal skin might experience some oiliness and dryness here and there, but for the most part, it’s basically a steady ride. If they do break out from time to time, it’s usually temporary and the breakouts go away on their own without leaving a mark. You don’t need to worry about using new products on the skin since the chances of you having a negative reaction to any experiments in your typical routine are minimal.
Normal skin is pretty easy to manage, but make sure you aren’t neglecting it and relying on your great genes a little too much. Create a proper skincare routine which will consist of gentle products that will hydrate the skin and protect it from the sun. If you’re in your twenties, you might want to look into getting some anti-aging products as well, just as a preventative measure.
Here are some of the most common symptoms in people who have sensitive skin: they break out frequently, their skin becomes easily inflamed and irritated, they get chronic redness, they flush easily and their skin reacts to new skincare products.
Dealing with sensitive skin is not an easy task. It will definitely take some time and patience in order to find the products which work best for you. You have to be perceptive and attentive in regards to your skin’s reaction to certain ingredients and do your best to avoid those which are causing you harm.
Lucky for us, nowadays there are more than enough products targeted specifically to those who have sensitive skin, so most of these won’t contain dangerous and triggering ingredients. Generally speaking, fragrances, colorants, alcohols, silicones, and oils cause problems in most people with sensitive skin. Look for labels such as “suitable for sensitive skin”, “non-comedogenic”, “paraben free”, “and alcohol-free” and “oil-free”. If you want to try out a completely new routine, make sure you introduce one product at the time, so you can identify any potential triggers on time.
Sensitive skin types usually have a weakened or damaged skin barrier, so it’s important to search for products which are gentle on the skin so that you don’t cause any further damage to the top skin layer.
As we age, the amount of sebum our sebaceous glands produce is reduced, so our skin is more likely to dry out. This leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, or it makes those which are already existing more prominent.
So, how do you identify mature skin? For starters, mature skin often looks dull and lifeless, which is a result of a loss in collagen and moisture. It’s also dehydrated and it lacks luminosity, which is easily detectable on the outside. Pores are usually open and visible and there are often hyperpigmentation and age spots present.
Fatigue, a poor diet, excessive sun exposure, hormonal changes, stress, and various other environmental and lifestyle factors can impact the skin negatively and worsen the appearance of these symptoms.
During menopause, the hormones in our bodies undergo a change, and that change can also be reflected on the skin. It can become thinner and thus more sensitive, especially to harsher treatments and the sun. Some women even break out during menopause, even those who’ve never suffered from acne before.
Luckily, there are many products out there which tackle mature skin, and there are even more which prevent wrinkles from appearing in the first place, such as our wrinkle-free moisturizer.
The question is: How should you prevent mature skin from appearing prematurely? The key is to begin implementing a proper skincare routine at an early age, preferably in your early twenties. Wear sunscreen on a regular basis, lead a healthy lifestyle which includes plenty of exercise and rest, eat an antioxidant-rich diet with plenty of vitamins from fruits and vegetables and take care of your overall health.
But, at the end of the day, aging is a natural process, and smile lines are merely a sign of laughter and joyful times. We will all get there someday, so try not to worry too much about it.
Skin types are generally determined by our particular set of genes. However, certain things like environmental and lifestyle factors, the quality of water and hormonal imbalances can also have an impact on the skin. Figuring out which is your correct skin type is crucial in having an effective skincare routine which will leave your skin looking fabulous.
