When it comes to looking younger, nothing may be important than taking care of your skin. A beautiful, healthy glow makes you appear radiant and youthful while a dull, dry, or flaky complexion can add years to your face. But before you spend money on skin products that promise great results, it is important to know what type of skin you have and
what kind of care it needs.
What Is Skin?
Your skin is aliving organ that constantly regenerates itself. The outer layer, called the epidermis, is as thin as a pencil line. It consists of a protective layer of skin cells that continually shed and give way to new cells. Below the epidermis are the dermis and hypodermis, two layers that produce the oil, collagen, and elastin that give your skin support, elasticity, and shine.
What Are The Different Types of Skin?
There are three basic skin types: oily, dry, and combination.
Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when the dermis does not secrete enough oil, or sebum. The result is tight, drawn, flaky skin and a dull complexion. In more extreme cases, dry skin lacks elasticity and can be extremely sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold temperatures.
How to Take Care of It:
Wash your face once a day with a rich, creamy cleanser and warm water. Rinse with cold water and pat your skin dry. Use heavy, oil-based moisturizers and makeup. Avoid toners and makeup that contain alcohol as alcohol-based products have a drying effect on skin.
Oily Skin
Oily skin usually has a lot of shine to it and the pores are generally enlarged. It is more prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads than other skin types and is coarser in texture.
How to Take Care of It: Oily skin tends to attract more dirt than dry skin, so wash your face several times a day with a light, non-greasy liquid cleanser soap and warm water.Rinse with cold water. Use toners and astringents containing alcohol to help dry the skin. Buy water-based moisturizers and make-up and use powder to minimize shine.
Combination: Normal to Oily
Normal to Oily People with normal to oily skin generally have normal skin on their cheeks and oily skin with enlarged pores on their T zone, the area that stretches across the forehead and down the nose and chin.
How to Take Care of It: The trick with normal to oily skin is to find products that will keep your skin hydrated, while minimizing breakouts and shine in the oily areas. Look for cleansers designed for combination skin and use a water-based moisturizer, applying it less frequently to oily skin. Products that contain alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin A
retinols can help balance combination skin. Use oil-absorbing makeup to reduce shine.
Combination: Dry to Oily
This skin type is marked by oily skin in the T zone and dry, taut skin on the cheeks.
How to Take Care of It: Wash your face with cleansers that are designed for combination skin and when using a toner, dilute it with water before applying to your cheeks. Apply moisturizer more frequently to dry skin. Use oil-absorbing makeup to reduce shine.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin irritates easily and is often red and blotchy. This type of skin can have allergic reactions to beauty products and is usually sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold weather.
How to Take Care of It: Look for soap, makeup, and moisturizers that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Wash your face once a day and avoid using skin exfoliants. Use a hypoallergenic toner on oily areas, but discontinue if it causes irritation.
Now you have a better idea of what types of products you should purchase next time you go shopping for your skin care regimen & how to keep that skin looking youthful.
