The skin covers our entire body and accounts for roughly 16 percent of our body weight. It’s our first line of defense against the elements and accordingly, we take good care of it. There are probably thousands of different skincare products available worldwide. But not all skincare products are created equal. How do we select which product works best for us? First we have to find what our skin type is.
Have you noticed that some have naturally clear, glowing skin, some people have skin that breaks out often, and some people have skin that are a little bit too much shine? We all have different skin types, depending on how much water, oil and how sensitive our skin is. Here are the five most common skin types:
Normal Skin
If you have normal skin, your skin is in the ideal spot between dry and oily. Normal skin is not too sensitive and not prone to breakouts. People with normal skin normally have small pores and natural radiant skin and do not need to put too many products on the skin.
Dry Skin
If you have flaky, patchy skin then you most likely have dry skin. If left unchecked, extremely dry skin can crack, peel, or become itchy. It can also get irritated and inflamed. Some people have naturally dry skin because of their genes, but dry skin can also be caused by something else. As you get older, the skin retains less collagen and water, resulting in dry skin. Cold weather also causes the skin to become dry. If you are a fan of the tanning beds or like to skip sunblock when going outdoors, these also causes dry skin, and could potentially cause more damage. Whatever the cause of dry skin, it is important that you use a moisturizer to prevent dryness.
Oily Skin
The polar opposite of dry skin, is oily skin. A healthy amount of oil is needed to make the skin elastic, but when the skin produces too much oil, it makes the skin shiny and excess oils could clog pores. Clogged pores result in enlarged pores, unsightly blackheads and whiteheads and even breakouts. Most people try to manage oily skin by using products with harsh chemicals to dry it out, and using harsh exfoliators to try to scrub off the top layer of the skin but this just further damage the skin. In order to manage oily skin you need to make sure the product you are using is gentle, and formulated for oily skin. Don’t forget to check your food intake as well, and eat healthy.
Combination Skin Type
Some skin types are a combination of the three skin types above – meaning, it could be normal in some areas, dry in other areas and oily in others. Usually the T-zone, the nose, forehead and chin are the parts that have oily skin. If you notice you have breakouts on your forehead and chin but the skin on your cheeks feel dry, you most likely have combination skin.
Sensitive Skin
If you normally experience this on your skin – redness, itching, burning, dryness then you may have sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin you first have to determine what triggers these reactions on your skin. It could be a certain food, a skincare product, sun exposure, or food. Once you find the trigger, avoid those completely. When looking for skin care products look for products that are gentle and hypo-allergenic. Avoid using products with too much alcohol or fragrance.