How to know your skin type?
Determining your skin type is absolutely necessary.
Why?
- It'll help you to pick up the right products for your skin and also provide it with the best care.
I am sure you must have dealt with confusion when you stepped into a mall to find shelves stocked with different brands and types of cosmetics. So why wait and get troubled when you have all knowledge below?
How are skin types categorized?
People are born with their skin types. Your skin totally defines your lifestyle since it depends upon various factors like:
- What you eat
- What you drink
- Your stress level
- Habits such as smoking, drug use etc.
- Amount and quality of your sleep
- Ethnicity
- Genetics
The various types of skins are categorized by how much oil is produced by the sebaceous glands and this indirectly depends upon the size of their pores.
Basic Skin Types:
There are 5 basic skin types:- Oily Skin
- Your face is oily all over when you first wake up
- You have a shiny slippery texture
- Your skin appears thicker due to excess oil and layer of dead skin cells
- Your face feels comfortable after you cleanse it with facial wash and water; whereas it is oily after you wash it with cream cleanser
- 15 to 20 minutes after washing your face, your face is oily again.
- The pores on your face are large and noticeable with blackheads
- You feel fresher with a facial toner while a rich night cream makes it oilier.
Warning: Many girls who have oily skin keep on cleansing it too often and avoid using a moisturizer. This will only worsen the situation. The oil on your face has been secreted to compensate for the dryness of your skin. Cleanse but don't over cleanse and do always apply a moisturizer.
Try using clay masks or steam treatments
2. Dry Skin
- Your face is tight, itchy, taut and flaky when you first wake up.
- You have a tendency towards fine wrinkles, flaking and red patches.
- Your skin appears dull due to dead skin build ups.
- 15 to 20 minutes after washing your face, your face is very tight and dull looking.
- Its relatively comfortable when you cleanse it with a cream cleanser
- You see flaky patches appearing by mid day
- The pores on your face are barely noticeable
- A facial toner does not suit you and a rich night cream feels comfortable.
Drink lots of fresh water.
Use rich formulas containing a balanced combination of oil and water to soothe and hydrate.
3. Combination Skin
- Your skin remains dry in some areas while smooth in others.
- Generally, oily around the T zone and a little dry around the cheeks
- Symptoms of oily skin around the T zone and dry skin around the cheeks
- Medium sized pores
Assess your skin regularly and use different products on different areas of the face.
4. Sensitive Skin
- When you first wake up, your face is red and blotchy
- When you cleanse your face, it is sometimes comfortable, sometimes itchy
- By mid day your skin usually has flaky patches and some redness
- Facial toner stings and itches
- Your skin react adversely to cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetics, fragrances, and artificial colors
Sensitive Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic and can be rashy. Use gentle, natural, handmade skincare products and treatments, including light steaming with herbs or try facial steam.
5. Normal Skin
- Your skin consistently appears plump, moist and vibrant.
- You feel smooth and comfortable with any kind of cleanser.
- Even at mid day your skin appears fresh and clean.
- You rarely get break outs. Possibly only before or during your periods (for women)
- You don't have any problem with a facial toner and are perfectly fine with night creams too.
You will benefit from regular cleansing, toning, and moisturizing with handmade skincare products.
Congratulations! Now that you know your skin type, choose the right products and treatments!
Hope this was useful,
Until Next time,
Take care! :)
