There are 5 basic skin care types: oily, combination (normal),
sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much
-- or how little -- oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level,
hormonal fluctuations, medication and even your skincare regimen all
determine how much oil your skin produces.
Rona Berg, in her book, "
Beauty the New Basics,"
suggests you take the "skin test" to tell what skin type you have. To
do this, wash your face, pat it dry, then take a few pieces of rice
paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your
face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots
and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily
spots, your skin is likely dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead,
nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. Most women
actually have combination skin.
Here are the 5 different skin types and their tell-tale characteristic
Oily skin is shiny skin, especially in the T-zone (from the forehead,
down the nose to the chin). You may have enlarged pores, and you may be
prone to blackheads and breakouts due to the overproduction of the
sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. The good thing about oily skin is it
ages better than dry skin because the oils keep the skin plump allowing
fewer wrinkles to form. Many young women have oily skin but as they age,
they may find their skin becomes more dry, especially after age 35
To take care of your skin, wash with a
cleanser formulated for oily skin before you go to bed. Exfoliate twice weekly with a gentle
scrub and use oil-free moisturizers. If you suffer from breakouts, an astringent may help. When it comes to blush and bronzers, powdered blends work better than liquid ones and look for oil-free options for tinted moisturizers or foundations.
Combination/Normal Skin
Most women (some experts say up to 70 percent, although how anyone
arrived at that number is beyond me), have combination, or "normal"
skin. Combination skin means you may have a slightly oily T-zone and
drier cheeks with dry patchy spots here and there. You may also have
larger pores on your cheeks and possibly your forehead. This skin type
has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation and a
healthy color.
To take care of your skin, you may need to treat the T-zone differently
from your drier spots. If your T-zone tends to be oily, try an
astringent on those areas only after you've washed your face. Make sure
to exfoliate twice weekly (I love my Clarisonic Mia) to remove any dead skin cells and use a heavier facial moisturizer on your dry spots as need
Dry Skin
After I turned 35 my skin magically became much drier. This skin
fluctuation can definitely be attributed to hormones. Dry skin feels
tight, especially after cleansing. You have a tendency towards fine
wrinkles, flaking and red patches. In women of color, skin may appear
ashy or dull from dead skin buildup.
Dry skin requires special care. I prefer heavy cleansers and
moisturizers over the lightweight products of my oilier years. I
exfoliate weekly and even slather on primers before I apply foundation
just to plump the skin up as much as possible. I carry Evian spray water
with me when I'm traveling to less humid areas and I keep a bottle on
my desk to spray my face in the winter, when furnaces dry out the air.
If you live in a cold environment, I suggest using a humidifier in your
office and bedroom to keep skin from drying out.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin tends to be thin, and delicate with fine pores. If you
are easily irritated by the sun, certain cosmetic products and if you
are prone to redness, itchy patches or blotchy skin, you likely have
sensitive skin.
Finding the right cleansers and moisturizers for your skin type can be
tricky. The good news is many companies have developed products
specifically for sensitive skin. Look for mild products that contain no
scents. Many drugstores and department stores allow you to return
products, so check out the return policy before you buy or ask if the
store carries freebies so you can try before you buy.
Aging or Sun-damaged Skin
This skin also feels tight with visible wrinkles, slack skin tone --
especially around the cheeks and jawline -- with leathery texture and
broken capillaries.
To care for aging skin, you should consider using moisturizers and heavy creams to plump up your fine wrinkles. I love Retin-A
which has done wonders on my skin tone and has smoothed some fine
wrinkles. And if you are really upset about your deeper lines, you can
have them frozen with Botox or filled with injectables
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