Skin care has been one of the most talked about topics these past few years. Numerous skin care companies have been launching their products with different ingredients, packaging and promotions. You want it, they have it. Yet, more does not equal better.
The first step of an effective skin care routine is to identify your skin type. Let's dive in!
1. Normal Skin
How to tell: You barely experience any breakouts, and your skin doesn't tend to react negatively to weather conditions or product ingredients. Your skin is firm and has minimal fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin Care Tips: How lucky! Your skin experiences almost no sensitivity, dryness or oiliness. Most ingredients would not harm you. That means you can play hard with beauty products and have so much fun trying out new cleansers, moisturizers and masks until you find exactly what works for you.
2. Oily Skin
How to tell: Hi glowing queens! You’re probably most used to blotting sheets or mattifying powders. You might find that makeup and skin care products don’t always stay put like you’d want them to.
Skin Care Tips: Okay too much glow bothers you. Though there are some benefits to having oily skin (few wrinkles), you'd want to avoid ingredients like mineral oil, petrolatum and alcohol. Oil-free moisturizers are your best friends (you read that right; you still need a moisturizer), as are chemical exfoliants and clay masks.
3. Dry/Dehydrated Skin
How to Tell: Dryness and Dehydration are similar but not the same. Let's see the difference.- Dryness is the oil deficit in the skin. You likely experience flakiness, sensitivity, itchiness and cracks. It may be caused by lifestyle and environmental factors or a chronic condition like eczema.
- Dehydration means your skin does not get enough moisture. Your skin may feel a bit tight and you can see fine lines.
Skin Care Tips: Stay hydrated! Rich moisturizers are your besties, so don't forget to apply them everyday, especially after washing your hands or bathing. Drink lots of water. Try also to keep the air in your home moist to glow up your skin. Remember to avoid using harsh soaps or products containing citrus oils or lots of fragrance.
4. Combination Skin
How to Tell: If you’re having trouble figuring out what type of skin you have, it’s likely combination. Is your skin dry in some areas, but oily in others? Combination skin is most easily defined by an oily T-zone (the strip across the forehead and the line down the nose) and dry or normal skin on the rest of the face.
Skin Care Tips: Isolate problem areas with spot treatments and use toners or balancing cream to even out the skin.