SKIN TYPE AT A GLANCE

“Happiness is a habit. So is your skincare.”

Linden Tyler

It feels great to know so much about your skin type and to be able to evaluate it.

What is Skin Type?

Simply said, skin type refers to how and why your skin feels, behaves, and reacts the way it does. Meaning a skin type is and will never be static. Skin type can change over time, month to month, week after week, or season after season. Different and over-skin changes require different skin care products and treatments.  I hear people say I have sensitive skin. However, I feel all skin types are sensitive.

What Influences the Skin Type?

Having different skin types at different times or seasons can be influenced by almost everything around us. Both the external and internal elements do and can affect the way the skill feels and looks. One needs to consider some factors to determine the best skincare routine for it is by knowing the skin type that one formulates and adapts the daily and weekly skincare routine. Some of the internal influences are skin disorders, hormonal changes, medication, smoking, diet, and genetic predisposition to skin type. Some of the external influences are climate, pollution, and skin care routine.

Ideally, one is advised to use products that do not alter the skin type or bring about skin complications. Products like bar cleansers or bar soap artificially make the skin dry and feel irritated. Certain moisturizers (such as occlusive ones) have a propensity to block pores and result in skin outbreaks. Products that contain ingredients that cause redness, inflammation and flaking, check out also those that contain astringents and alcohol as well. When buying skin care products, do you focus on the price as much, instead focus on the ingredients?  Buy products that match your skin needs. More reason, before buying that expensive or cheap product, it is advised to know and understand your skin type and the treatment it needs for a glowing one. 

How To Know My Skin Type

The right time to judge your face is not after washing it, because the sensation you may feel after washing can be a reaction to the water or the cleanser used. To accurately understand your skin, take at most four hours to analyse it after washing. The assessment should be done on that off day or the day you do not apply makeup products.

After the long waiting, have a look in the mirror closely, do you notice any shiny areas? Are there any glossy patches on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin? If you are not sure, do not worry, take a facial tissue or facial wipes, dab on the face, and dab again after one hour. If the tissue or wipe has some spots of oil on it, then you have oily skin.

Do the areas of your face skin look dry or matte? Yes, then you do have dry skin.

Do you see patched skin, both dry and shiny areas? Yes, then you have what is called a combined skin type.

Do you not see any apparent signs of shiny areas or dry patches on the skin? Yes, then you are dealing with normal skin.