Knowing Your Skin

Alright, before we do anything to our skin whether it be finding cleansers or choosing cosmetics, the first step we have to do is to know our skin! 

There are many types of moisturizers, cleansers, and make up for us to choose. The best results come from the products that are best formulated for your skin type. Our job is to learn what is best and what is not best for our skin to prevent harsh damage and unwanted reactions. 

So, as you're standing at the health and beauty aisle, you're probably asking yourself, "Uhm, so how do I know what skin type I have?" 

Here's a quick and easy way to test your skin type. All you need is one sheet of blotting paper (any brand is fine). 

*NOTE: make sure you do this before cleansing your face.

Step 1: Take the blotting paper and blot the oiliest parts of one side of your face. 

Step 2: Blot the paper on your forehead, nose and chin.

Step 3: Compare both sides of your face as well as the blotting paper with the following skin results. The closest match to what you've uncovered will be your skin type.

Oily Skin: You will see a noticeable difference in sheen when comparing both sides of your face. The blotting paper should also be full of oil indicating all the oil it has collected from your face. 
 -> If you have oily skin, you should look for products that are directed towards oily skin such as light formula and oil free. For cosmetics, you should look for products that are lighter on the skin and water based. Also, powder is much needed to remove excess shine from your T-zone.
 -> You should be aware that oily skin ages best. Your face has enough oil to keep it hydrated and most of the oil produced on your skin has nutrients to keep it soft and supple. Thus, giving you a younger looking face as you age. 

Normal Skin: You will see a slight difference in sheen when comparing both sides of your face. The blotting paper will show little oil. 
 -> If you have normal skin, you are basically free to use any type of product that's on the market ranging from oil based to water based products. 
 -> For normal skin types, you will notice a change in oiliness and dryness as you age resulting in a change of skin care routine depending on the problem you have. 

Dry Skin: You will see barely any change in both sides of your face as well as very little to no oil on the blotting paper. 
 -> If you have dry skin, you must moisturize to keep your face hydrated to prevent irritation and discomfort. You should look for products that are oil-rich or oil-based. Because alcohol is known for it's quick drying properties, you should avoid using products with alcohol.
 -> For dry skin types, your goal is to keep your skin hydrated. Drink lots of water and wear moisturizers in the morning, after a shower, before you put on makeup, and before bed. A tip in applying moisturizers, let the moisturizer dry before layering another product on top suck as acne treatment or makeup. This will all the skin to absorb the moisturizer giving your skin the moisture it needs.


 Did you Know:
Do you think you have combination skin? Faces with combination skin are characterized with a very oily T-zone as other regions (i.e. cheeks, forehead, chin) are dry. The center of the face is usually the oiliest part of the face for everyone. Having a noticeably oilier T-zone does not entirely mean you have combination skin. In fact, many dermatologist disregard the combination skin type label**. It is best to find one skin type for your face and treating your face according to one skin type.



**Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox page 58.