Skin is the largest organ of our body. The understanding of your skin type and its adaptation to seasons and other circumstances plays a very important role in your skincare. The first step towards the journey of a healthy, smooth, and clear is drawing a perfect routine and figuring out your skin type.
Every individual’s skin is unique; thus it is important to know your skin type, diseases that might affect you, and the ways in which you can take care of your skin. Getting to know your skin’s necessities and its behavior will educate you about your whole skincare routine. From picking the right sunscreen or chemical, it’s dependent upon you to turn into a specialist on your own skin.
Learning about your skin type and your skin’s need will help you make perfect choices for your skin that will result in more flawless, radiant, and healthier skin. Not only that; skincare plays a crucial role in your makeup as well. It can either make or break your makeup look. For makeup; skincare acts as a smooth canvas, thus the understanding of skin types helps your makeup stay longer and makes it looks more glowy and flawless.
Skin types:
Skin types do not stay the same your entire life. The skin type of every individual depends upon the following factors:
- Water content in the skin
- Sensitivity level
- Oil content in the skin
1.Normal skin
Normal skin is often referred to as well-balanced skin. The sebum is evenly distributed all over the face. The skin is neither too oily nor too dry.
- Regular texture
- Soft and smooth texture
- Fine pores
- No consistent blemishes or unevenness
2.Oily skin
Client with oily skin has a porous and bright appearance. Their body produces more sebum than it should that can be seen all over the face. It can also be because of genetic or hormonal changes.
- Prone to breakouts
- Enlarged and visible pores
- Makeup might wear-off easily
3.Dry Skin
Dry skin can be flaky and might feel tight. The skin produces less sebum than it should. The skin is always thirsty so moisturization is a must. It can be due to external factors like weather, humidity and can be temporary. However, it can be because of a genetic predisposition or inappropriate skincare habits. The following are some of the characteristics:
- Visible fine lines
- Small pores
- Tight and irritable skin
- Hard to apply makeup
4.Combination skin
Based on sweat gland and sebum distribution; combination skin can be of two types:
Oily or normal skin around the T-Zones of the face which includes nose, forehead, and chin
Dry or normal skin around the U-zone of the face which includes cheek, mouth, and eyes
The characteristics of combination skin are:
- Enlarged pores
- Normal to dry cheeks
- Mild breakouts
- Makeup might look patchy
5.Sensitive skin
Skin that can be easily irritated due to factors like heat, exfoliation, chemicals, etc. For some people, it is a permanent condition while for some it can be temporary due to some external factors. People with sensitive skin must pay special attention to their skin.
- Prone to rashes
- The skin might feel itchy
- Rashes and bumps
How to determine your skin type?
These simple, easy tests will help you determine your skin type at home very easily.
1.The Bare-Face Method: Carefully studying your bare face will help you determine your skin type. Gently cleanse your face with a mild cleanser; pat dry it with a towel and leave it for 25-30 minutes without applying moisturizer, toner, sunscreen serum, or any other treatment.
After 30 minutes; observe your skin. Check your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead for any shine; if yes then you are from an oily skin type. If your skin feels tight and has flaky areas; then you are likely from a dry skin type. If you see an unbalanced mixture of oil and dryness; then you most likely have combination skin.
2.The Blotting Sheet Method: Another very easy and effective way of determining your skin type is with the help of blotting paper. All you need to do is gently pat a blotting paper on the different parts of your face. Then, hold the sheet up to a light to determine how much oil was absorbed and is visible on the paper.
If there is little to no oil visible, you most likely are from a dry skin type. If there is minimal oil from your forehead and nose spots, your skin is probably normal or in combination. If the blotting paper is saturated with oil, it is likely that you are from an oily skin type.
How to take care of your skin?
Regardless of what your skin type is; it is very important to take care of your skin.
- Normal skin: People with normal skin type doesn’t need to pay much attention to their skin. However; a proper skincare routine is very much important for them as well.
- Dry skin: For those who have dry skin; make moisturizer your best friend. Your moisturizer-based cleansers to clean your face. You can go with formulas that are hydrating and moisturizing. Also; the skin is very thirsty; thus drinking a sufficient amount of water is very much important.
- Oily skin: Clients with oily skin types must exfoliate their skin 2-3 times a week with a mild physical exfoliator. Along with that lightweight moisturizer must also be used.
- Combination skin: A combination skin is a bit challenging. Look for non-drying cleansers and lightweight moisturizers.
- Sensitive skin: People with sensitive skin must look for products that are mild and gentle and do not have harsh ingredients in them.
Skin’s needs change over a course of time and thus taking the right steps in your skincare journey is very important. Checking in regularly and determining the changes that you can make with your current skincare routine will keep your skin balanced and radiant at all times.
