How to decide what type of skin you have?
I have met a lot of people lately, doing makeup for weddings, parties ,proms, etc. One thing I have learned is that women may know what type of skin they have, but they are not using the correct products on their skin to keep it balanced. Through my years of selling cosmetics/skincare, I have learned so much about how to properly take care of all skin types. So let's get into it!
There are generally 4 skin types: dry, normal/dry, normal/oily, oily. The image on the right shows a general guide to deciding what type of skin you have! The hatched portion shows the oily zone in each different type of skin.
Here is a break down of each:
Dry: No oiliness, can feel tight and itchy, noticeable fine lines, may have red or rough patches, small mores, visible flaking.
Normal to Dry: No oil in "T" zone, generally healthy appearance, clear with even texture, may have occasional tightness or flaking, small to medium size pores.
Normal to Oily: Oily "T" zone, generally healthy appearance with occasional breakouts or blemishes, pores are medium to large, skin appears shiny and can feel oily.
Oily: All over shiny appearance and oily feeling, blemishes and acne prone, visible discoloration, whiteheads and blackheads, and enlarged pores.
I used to suffer from some pretty serious acne issues and tried all different types of skincare that actually dried my face out! Believe me when I say I had tried everything! However, I have finally found what works for my skin and I want to help others with the same problems!
Some misconceptions:
"If my face is oily, I shouldn't moisturize." This actually isn't true. Your body is creating more oil than necessary because it isn't properly hydrated. The best thing to do here is find a moisturizer that is meant for oily skin and that will help balance out your skin.
"I don't have any dry skin so I don't need to exfoliate" Also, not true. Your body replaces skin cells everyday and if you are not removing them, they will begin to build up causing clogged pores. You can find a gentle exfoliator and use it a couple times a week! It is also important to note that you can over exfoliate, and therefore take away too many oils from your face. Find a healthy balance that works for you!
Some things that I have learned:
It takes time for your body to get used to a new skincare regimen. They say that you need to give your skin 6-8 weeks with a product before you can truly know if it is working. And usually it will get worse before it gets better...
Your skin changes in your 20s and again in your 40s/50s. Just because you never suffered from dry skin, doesn't mean you won't forever. One of my favorite face analogies is that of grape, raisins, and cornflakes. In the image on the left you can see the different layers of these. When you a young/teenage you have "grape skin". It is plump, full of collagen, and luminous! As you age, into your 20s-30s your skin loses the collagen. Your skin becomes the grapes. This is where you start to notice lines, sagging, drier skin. In your 40s+, you get a layer of dry, dead skin cells that create wrinkles. No matter how many different skin serums you put on, you are not getting to a layer of skin that can actually accept them! This is why it is so important to exfoliate! Once the dry "cornflake" layer has been removed, the "grapes" can be rehydrated and plumped back up!
Hormones/Gut Health/Hydration play a huge part in how your skin looks and feels! Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water. Be sure you are eating plenty of leafy greens and nutrition rich foods.
I hope some of these tips and tricks help you! I know how frustrating it can be to decipher what your skin wants/needs. And because of that, I would be more then happy to help you figure out what your skin needs and to get you on the right path!