Skin types

Know your Skin Type

It is really very important for you to be able to identify your skin type. This is to enable you to look after your skin correctly. Also the selection of your cosmetics to a considerable extent is influenced by your skin type. Although no two skins are exactly similar most have characteristics which enable them to be grouped into one of the following types: normal skin, dry skin, oily skin, and combination skin.
Normal Skin Type

Normal skin is smooth and velvety to touch and does not look puffy or shiny. The skin has a rosy colour because the circulation of blood is good and the skin is well moisturized. The pores are fine and barely visible. This type of skin is very rare. It is one of the best types which retains freshness, attraction and flush for long. If you own this type of skin, you have a real fortune to exploit.
Caring for Normal Skin Type

However, though, normal type of skin is not really problematic, it still needs sensible care and gentle treatment. Choose your skin care products carefully and always look for mild, well-balanced cosmetics. It requires very light make-up. Face should be washed with soft water. If the usual tap water in your area is hard, soften it by adding a little 'borax powder' to it. In order to keep up the glow of your skin, it is imperative to wipe off your make-up before going to bed with a good cleansing cream. Do not use make-up at least once a week so as to let your skin breathe fresh air.
Dry Skin Type

Dry skin is fine, sensitive to the weather and is prone to wrinkles. Dry skin is delicate and dry with a tendency to scaling on the cheeks. Underneath, the skin lacks suppleness and therefore feels taut after washing. The pores are not visible as there is an insufficient amount of secretion from the sebaceous glands. Dry skin tends to age prematurely and is wrinkle-prone unless nurtured. Constant protection is very important and the products used must be gentle, rich and soothing. Always use a moisturizer during the day and a good cream at night.
Caring for Dry Skin Type

Protect it against wind, sun and water. Dry skin should not be washed with cold water and soap, nor should astringent lotions be used. Instead, after cleaning it at night, before bed-time, it is better to use a good freshner which might give it some freshness. The freshner should be non-alcoholic, because alcohol dries the skin. Moisturizer should be spread slowly on the face by giving outward motion either with cotton or
fingers. Use moisturizer on your neck and other parts which are exposed. Diet, rich with vitamins A, B,C, D should be taken.
Oily Skin Type

Oily skin is coarse, thick and shiny. The sebaceous glands being over-active, the pores are clearly visible. Oily skin is prone to blackhead and pimples and needs to be cleaned scrupulously. Only those cosmetics which have been formulated especially for oily skins should be used, otherwise there will be problems.

A greasy skin is prone to pimples and dark shadows. It, therefore, requires frequent cleaning, say thrice a day at least. Use of sulphur soap is beneficial., Also, remember to clean your face at night, before retiring, with some good quality cleansing milk or with un boiled milk. Avoid greasy food. Your intake of water should be at least six glasses a day . If the skin is allowed to remain greasy, pimples and blackheads find an easy way to appear. A greasy skin does not require make-up. Cleansing the pores with
steaming once, a week is an effective method to keep the skin greaseless. Use a face-pack after steaming. This is called facial. Face-packs are available in the market but they can also be made at home. What kind of pack would suit you depends upon your skin.
Combination Skin Type

Most of us have a combination skin. The middle of the face (patches on the forehead, the nose and the chin) is shiny with dilated ostia and a coarse texture. The rest of the face is either normal or dry. Sometimes, the difference between the two areas is great; if such is the case with your skin, then you would have to treat each part of the face accordingly - the dry areas as for dry skin and the central face as for oily skin.
Caring for Combination Skin Type

If your face is partly oily and partly dry, you've got combination skin and there are several ways to care for it so that you can keep both types balanced and looking good.

* Use a mild cleanser on your entire face up to twice a day.
* Use a good moisturizer on the dry areas. - Moisturizers work by either increasing the penetration of water into the skin or by reducing the rate at which water is evaporating from the skin surface.
* Look for products that normalize your skin, such as those that contain alpha hydroxy acids - Alpha hydroxy acids are derived from fruit, milk and sugar cane and have anti­inflammatory properties. When applied to the skin they help remove dead skin cells (exfoliate), giving a younger appearance.
* Use oil-absorbing makeup on oily areas to control shine.
* Use a sunscreen, minimum SPF.