What is YOUR skin type?
On Aug 10, 2013
During my years of beauty advising, one of the first things I learned is that most people do not really know what their skin type is. Honestly, before I started working in cosmetics I never really thought about what kind of skin I had. When confronted with the question, I assumed that I had dry skin. It turns out I was completely wrong. My “dry skin” was actually oily skin that appeared flaky and dry because I was not properly exfoliating! What a discovery. Once I learned that very important fact, I completely changed my skin care routine and became a million times happier with the appearance of my skin.
Below are 5 main types of skin. Because your skin's appearance and feel can change throughout the day, the question that you want to ask yourself when reading these descriptions is "How does my skin feel mid-day, without a moisturizer?" It is natural even for oily skin to feel tight and dry right after washing your face in the morning, but by the middle of the day the true properties will have surfaced.
Dry Skin
Dry skin typically feels tight most of the time, and sometimes uncomfortable. If you do not know what tightness of the skin feels like, you most likely do not have dry skin. Other symptoms include a rough or leathery appearance, fine lines and wrinkles and possibly redness and irritation. If you experience redness and/or irritation on a regular basis you may be classified as having sensitive skin and should consult a dermatologist.
Oily Skin
Oily skin typically feels comfortable in all areas and never tight. You can tell if your skin is oily because it will most likely have a shiny or "wet" appearance, especially in your T-zone (nose, cheeks, and forehead). You also may notice enlarged pores.
Normal Skin
Normal skin has the perfect balance of moisture and oil, so it feels comfortable. It should not feel tight, nor should it appear shiny or greasy.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is very common and can lean towards the oily side or the dry side. If you are a combination dry skin, you will feel some tightness in the cheeks but comfortable to oily in the T-Zone. If you are combination oily, you will feel comfortable in the cheeks and oily in the T-Zone. If you are not sure if you are oily or not, there is a quick test that you can do. After washing your hands, take your index and middle finger and gently slide them together across your forehead. If no oil is present, your fingers will smoothly and quickly glide across your skin. If there is oil present, you will feel a bit of a catch, or a slight resistance. Your fingers will still slide across, but not as smoothly as they would over dry skin. You also want to check your cheek area near your nose, and repeat this action using your next two fingers so as not to transfer oil from one part of the skin to another.
Acne-Prone Skin
Acne-prone skin can be classified as always having more than one blemish at all times on your skin. Acne occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog your pores, so in order to have a breakout, there must be oil present on your skin. Alot of people with acne believe that they have dry skin because it can take on a dry-looking or flaky appearance, but that is usually just dead skin cells that need to be exfoliated away.
Now that you know your skin type, it may be time to explore some new products that are more appropriate for you! Check out our Skin Care Store for products grouped specifically by skin type and stay tuned for more beauty secrets exposed!
Image source for article cover: Microsoft Office images.
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