Lets Talk Skin Type

It is important to know your skin type because it is the first step in choosing proper skin care. There are 5 types of skin: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination and Problem Skin. Normal: The skin is soft, supple and smooth. It is fine-textured and free of blemishes (with the exception of periodic blemishes). It has a nice glow and never feels oily or dry. Less than twenty percent of women have this skin type. If this is your skin type you are fortunate; however, this does not mean that you shouldn’t take care of it. Dry: This type of skin too, has a fine texture and is transparent looking. It feels tight and drawn without moisturizer and tends to have fine lines around the eyes and mouth. It feels especially dry after washing and may have whiteheads around the eyes and dry patches. This type of skin needs proper care because it shows signs of aging early. Oily: The oily complexion is greasy, sallow and coarse. It has large pores and tends to have pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Within hours of washing the oiliness will reappear and makeup is usually absorbed quickly. Combination: This type of skin is oily in the T zone and the rest of the face is dry. The T zone is the forehead, nose and chin. The extent to which both areas are dry and oily may vary; however, both areas require a separate cleaning routine to restore them to balance. Problem Skin: Problem skin is usually oily and has a coarse texture and is subject to acne. It has large pores, blackheads, red blotches and may become more irritated under stress. If the problem is serious it will require the assistance of a dermatologist. Here is a little quiz I found to help identify your skin type. It is taken from the "Color Me Beautiful Makeup Book" by Carole Jackson. 1. Do You Break Out? A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently 2. Do You Have Blackheads? A. Few or none B. Some in the T-zone C. Problem3. What Do Your Pores Look Like? A. Nearly invisible B. Visible in the T-zone C. Enlarged 4. After washing with soap, how does your skin look & feel in ONE hour, without a moisturizer? A. Dry & Tight B. Slightly thight for the first half hour, comfortable or with some oil in T-zone by the end of an hour C. Oily in half an hour; shiny nose and forehead in one hour. 5. What is your coloring? A. Very fair; Fair B. Fair to Medium C. Olive to Dark 6. Do you have facial lines? A. Some around eyes, lips & forehead B. A few around eyes C. None or Very few 7. How does your skin respond to the sun? A. Burn easily B. Usually burn first, then tan gradually C. rarely burn, tan easily Interpreting your answers: Mostly "A" answers ... Dry and possibly Sensitive skin. Mostly "B" answers... normal/combination skin Mostly "C" answers... oily and possibly acne prone skin It IS possible to have a mix of ANY of these.. but ONE category will AWAYS be dominant.. although that dominant feature can and WILL change over the years.