Your skin is the largest organ on your body, however, it is also the most exposed, which is why good skincare is paramount. Taking care of your skin is necessary, though it can be difficult to take care of it properly when you’re not sure what your skin type is. There are general skincare tips, but it is not recommended to apply them if you are unsure of how it would affect your skin specifically.
Your skin type determines the type of skincare products that you use and being able to understand your skin type and how to take care of it can nudge you in the right direction, towards a better relationship with your skin. To help you out, here is a detailed description of the most common skin types as well as key tips on how to take care of each one.
Oily skin
When you have oily skin, you most likely have very enlarged pores. You are also likely to have a dull or shiny, thick complexion. What’s more, the oiliness of your skin can change, and most times, this is dependent on the weather. That being said, certain things can worsen the oily state of your skin. Some of these things include exposure to heat or humidity, excessive amounts of stress, and even hormonal imbalance.
A major problem with oily skin is that you are highly likely to have a break out of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Then there’s the mother of them all, which comes in the form of cystic acne. What causes cystic acne is that cysts begin to form underneath your skin. This could be a result of dry skin cells, oils, and bacteria that gets trapped in your pores.
That said, no skin type is bad, but the way you take care of and maintain oily skin is quite different from how to maintain other skin types. A daily routine to have for your oily skin should be inclusive of the following;
Toner: A good toner simply removed any remaining traces of dirt or makeup on your face. It also evens out your skin tone. If you have sensitive skin, try to avoid alcohol-based toners.
Face masks: A face mask should typically not be used every day. Using it once every 3 days is better suited for your skin. Try to find a good face mask that suits your skin type, as there are a variety of face masks in the market for oil control.
First, cleanse your skin and try to avoid oily face washes since they can leave your skin feeling greasier. Also, it is advised by dermatologists that you wash your face twice every day. Try to do some research on a face cleanser that suits your skin type beforehand.
Also, other things you can do to take care of your oily skin include:
- Using a gentle cleanser
- Avoid popping pimples
- Make use of skin products that don’t clog pores.
Dry skin
When you have dry skin, your skin will feel tight and sensitive. Based on that, you are more prone to have cracked and wrinkly skin and as well as red patches. With dry skin, your pores are barely visible, and your skin is a lot less elastic than a person who has oily skin. You also have more viable face lines.
For the most part, dry skin is hereditary, but sometimes, aging as well as hormonal changes can make a person develop dry skin. A problem that people with dry skin face is that their skin can easily crack and peel. It also becomes itchy and inflamed at random times. Worse, it transitions to having a patchy and scaly surface, and this mostly happens on your arms and legs.
Having dry skin is not a bad thing, but the dryness of your skin can worsen by taking long and very hot showers, being exposed to UV radiations, and cold weather. So, to take care of your dry skin, you should still incorporate a face wash, a toner, a moisturizer, and a face mask in your routine. However, the type of products you’ll use is completely different.
There are face washes, toners, masks, and moisturizers that have been specifically created for dry skin. These products are designed to retain moisture in your skin so that you don’t experience any roughness or patchiness.
That being said, there are other things that you could do to further take care of your dry skin, and they include:
Taking shorter showers, and use cold or warm water instead of hot
- Try to avoid scrubbing your skin when you shower
- Make use of very rich moisturizers after your showers, and reapply throughout the day whenever your skin feels dry again
- Carry a humidifier around
Combination skin
From an appearance standpoint, combination skin looks very similar to oily skin. With this kind of skin, some areas of your face are dry or have characteristics of dry skin, while other areas have characteristics of oily skin. Most people with combination skin notice that their T zone (chin, nose, and forehead) have oily skin traits, while the other parts of their face, like their cheeks and eye area, have dry skin traits.
The issue with combination skin is that it feels like you have to deal with two different skin types at the same time, and it can be very annoying. To combat combination skin, here is a good routine you could follow:
Face cleanser: Choose a very gentle facial cleanser that is specifically for combination skin. The cleanser should reduce oiliness in your T zone without over-drying the rest of your face. Also, try to wash your face twice a day.
Exfoliant: Exfoliate twice a week to get rid of any dead skin cells on your face. A good hack is to use a face scrub that is fit for all skin types so you are in fact, dealing with two types.
Moisturizer:
Moisturizer is your friend. Try to use an oil-free moisturizer so that it doesn’t make your T zone any more oily.
- Other things you could do to maintain your combination skin include:
- Use blotting papers to boot away excess oil
- Avoid touching your face
- Even your complexion with a good toner and face mask
- Always use sunscreen.
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