Your skin is the largest organ in your body and also the most visible organ. If you want to look as good as you feel inside, or feel better about the way you look, it’s essential that you take good care of your skin.
Knowing how to take care of your skin comes down to knowing what skin type you have. Your skin type determines not only how your skin looks, but also what products will help it the best. There are generally four different skin types out there, although many people find that they have a combination of multiple types.
“Normal” Skin
Normal skin is sometimes called “eudermic” skin, which simply means “good skin.” If you have normal skin, you most likely don’t notice many, if any, issues with it. Your circulation is healthy, there aren’t many visible pores, you don’t produce excess amounts of sebum, or oil. Your skin also isn’t too dry nor is it prone to irritation or redness.
You might have hit the “skin jackpot” if you have normal skin, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of it. It’s important to wash your skin daily, with a gentle cleanser and to use a moisturizer designed for normal skin to keep your skin from becoming too dry. Wearing sunscreen daily will also help to protect you from damage caused by exposure to the sun’s UV rays.
Oily Skin
If your skin is oily, you are likely to have visible, large pores and visible blackheads. Your skin might look shiny and seem thick. Depending on the amount of oil, or sebum, your skin produces, it can also feel wet and slick.
Your skin might produce different amounts of oil at different times of year. For example, in the summer, you might notice that your skin is particularly oily while it feels much dried in the winter. People with oily skin also tend to have more acne and breakouts compared to people with other skin types.
One of the misconceptions about having oily skin is that you can skip moisturizing it. That’s just not true. Oily skin can become dry skin if it’s not properly hydrated and cared for. That said, you’ll want to look for a lotion or moisturizer that’s specifically formulated for oily skin.
Dry Skin
While people with oily skin produce too much sebum, those with dry skin don’t produce enough. As a result, skin can feel tight and it can look flakey or uneven. Lines and wrinkles are often much more visible on dry skin than they are on oily or normal skin. People with dry skin also often have areas of patchy redness.
Using moisturizer on dry skin is a must, but so is making sure that you get plenty of hydration from the inside. That means drinking plenty of water throughout the day and also installing a humidifier if the rooms of your home are very dry.
Although soaking in a hot bath or taking a long shower might seem like a way to hydrate your skin, hot water can actually make dryness worse. You’ll want to limit the time you spend soaking in a bath or in the shower. It’s also a good idea to check the products you use on your skin to make sure they don’t contain drying ingredients.
Combination Skin
People with combination skin have some areas that are oily, some that are dry and in some cases, some areas that are normal. For example, you might have an oily “T-Zone” (the forehead and nose area) and dry cheeks or the opposite. Combination skin is usually the most common skin type. You might find that you need to use a mix of skin care products to get the best looking and healthiest feeling skin if you have combination skin.
Sensitive Skin
Although some people consider sensitive skin to be a skin type, it’s actually better considered to be be a skin condition. Whether you have normal, dry or oily skin (or a combination), your skin can also be sensitive. When your skin is sensitive, it is likely to react to an ingredient that wouldn’t bother non-sensitive skin types. Your skin might become irritated, itchy or inflamed thanks to exposure to an ingredient in a product, an allergen, or due to heat or sun exposure.
Figuring out your skin type is the first step to take for healthy, happy skin. The staff at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, can evaluate your skin’s type and condition and recommend treatments and products that will help it look its best now and in the years to come. To schedule an appointment, call 281-810-9083 today.