What is YOUR skin type?

...A question you’re asked when buying foundation, a cleanser, a toner, a day cream, a night cream, anything else you plan on putting on that gorgeous face. Even professionals ask you when making product recommendations. (Like, you're the professional, YOU tell ME! *deep breaths*) So here's a little guide to help you determine yours now. There is also a difference between your skin type and skin condition, as if you need complication. A skin condition is a temporary “problem”, it usually improves when treated. I’ll discuss this later on… For now, you need to know the basic characteristics of your skin type…

Normal Skin:

• Soft and supple to the touch
• Doesn’t feel tight or oily
• Has an even colour
• Skin is clear
• Elasticity of a high degree
• Epidermis is of average thickness (not thin, not thick)

This is very rare and most common before puberty, but it is not unattainable.

 Oily Skin:

• grainy-to-coarse texture
• sallow (dull) complexion
• shiny/greasy/oily appearance
• dilated ("obvious") pores
• may or may not have comedones (blackhead)
• thicker epidermis

 Most commonly associated with adolescent skins (13-23 year olds)

There are varying degrees of oiliness (to be discussed at a later stage).

  

Dry Skin:

•  has a translucent appearance
• prone to flaky patches
• thin epidermis
• may be pale and/or pink in colour (due to thin skin&broken capillaries)
• may appear blotchy
• more prone to signs of premature ageing (especially fine lines around eyes)
• feels tight, especially after washing 

As one matures (read: ages), the skin becomes drier as sebaceous activity (oil production in the skin) becomes less and slower.

Combination Skin:

Combination skin is a combination (who would've guessed, right?!) of skin types. The most common combination is a oily T-panel or T-zone (forehead, nose&chin) and dry cheeks. One may, however, have a combination of dry, oily and normal. You could have a normal T-zone and dry cheeks, or you may have normal skin with an oily chin and nose. And I don't mean oily from the sauce on that burger you just stuffed your face with.

Miss B