SKIN CARE

SKIN TYPE

When it comes to buying beauty products there are a few factors that come to mind – one of the most important is your skin type.

A lot of people neglect what their skin is all about and buy products based on brand, hear say and price. However, if you don’t take note of your skin type and if that product will work for it, you might as well be flushing money down the toilet.

So, if you think you know your skin type and aren’t sure, or you have no clue, here are little cues that will help you know once and for all.

Oily Skin
This is said to be one of the most common skin types; however, some people who claim to have oily skin, may be wrong. If you have large or visible pores on your skin, experience oiliness or shine throughout the day and see visible oil when you blot your face, you have oily skin.

Large pores equal mass oil production and this means the appearance of excessive oil on your face. If this is your case, a primer should be your side kick in fighting makeup problems. Using a good primer and oil-free products will help limit the movement of makeup on your face; and how oily your face appears throughout the day.

It is also important that you cleanse, exfoliate and take good care of your skin as this skin type is most prone to acne due to product and oil build-up.

Normal Skin
If your skin produces a little oil around your T-zone (forehead, nose & chin) then your skin can be classified as a normal skin type. In this case, when buying products, they should neither be oil-free nor sensitive. Just buy regular products for regular/normal skin and you are good to go.

Combination Skin
This skin type is also fairly popular. In this scenario, your skin is not normal, oily or dry, but could be a combination. Signs that you have combination skin include oiliness around your T-zone (forehead, nose  & chin) only while the rest your face experiences normal or combination skin type.

Dry Skin
You know that tightness or flakiness you feel on your face? That is a good sign of having dry skin. With this skin type, you will notice a dryness, tightness and flakiness on your face that never goes away unless you moisturize.

However, if you notice that your skin produces a little oil around your T-zone, then your skin isn’t dry. It’s closer to combination skin. In this case you need a lot of oil-based products to make up for the lack of oil on your face.

Be sure not to use drying products like salycilic acid (e.g oriflame pure skin range) based products that generally reduce oil and moisture. Instead buy oil-packed products so your face can have a great balance.

As much as the above are the major types of skin, there are a few rare skin types that you just might fall under;

Sensitive Skin
If your skin gets irritated, itchy, red, swollen etc easily, then you have sensitive skin. A good fix for this is to go green or use gentle products like a potent antioxidant, and stay away from products with synthetic fragrances. It is also best to use products that can help reduce inflammation that could come as a result of irritation.

Under-Circulated Skin
If you do not experience redness on your skin even after a hot shower, using a scrub, getting a bruise or even having a facial, then you have under-circulated skin. This means your skin doesn’t have enough oxygen and nutrient-rich blood flowing through it, so it looks pale.

A good way to get your skin glowing and back to normal is to use ingredients that will encourage the dilation of blood vessels and promote oxygen and blood flow. These include peppermint, rosemary, massaging your face regularly to help blood flow and other flow-inducing methods.

Acne-Prone Skin
This is the most general skin type because all skin types are acne-prone. It could be because of your age i.e at the stage of puberty where you would most likely get acne; because of products being used; weather conditions and many more factors. It is important to note that when treating your skin based on your skin type, you need to consider all the factors.

For example, if it is the Winter/Harmattan period and your skin gets dry, this does not mean you have dry skin. Your skin is simply reacting to the current weather condition you are in. Be sure to always take into account other factors like your age, product use, weather, change in skincare routine and more, and you will be well on your way to dealing with your skin type the right way.

Another method

The first step toward getting a beautiful skin is figuring out your skin type. Confused about which category—combination, oily, normal, or dry/sensitive—you fall into? You’re not alone. Most women misdiagnose themselves and, as a result, wind up using the wrong care regimen and products. Caring for the wrong skin type can aggravate skin, lead to acne, or even make your skin look older than it really is. 

So we devised an easy cheat sheet to help you pinpoint the correct category, then talked to four top dermatologists, each with a different skin type, to reveal their best lifestyle advice and the products they swear by.

(1) Combination skin
Your forehead, nose, and chin are oily and tend to break out, while your temples, eye area, and cheeks are really dry. You also fall into the combination category if your skin changes according to the climate or season—sometimes it’s completely oily, other times it’s sandpaper dry.

(2) Oily
Your face feels and looks moist and shiny (especially at midday, when oil is at its peak). You tend to have clogged pores, and your skin is prone to both noninflammatory acne (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflammatory acne (pimples and cystic zits), which pop up all over.

(3) Normal skin
Your skin is smooth and radiant because it reflects light evenly. Your complexion is balanced (not too oily or too dry), and you rarely have breakouts. You don’t notice any changes in your skin throughout the day and can try many kinds of products without having a reaction.

(4) Dry/Sensitive
You flush easily or have red patches or eczema (a dry, rash-like condition). Your skin often feels rough, tight, or dry in the afternoon or evening—even two hours after applying moisturizer. Skin products, sunblocks, and cosmetics sometimes sting or cause redness.