In my last post, I discussed the importance of knowing one’s skin type.  Having an understanding of your skin type is one of the simplest ways to achieve the clear and healthy skin we all dream of.  This knowledge allows you to select the right products and treatments that won’t harm or irritate your skin.  I’m not saying that this is the magical solution for clear, flawless skin but once I correctly determined my skin type, I was better able to utilize that knowledge to develop a routine that has helped me maintain clearer and healthier skin.

Click here to read my earlier post detailing the five skin type categories.

DETERMINING YOUR SKIN TYPE

There are a few simple ways to determine which category your skin falls under.  For some of you, you’re able to identify your skin type by simply reading through the descriptions of each category noting which resonates most with you.  So if you find that the Dry skin description sounds the most like the behavior of your skin, then you can accurately conclude that you have dry skin.  For those of you who need a bit more help determining your skin type, I have a simple 3 step process I learned in middle school to do just that.

Step 1: Remove Make-Up.  It’s important to remove any makeup you’ve had on through the day to better understand the characteristics of your skin.

Step 2: Cleanse.  Gently cleanse your skin, removing any residual makeup, oil and dirt.  This will provide a clean slate from which to better determine your skin type.  It’s important not to harshly or over cleanse your skin as this may strip your skin of its natural oils (sebum), leaving it to over compensate by producing excess sebum.

*Note: Do not apply additional products such as serums, treatments or moisturizers.  Again, the point is to assess your skin in its natural state without the aid of products.

Step 3: Wait.  Waiting 1-2 hours will allow for your skin to return to its natural state.  Using an oil blotting tissue (Kleenex will do), gently blot the surface of your skin paying particular attention to the T-Zone and cheeks.  This will allow for you to access which areas of the face are oily, dry or balanced based on the transparency of the tissue.  Refer to my earlier post to compare the characteristics of your skin to those I described.

Since skin type can change due to hormones, medication, stress, diet, etc., it is important to re-evaluate your skin type every so often.  A good rule of thumb is to reassess your skin with the change of seasons since a change in climate can easily impact the behavior of your skin.

Be sure to check back on Friday for a the basic principals of skin care.