Here’s a question from one of my readers:

“I never know what kind of make-up to buy, because I’m not sure of my skin type. Sometimes I think I’m oily, other times I think I’m dry, and then sometimes I even feel like I might be sensitive. When I try to read about skin types, I always end up more confused than when I started. Do you have any easy ways to tell your skin type?”

It sounds to me like you’re a normal or combination skin type.

Here are some basic characteristics of each skin type and some skin care and make-up tips for each:

Normal skin:

If you’re not sure of your skin type, it’s probably normal. Normal skin usually looks and feels smooth, and may have some oil shine by the end of the day. Normal skin usually changes with the environment. It will feel dry in the winter and oilier in the summer. You may get some minor blemishes here and there, and during ultra-dry times your skin will be slightly sensitized due to the environment. 

- Use a light water based moisturizer, and matte powder. Most people with normal skin do not need a foundation, unless they are dealing with aging skin. If you have normal skin and think you need more coverage than just a powder, try a tinted moisturizer with powder over, or a mineral powder foundation, which provides more cover (this is what I use!) to prevent looking over-done.

Dry Skin:

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are different things. Dry skin is Oil-dry. Dehydrated skin is moisture-dry. True dry skin will flake when lightly scratched, and will never have oil shine. Dry skin is often sensitive as well. One sure-fire way to tell the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin is to consider your hair and nails. If your skin is oil-dry, your hair and nails will be too. Can you go a few days without washing your hair or is it greasy by evening when you washed it that morning. Does nail polish last a few days on your natural nails or does it chip quickly? These will help you determine whether your skin is dry or not.

- For Dry skin: ALWAYS apply a moisturizer twice a day. Your night time moisturizer can be a heavier cream, but your daytime moisturizer should be light and water based. Try a foundation with moisturizer built in.

- For dehydrated skin: Drink lots of water! Take your body weight (in lbs), divide the number is half, and that’s how many ounces of water you should be drinking per day to completely hydrate your skin. For example: If you weigh 120 lbs.: 120 divided by 2 is 60, so you should drink 60 ounces of water per day, which is about 7.5 8oz glasses.

Oily Skin:

Oily skin is shiny and sticky to the touch. In order to have true oily skin, the surface of the skin is visibly slick by 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM, when washed at 7 or 8 AM. Oily skin is also more prone to blackheads and blemishes, because the excess sebum clogs the pores.

- Use a clay based cleanser and mask on the skin. Clay will absorb excess oil. Also, be sure to exfoliate regularly to prevent dead skin cells from sticking to excess oil on the surface of the skin, clogging pores, and giving you a dingy sallow conplextion.

- All products should be water based, including a light moisturizer and foundation. Be sure to use translucent powder over foundation to set make-up and absorb oil. Do not used a colored powder, as it may cling to oil and look caked-on. Be sure to carry blotting papers and translucent powder with you for touch-ups throughout the day.

Sensitive Skin:

Is often blotchy and irritated, especially when coming into contact with make-up, hair products, and even sudden changes in temperature. Skin my itch, burn, chaff, or sting. Do not confuse dehydrated or sensitized skin for sensitive skin, as they may show some of the same characteristics. If you drink many caffienated beverages in a day and not much water and are experiencing tight itchy skin, it's likely that your skin is dehydrated. If you are an athlete who spends alot of time outdoors and sweating, or you are around alot of chemicals, it is likely that your skin is sensitized, which will require similar treatment to sensitive skin until the natural condition of your skin is restored. 

- See a dermatologist for care instructions, and be sure to use hypoallergenic make-up like physician’s formula, or Clinique.

Combination Skin:

Combination skin shows characteristics of 2 more of the previous skin types. Combination skin is usually oily in the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and normal- to-dry on cheeks.

- Use a clay mask on t-zone, but not cheeks. Use a light moisturizer all over, foundation and translucent powder. Treat combination skin as if it were 2 different faces for the best results.

Also, here a few healthy skin tips for every skin type:

1. Include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet

2. Drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated.

3. Follow a skin care regimen (cleanse, tone, and moisturize skin daily)

4. Always wear sunscreen!

I hope this helps! Send your beauty questions to pamperpa[email protected] and I’ll answer them in my next blog.

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for another dose of the beauty blog.

Thanks,

Bethany