Important to know your skin type

Ann Ruthenburg
HELLO there folks, it is March 2016. . .third month of the year! That is all I am going to say on that!

This week I will be answering a question from Helena who asked me to explain the different skin types. Good question Helena, it is important for people to know what skin types they have so that they can use the right products.

Most of us think that we know our facial skin type, but it is easy to be mistaken when constantly treating it with cleansers, toners, moisturisers and makeup, the effects of which could give a false impression of what your real skin condition is like. Skin types cannot be altered permanently but they can be kept temporarily in check with a suitable skin care routine. To find out what your actual skin type is, you need to wash your face thoroughly, then leave it naked with nothing on it, no moisturiser, no toner nothing for at least an hour. Your real skin type will show through soon enough.

There are three main skin types – oily skin, combination and dry skin. So let me try and explain them to you as simply but as clearly as I can.

Oily skin – The main evidence of oily skin is shine all over. The skin is often sallow and its texture may be coarse – that is your pores may be noticeable. The shiny look is caused by and overproduction of sebum. Oily skin people often suffer with spots and blackheads in puberty even into adult hood. However oily skin can be a blessing as the excess sebum helps to prevent the skin from drying out, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Oily skin tends to attract dirt and dust more easily than dry skin. It benefits from water, so washing with a soap-less cleansing bar or a wash off cleanser is the ideal cleaning method. Although some people with very oily skin may be able to use ordinary soap satisfactorily. Light, non greasy, liquid cleansers may also be used, although oily skin benefits from the defatting action of soap and water cleanser, over harsh treatment of the skin strips it of too much oil and stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce yet more sebum, creating a vicious cycle. People with excessive oily skin should cleanser their skin with an astringent to remove the excess oil. Very oily skin does not need strong or heavy moisturizers, but remember that all facial skin needs some form of moisturiser. Stay away from moisturisers that are oily. Look for moisturisers that say “Matt” or “vanishing cream” or “for oily skins”. Foundation choices should be matt and not oily, or should be water based and not oil based.

Combination Skin – The most common skin type is a combination skin with an oily central panel or T-Zone embracing the forehead, nose and chin, and areas of dryness on the cheeks round the eyes and on the throat. Dark skins tend to have greater extremes of dryness and oiliness. Ideally, two skin care routines should be followed with this type of skin. Oily skin benefits from washing whereas dry skin does not. However, unless the contrast between the dry and oily areas is very marked, it is simpler to use a milky cleanser over the whole face. If you use face powder use more over the oily places and less on the dry sections. Combination skin types do have foundations that specifically say for combination skins, so look for those. Sometimes it is best to just use a cover stick on the places that need coverage, and then simply use powder for the rest of the face. That way you do not put anything heavy on the dry areas, but also keep the oily places in check.

Dry Skin – The skin literally looks dry and sometimes flaky and often feels taut. Because of the lack of protective sebum, it reacts to extreme weather conditions. The skin overlying broken veins is often dry as the capillaries lie near the surface, encouraging more rapid moisturise loss. It is less likely to develop pimples than oily skin but tends to become readily chapped or roughened in dry atmospheres.

All products should be mild and toners should be alcohol-free; a rich, creamy cleansers should be used. It is essential to moisturise the face, throat and skin around the eyes regularly and lavishly. If you wear make-up, us moisturised foundation over a moisturiser base, which is applied after, and is heavier than, ordinary moisturizer.

Please note that many skin types do change slightly during the different seasons. So you skin may be oily in summer, but be dryer in winter. Your normal skin type is the one you see in summer.

That’s it from me this week guys. So until next week. . . God Bless!

Anastasia is an ex-beauty queen, photographic model, a blogger (annruthenburg.blogspot.com), a motivational speaker, and a fashionista. Message her on 0733285730 or email on [email protected].