How to Understand What Your Skin Really Needs
Everyone has problems with their skin. Don’t buy into the hype that the beautiful people were born that way. In fact, beautiful people work hard to stay that way. Acne effects everybody’s skin, the difference is, those perfect people you admire, don’t let acne effect their spirits.
Dirt, oil, debris, free radicals, chemicals, toxins…skin trouble is all around us. It’s impossible to have perfect and clear skin all the time, but it is possible to keep your skin relatively under control. And that’s what it’s all about when dealing with acne, isn’t it? Control.
First things first, before you delve into the array of acne control products and beauty creams, you need to know what you’re dealing with. The biggest mistake people make when it comes to skin care is not using the right product for their skin type.
Certain substances and ingredients found in acne products will react differently according to the type of skin you have. That’s why they are labelled oily, dry, normal and so on. Unfortunately, it can be tough to know what type of skin you have, and using the wrong product can make your skin worse.
Skin Types
Oily: Does your face look a little shiny? Oily skin means your body creates more natural oil, possibly because other parts of your body, such as your fingernails, need it. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t limit the oil production to just one area, so if your nails are cracked and brittle, you might end up with oily hair and skin.
Using products designed for oily skin will help balance the ph levels, keeping it well hydrated without stripping out hydration. Running away from moisturizer is the worst thing you can do for oily skin, because it just forces your body to keep producing more oil. Sigs of oily skin are shine, a feeling of heaviness, large pores and difficulty washing off make up. (The oil on your skin can bind the make up).
Dry: Yes, dry skin is just as prone to acne as any other skin type. The trouble with dry skin is it also becomes flaky and rough looking. Some cleansers will make it worse, so it’s important keep dry skin well hydrated and clean. Symptoms of dry skin include a feeling of tightness and itchiness, and sometimes peeling or flaking skin. Dry skin can often become red and chapped looking too. Check your nails and hair as well, because if your skin is dry, likely everything is dry.
Drink lots of water to hydrate from the inside out, and apply quality moisturizers, especially right after washing or showering. Many people with dry skin shy away from toners and astringents, but these will actually help even out your skin. Check the labels, because some products use calming ingredients such as essential oils or witch hazel which are perfect to tone and cleanse dry skin.
Combination: This is the most frustrating skin type, because there always seems to be a problem somewhere. The forehead, nose and chin are shiny and oily, but the rest of your face it itchy and dry, especially around the hair line.
Combination skin requires specific ph levels and calming toners and cleansers to keep things even and smooth. Don’t use products designed specifically for oily or dry skin, but instead look for combination products that will best help you control your acne without harming your skin.
Sensitive: Does your skin become angry when you even look at a new moisturizer? Sensitive skin can also be oily or dry, but does not react well to new things. Redness, blotchiness and breakouts are common symptoms of sensitive skin.
Many people confuse sensitive skin with oily skin, because of acne breakouts. However, if you try a new product, and your skin launches an all out offensive, it’s actually telling you it’s sensitive. You’re prone to outbreaks from certain foods as well, and you should be extremely careful using organics or natural ingredients, because they might trigger a reaction. Look for products designed for sensitive skin or hypo-allergenic.
Normal: If you are one of the rare people who has normal skin, you have neither dry patches, redness nor frequent acne outbreaks. That certainly doesn’t mean things won’t change, so you better take care of that blissfully normal skin. Daily cleansers are a must, along with a quality moisturizer to keep everything helping and your skin looking its best.
Now that you have your skin type figured out, take a look around to find the best solutions for your acne. It’s time to stop hiding behind your hair, abandon your modesty and let the true you shine.
