Know the Skin You’re In!
Posted in Skin Care Tips on Apr 5th, 2007
KNOW THE SKIN YOU’RE IN!
By Julie Kalin (Copyright, All Rights Reserved, Julie Kalin 2004)
How well do you know your skin? Do you know your skin type? The key to proper care of your skin is knowledge. Accurately determining your skin type is the first step.
Skin types and their descriptions:
Normal Skin: Appears to be in good condition and is typically blemish free. Has a sufficient supply of moisture and sebum (oil).
Dry Skin:
Lacks sebum, moisture, or both. Some areas of the face may be dry because they lack sebum, and some may be dry because they lack water. Skin that has a sufficient amount of sebum, but feels dry, or flakes, has poor moisture content.
Oily Skin:
May or may not have blemishes. Has an overabundance of sebum. Oily skin may feel slick, and thick. Typically, oily skin has larger pores. Various factors may stimulate the skin to overproduce sebum. Climate plays a role. Hot, humid air may increase sebum. A diet high in fats and oils may also affect sebum production.
Look closely at your skin, preferably under magnification, and determine your skin type. You will achieve better skin care results if you determine your skin’s specific needs.
Here are a few questions that frequently come up at my consultations.
Question: Do I have to apply oil to my dry skin to make up for the oil I am not producing?
Answer: Oil will not replenish the moisture, but it will help keep moisture from evaporating off of the skin. You want to provide both oil and moisture, in a formula specific to your skin type.
Question: Does oily skin need to be moisturized?
Answer: Even oily skin may be dehydrated. Oil is not the same as moisture. There may be dry areas on oily skin. A moisturizer formulated for your skin type will help prevent wrinkles, and hydrate dry areas.
Regardless of your skin type, please protect your skin from the sun. There are many moisturizers with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) on the market today that offer formulas for various skin types. Sun exposure contributes to skin cancer and aging of the skin. Be smart and protect all of your skin, year-round.
Feel free to email me with questions. If I do not have the answer, I will do what I can to find it for you. I look forward to hearing from you! Julie