How To Identify Your Skin Type

Ever bought a new skin care product that looked promising and claimed to be the ultimate solution to all your skin care woes, only to find it aggravates your skin even further? The cleanser everyone is raving about only caused your skin to break out into a nasty rash. The moisturizer that worked wonders for your best friend’s skin made yours still feel excessively dry. 

Is it your skin just being stubborn or are those huge marketing campaigns all lies?

Or…

Maybe, just maybe, the products that you’ve been using for all these years, in hopes of getting flawless skin, just aren’t meant for you. You’re unsure about your skin type, using products that aren’t meant for it, creating havoc on you skin and making you feel miserable and depressed.

You’re not alone. Tons and tons of people have no clue about what their skin type is. A few lucky ones may eventually find the products that work for their skin using trial and error, but for many of us, we spend our entire lives thinking that nothing works for us.

So the first step in getting your skin looking healthy is to understand what your skin type is. It’s actually not even as difficult as it sounds.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Skin Types

Our skin naturally produces oil, the amount and pattern of which largely determines its type. By thoroughly understanding and carefully determining your skin type you can care for it a lot better, because it enables you to understand its needs. A well-maintained skin care regime is only possible if you know your skin type well along with its requirements. 

While everyone’s skin is different, it can largely be categorized into five types: normal, oil, dry, combination, and sensitive.

Normal Skin

Normal skin is the one that we all wish we had. It’s neither oily nor dry and it's not prone to acne or breakouts. The moisture and sebum level are well maintained even without a perfect skincare regimen. We know we all have that one friend with the perfect skin and no breakouts, making everyone around her envious. Well, now you know her type: it’s normal.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is exactly what it sounds like. The skin produces excess sebum which makes your face look oily and greasy. If oily skin is not taken care of with products meant especially for it, the excess oil can enlarge the appearance of pores and clog them by trapping dirt and bacteria that may result in acne, blemishes, and blackheads. This is the reason why oily skin is most prone to acne and scars.

Dry Skin

Dry skin produces less natural oil than normal skin. Due to lack of moisture and hydration, it may feel tight, dull, and flaky. It also loses its elasticity and is most prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

Combination Skin

Combination skin shows the characteristics of both oily and dry skin. While the cheeks and neck usually tend to be dry and flaky, the T-zone which includes the forehead, nose, and chin is the one that gets oily and is prone to breakouts. Combination skin is considered to be the most difficult one to take care of as one part of the face can react completely opposite to the other while using the same product.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is the most vulnerable type. It can easily be triggered by different environmental factors as well as fragrances and dyes. It is prone to inflammation, dryness, and itchiness with a burning sensation. Avoiding products with ingredients such as dyes and artificial fragrances while sticking to natural and organic products can make a huge difference in your skin’s health. 

Do check out the Leovard skin care solutions, made of premium quality organic ingredients that work wonders for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.

Ways To Identify Your Skin Type

Wait and Observe Your Skin

This test is one of the simplest and most accurate ones that you can do at home. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser, then wait for at least thirty minutes. Observe your skin in the mirror, if your entire face appears to be shiny you're more likely to have an oily skin type. If your skin has turned out flaky and dry you’re likely to have dry skin. However, if your T-zone appears to be oily and the rest of your skin seems dry, you might have a combination skin type. Lastly, if you feel that your skin feels hydrated and fresh, you are likely to have normal skin.

Pinch Your Skin

This test is as simple as it sounds. You just have to pinch your cheeks, forehead, and chin. By doing so you're applying pressure on your skin which will cause wrinkling for a few seconds if you have dry and combination skin. As oily skin is smooth it won’t show any wrinkles, making it easy to determine your skin’s type.

Use Blotting Sheets

Blotting sheets are used to absorb excess oil from your face when you're on the go. However, you can also use them to test your skin type. After washing your face and waiting for thirty minutes, hold the sheets on different parts of your face. If you notice an abundance of oil on the sheet you probably have an oily skin type, and if there is none or a small amount of oil then you might have dry to normal skin. If the blotting sheets absorb a small amount of oil from your T-zone then you probably have a combination skin type.

Take Away

Regardless of what skin problems you have, identifying your skin type makes it a whole lot easier to remedy and rectify. When you know what type of skin you have, it becomes easy for you to understand its needs. While a few skin problems including acne, blemishes, and fine lines can be taken care of with the right products right skincare routine, some require professional medical help. If despite everything being done properly on your end, your skin continues to be agitated, consult an experienced dermatologist.

And while dealing with skin issues like acne, dryness and pimples, don't ever forget  that none of this makes you any less than the amazing person you are. So stay happy and embrace your natural seld with confidence, knowing that you can achieve anything you set your eyes on.

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