What type of skin do you have?

Knowing your skin type is very important in making the right decision about a proper skin care and treatment.

There are 5 basic skin case types: Normal, combination, sensitive, dry and oily. Your skin type is determined by the amount of oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, medication and even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces.

What is your skin type? How to determine your skin type? Run a simple "skin test".

Wash your face, pat it dry, then take a facial tissues and press on different spots on your face in the morning when you just wake up.

Here are the five different skin types and their characteristics.

Type 1: Normal

If your skin type belongs to normal type, the tissue will not reveal any traces of oil. Your skin should feel supple, vibrant and elastic . This type of skin has the least problem.

Type 2. Oily

If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. Oily skin tends to look shiny with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads, pimples and blemishes. You might experience some tightness.

A good thing, though, is that oily skin is not prone much to aging and wrinkling. Careful cleaning, minimizing of carbohydrate consumption, and avoiding rich creams can be helpful in improving the quality of oily skin.

Type 3: Combination

If you have combination skin type, the tissue will have traces of oil coming from your nose and forehead, but will be clean in the areas that touched your cheeks. This skin type has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation, healthy color, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks while being oily in the t-zone.

Type 4: Sensitive

Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic and can be rashy. It is the most problematic and fragile type of skin.

Type 5: Dry

If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. Dry skin is lack of moisture and sebum. It usually appears flaking, has red patches, fragile, transparent and tiny "expression lines" may be clear. Pores are extremely fine, and feel tight after washes. It might still look great on a young person, but, to keep it healthy, you should apply thorough care and use regular treatment with natural masks and moisturizers.

Read more...

Basic Skin care

What is a good age to begin a skin care routine? The answer is anytime. From babies to the elderly, skin care can benefit those in every stage of life. Your face is the first thing people notice when they meet you, which gives them the first impression of who you are. A youthful face presents a youthful image. Engaging in regular skin care routine not only improves your appearance, it can boost your self esteem too.

The good news about skin care is it can be simple. It does not have to be a 10-step process and you dont' have to spend a lot of money on it. The fact is, basic skin care involves 3 simple steps: Cleansing, moisturizing and sunscreen.

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleansing is an important part of good skin care. The purpose of cleansing is to to surround, loosen and make it easy to remove dirt, debris, germs, excess oil and left over products applied to the skin.

Step 2: Moisturizing

Moisturizing is an essential step in a good skin care. It replenishes the skin's natural ingredients that helps maintain its structure, cut down on damage from free-radicals, and helps cells functions normally. A good moisturizer can stop a dry skin from spiralling into cracked, thick and flaky skin.

Not all skin is the same and not all moisturizer are the same. Choose a moisturizer that best suit your skin type.

Step 3: Sunscreen

The final step in basic skin care is using sunscreen which most people forgets. Protecting your skin from the sun is important because the sun emits UV radiation. Over time, UV radiation exposure causes many changes in the skin, including wrinkles, discolouration, freckles or age spots, and skin cancer. The damage done happens beneath the skin surface and it happens slowly that we do not realize how much damage is being done.

UV radiation consists of 2 main subtypes UVA and UVB. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and tanning. UVA rays are believed to be responsible for photoaging- the damage that occurs to the skin from many years of exposure to the sun and possibly promoting cancer.

Sun protection recommendations include:-

- Avoid midday sun between 10am and 3pm.

- Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long sleeve shirts and pants.

- Using a generous amount of sunscreen and reapplying it frequently. (every 2-3 hours)

- Using sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 and have UVA and UVB coverage.

Read more...

General tips on How to use facial masks.

1. Cleanse your face and neck thoroughly. Whatever you do to your face, you should do it on your neck too.
After your face is cleansed, let it dry. Facial masks work best on cleanse and dry skin.
2. Follow the instructions written in the pack. Never leave your mask to remain on your skin for more than the duration written on the pack. Some ingredients could do harm to skin if put more than necessarily. Once your masks is applied, don't make any facial expressions. Lie on your bed, close your eyes and relax.
3. Peel off for sheet masks. Wash your face and neck with lukewarm water using a mild cleanser. And continue with your usual regime.

Take note:-
* If you have sensitive skin, you may want to test the mask on another skin patch, such as inside of your elbow. Wait for 24 hours to make sure that there is no adverse reactions on your skin before applying on your face.
* Avoid contact with eyes and lips area.

Read more...