Identifying your skin type

Knowing what skin type you are can be confusing and frustrating when trying to get a good skin care routine going. There are five basic skin types, namely :

• Oily/ problem skin


• Dry / Sensitive skin


• Combination skin


• Normal skin


• environmentally damaged skin

But which one are you ? Well here are some tips to help you analysis your skin into a type. The first step in pinning down your skin type is to get hold of a magnifying mirror to see whats really happening with your skin. Now brace yourself, because in most cases, this is not a pretty sight. A magnifying mirror highlights every blackhead, whitehead, pimple, crater and wrinkle. But if its any consolation, most peoples skins don’t pass the magnifying mirror test with flying colours.

There's a simple test to help you narrow down your skin type.The tissue test ,check on the glandular activity of your skin. As complicated as that sounds, its actually a simple procedure that just requires a paper tissue.

1. Press the paper tissue to your nose and forehead for a few seconds. Do not rub it over the surface of your skin.
2. Then remove the tissue and examine it.

• If your glands are working overtime, the tissue will have greasy marks on it. (oily /problem skin)
• If the tissue is spotless, don’t get too excited. Its not a good sign. It means that your skin lacks lubrication. (dry /sensitive skin)
• If the tissue is hardly soiled, you are one of the lucky ones with perfect skin.(normal skin)

Here a basic break down of each skin type:

• oily skin - Skin shines easily and looks dull. Might have a few pimples
• Problem skin - Open pores and lots of pimples and normally your skin looks angry
• Dry skin- Feel tight and very dry and reacts to temperature changes
• Sensitive skin- Easily becomes red and irritated. Reacts to just about anything
• Normal skin -smooth perfect skin ,that everyone strives to achive.
• Environmentally damaged skin- skin that has premature aging (wrinkles ,fine lines etc) and pigmentation
• Combination skin- Can be a combination of any of the above skin types. For example oily/dry skin is a skin that can have a oily forehead/nose/chin (t-panel) and the cheeks are dry.

Each skin type is treated in a different way with different products ,and that why its so important to know your skin type and how to treat it . Thus one can control and improve there skin and appearances.

By S.Honman