HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN TYPE

 

Why to know your skin type?                                                                     

             Finding out about your skin type is really essential because every product you use on your face should cater to the needs of your skin. Using a wrong product might not really end up good and sometimes,it could give the reverse result of what we were looking forward to achieve. So, before you pick your products, gather some basic information and research on your own too.

There are multipleways to determine human skin types. The most famous ones include the Baumann Skin Type Indicator (BSTI) and Fitzpatrick Skin Typing. But, for us to start a skincare ritual, we must know our skin types so that we can build a strong base. Basically, there are 4 common skin types. They are:

1) Normal skin:

Has small pores, is smooth to touch and is neither too dry nor too oily.

2) Dry skin:

Secretes very little natural oil, may become easily dehydrated, looks dull easily and is prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

3) Combination skin:

Has an oily T-zone (forhead, nose, chin) and dry/normal cheeks

4) Oily skin:

Excessive oil secretion, generally shiny, pores are large and visible, prone to blackheads(acne) and breakouts.

 

    But, remember that skin type is not a fixed compartment and that you can’t think beyond it. Usually a person’s skin is essentially dry or oily, but often a combination of both. The only thing you should determine yourself is the intensity of it (dryness <—>oiliness).

Also, you must remember that facial skin type doesn’t remain fixed throughout our lifetime because of the sebum secretion is not steady or fixed throughout.  This variation is caused by various internal or external factors. Skin is not an independent organ. It is deeply connected to other internal organs and hormones and all the chemical reactions inside.  It changes and that’s why we sometimes notice that our skin seems dry and sometimes oily. The various factors that can induce in the change are:

 

     1. Amount of sebum production 

• Stress and hormonal changes
• Diet
• Certain ingredients in skincare products

2. Overdoing of skincare

3. Degree of hydration

4. Seasonal changes

5. Age

    Hence, if you feel like your skin keeps changing than you might want to switch your skincare products, look into your diet and also mental health. Occasionally indulge in activities that make you feel good.  And do whatever your skin needs and not because you have to follow a certain pattern. It’s all about understanding your own skin and building a routine very individual and personal to you.

And then, there are various skin conditions which can affect any skin type:

• Acne
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Melasma
• Rosacea
• Skin allergies or infections

 

It’s imperative to always buy your skincare products accordingly. Buy products that are made for your skin type and then look for products according to your skin conditions.

Using products according to your skin needs is very crucial to building a strong skin barrier.

SKIN TYPE TEST

NORMAL  SKIN	Neither too dry nor too oily. Is not very shiny Fine pores Smooth texture
DRY SKIN	Feels dry and tight Patchy skin Rough Dull No elasticity A bit of itchiness Cracks Calluses Scaling
OILY SKIN	Greasy, shiny appearance Large, visible pores Blackheads Whiteheads Acne prone Clogged pores
COMBINATION SKIN	Oily T-zone(forehead, nose, chin) Normal/dry checks Visible pores on oily areas Blackhead/whiteheads on nose/chin/forehead

 

 The intensity might differ from person to person:

Oily- very oily- extremely oil

Dry- very dry- extremely dry

 

Everyone desires a healthy skin and attaining it is not impossible. Taking care of the skin is about maintaining skin health, providing it is the largest organ of our body. So, taking care of such a vital organ is an essential task just like we would take care of any their organ of our body. Also, in the previous section where we talked about different conditions of the skin, they shouldn’t be just treated as that but, as health conditions. The reasons might lie deep inside our bodies. All our organs are connected to each other and our skin is no different. Hormonal imbalance, gut micro biome issues, bad sleep schedule, stress, lifestyle, etc. can disrupt the smooth functioning of the body and that typically shows up on the skin. Along with that, overusing of certain ingredients on the skin might cause an imbalance to the skin micro biome. The skin contains a lot of good bacteria which makes up its own ecosystem. If that ecosystem is imbalanced, then all sorts of skin issues erupt. The way to have a healthy skin is to promote healthy bacteria counts on your skin and maintain a healthy ecosystem of the skin. Also, stress can translate itself into physical inflammation. It’s important to incorporate deep breathing exercise, daily physical exercises and meditation for at least 5-10 minutes into our lifestyles.

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo.