Find Out What Your Skin Type Really Is
Sunday, January 24th, 2010Picture this. You’re standing in front of rack after rack of skin care products that all claim to do the same thing - make your skin glow, wrinkles disappear, and give you back the skin you had years ago. This is not a nightmare - it happens every day to scores of women just like you in stores around the world. Women staring blankly at the array of facial cleansing, firming, and moisturizing products without a clue which one to choose.
Now that you’ve stepped back from the hundreds of pretty packages of skin care products all claiming the same miracle results, you begin the real work; choosing a facial care product or two. How do you narrow down the choices? If you’re like most women you’ll try to determine your skin type. Manufacturers of most skin care products you’ll find at the department stores will tell you that you fit into one of only three categories of skin type: dry, oily, or combination skin. Is it difficult to label your skin type using such a limited guideline? The answer is yes.
When you’re shopping for skin care products like moisturizers, cleansers, and toners, you are probably guessing what your skin needs. Your skin feels tight after washing it so you must need a thick and creamy moisturizer. You are constantly mopping oil from your forehead and nose so you must need to keep drying up the oil with astringents and other toners. If you are using these methods and you’re still standing in a store puzzling over what to choose, you don’t really know what your skin needs. Only a professionally trained skin care expert, or esthetician, can really go beyond the standard three skin types and find out what you need to improve your skin.
Our skin cannot be simply labeled one of three categories. Our skin is a living organism that requires us to look more closely at what it needs to stay healthy. When Face Mapping(R) with Dermalogica was introduced on the CBS program The Doctors, we learned that we have many more areas and skin care needs of the face and neck than we are led to believe.
Once our skin is “mapped” by a skin care professional, according to the people at Dermalogica we will then be able to know our skin and treat it accordingly. Guessing what our skin needs won’t give us the results claimed by any skin care product.
For instance, a common misconception for treating shiny skin is to strip the oils from our forehead, nose, and chin (the so-called T-zone) using a strong astringent. This method can irritate the skin which causes more oil to form in order to soothe the irritated skin. You can see the vicious cycle.
If we have “aging skin” it does not necessarily mean we fit that particular category in all areas of our skin. Nor does it mean that every moisturizing, lifting, firming, and anti-wrinkle product is right for us. Slapping on gobs of thick creams on our drooping neck or wrinkly eyes may not be what our skin needs. Our aging skin may need some cell rejuvenation and exfoliation. All aging skin is especially sensitive to how it’s treated as its skin cells don’t refresh as quickly.
Creams and lotions labeled “for aging skin” may feel good but may not be what is needed for your particular skin type, especially if you are aging! A professional skin care expert, or esthetician, will tell clients over a certain age that their skin has additional nutritional needs as they age. Freshening the cells, speeding up cell turn over, retaining moisture, as well as a healthy diet, plenty of water, and exercise will do more for the skin than all the thick night creams in the world.
Did you know your skin is your body’s largest organ? We sometimes forget to treat our skin with the respect that we treat our bones and muscles, stomach and lungs. Treat your skin properly by first learning your skin type and what that skin type needs. Pay a visit to your favorite skin care expert and find out what your skin really needs to stay healthy and beautiful. Your skin will reward you in return!
Charlotte Field is a Skin Care Professional in Pensacola, FL specializing in Anti-aging, Relaxation, and Results. Learn more about Charlotte’s professional services at FacialsbyCharlotte.com. You’ll love how you look and feel!