Do you know your skin type?

 Have you ever wondered why a product didn’t work for your face even though everyone raved about its results? It's probably because the product wasn’t formulated for your skin type.  Again there is no one size fits all product, so understanding your skin type is crucial when it comes to selecting the right products for your skin. As I mentioned before, there are many different skin types; However, I want to focus on the four main types, which are: normal, oily, dry, and combination skin. Once you understand these, you will be able to navigate through the world of skincare like a professional. 

If you are blessed to have normal skin, you should be able to use primarily anything. Normal skin is not too oily and not too dry. Usually, most people with normal skin will experience little to no breakouts and will not have too many skin problems. However, normal skin can still experience problems when there is damage to the skin's natural moisture barrier, an allergic reaction to a product, or sun damage. Nonetheless, these are problems any skin type can experience. Overall, if you have normal skin, you have an easier life (well when it comes to skincare). 

On the other hand, oily skin is a little harder to manage. Unfortunately, people with skin type have to be careful with products they use because it can be easy to clog pores on oily skin. Oily skin happens when the skin overproduces sebum as a result of lack of moisture. This can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Moreover, a lot of people with oily skin do not know this. They assume that oily skin has too much moisture, so they tend to not moisturize their skin. However, if you have oily skin, moisturizing and cleansing should be your number one priority. Try using gentle cleansers that completely cleanse the skin by stripping the natural moisture barrier. Then, you should use moisturizers that are a thinner consistency, so you don’t clog the pores. This should help your skin from producing so much oil.

If you're like me, you have dry skin. Dry skin is when the skin becomes very flaky and tight from the lack of moisture. Some people with extremely dry skin can experience rosacea and eczema. These are skin conditions that develop tiny bumps on the skin when there are dry spots. Just like oily skin, moisture is key. Try to look for moisturizing cleansers. These are cleansers that both moisturize and clean the face at the same time. Then follow up with a more emollient (heavier) moisturizer. Thicker-based moisturizers allow the skin to lock in more moisture for a longer period. Following this guideline should help you to reduce some dry spots on your skin. 

Last but not least is combination skin. Combination skin is arguably the most complicated skin type because it involves having both oily and dry skin. Most people with combination skin tend to have oiler skin on their T-zone, the forehead and nose, and dry skin on their cheeks and chin. Moreover, it's hard for people with combination skin to find products. If you have combination skin, you will have to buy products for the different sections of your face. For the more oiler areas, focus on thinner moisturizers, and for the more dry areas use an emollient cream. This way, you can treat the different parts of your face according to their needs. 

Okay, now the basics about the different skin types. The final thing you need to know is how to find your right skin type. Finding your skin type is pretty simple. All you have to do is wash your face and let it dry without any products for an hour. After the hour is over, examine. If you have sebum seeping from your pores, you have oily skin. If you have dry spots on your face or your skin feels tight, you have dry skin. If you have some areas seeping sebum and some dry spots, you have combination skin. Finally, if your face looks like how it would if you put on a moisturizer, you have normal skin. Once you figure this out, you can begin to buy the right products for your skin type. So let me know in the comments what skin type you think you have.