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The Skin is body’s largest organ. The skin acts as a shield between the body and the millions of foreign substances that exist in our environment. It also functions as a means of excreting
Toxins and other substances from the body.
Skin is the blank canvas of beauty before you do anything else makes sure it is as healthy and clear as possible. The very first step in beautifying yourself is to know about your skin. This will bring immense knowledge about your own skin. Many people, however, get confused when trying to figure out exactly what their skin type is. So it is essential to know what skin type you actually have. After a lot of research it has been found out that beauty is skin deep and it immensely depends on the quality of the skin. This quality is that which determines age and also make us look younger ever after.
Skin can be divided into various types according to texture:
Normal skin
Dry skin
Oily skin
Combination skin
Sensitive skin
NORMAL SKIN
The softer and more relevant skin is the normal skin which is clear, pimple free, soft, and smooth and without any greasy or flaky areas. People who have normal skin are lucky, as they require least care for their skin and look good even in their advanced age. Normal skin does not feel dry or oily.
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It has a good circulation and healthy complexion. Pores are visible but not large or clogged. After a wash it feels smooth and comfortable. At midday it still looks fresh and clean. Only occasionally break out in spots. This skin type is considered to be the fine and having supple surface. Normal skin has an adequate amount of water and lipids, an adequate balance between them, and a moderate sensitivity level.Normal skin is achieved by the ideal balance between the rate of sebum production and cellular exchange. One can wipe the face off with a dry tissue in the morning without a wash. If no oil no dryness is there on the skin it's a normal skin and can check it the same way to finds out the oily skin.
Oily Skin
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous (oil-secreting) glands produce more oil than needed for proper lubrications of the skin. This excess oil can clog pores and cause blemishes. The oil oozes and gives the skin a greasy shine. Teenagers are often plagued with this sort of problem and heat and humidity can exacerbate it. Oily skin has its positive aspects. It is slow to develop age spots and discoloration, fine lines, and wrinkles. It often doesn’t freckle or turn red in the sun-on the contrary, it tans evenly and beautifully. On the negative side, oily skin is prone to “breakouts” well past adolescence and has a chronically shiny appearance, an oily or greasy feeling, and enlarged pores.
The Causes of Oily Skin can be Heredity, Diet, Hormone levels, Pregnancy, Birth control pills, Cosmetics you use, Humidity and hot weather. Take a diet rich in proteins and add plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits in your diet. Drink plenty of quality water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out toxins. Aloe Vera has excellent healing properties for oily skin. Essential oils for oily skin are Bergamot oil, Cedarwood oil, and Juniper oil and Lavender oil.
Dry Skin
Dry skin tends to be dull-looking, even scaly and flaky, and readily develops wrinkles and fine lines. Dry skin develops due to a decrease in the natural oils in the outer layer of skin, which makes the skin lose water. It usually feels” tight” and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied.
There are actually two types of dry skin simply dry skin and complex dry skin. Simple dry skin results from a lack of natural oils. This condition most often affects women under the age of thirty- five, Complex dry skin lacks both oil and moisture, and is characterized by fine lines, brown spots, discolorations, enlarged pores, and sagging skin. It usually associated with aging. The proteins that make up the skin---elastin, collagen, and keratin may also be damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Dry skin can be caused by a poor diet and by environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins, can also contribute to the problem.
Combination Skin
Many people have skin that is dry in some areas and oily in others. In the classic case of “combination skin,” the skin on the forehead, nose and chin tends to be oily (it is often referred to as the T-zone), while the skin on the rest of the face and neck is dry. This type of skin is very common, and it should be treated as if it were two different types of skin. In some areas of your face it can feel tight after washing; it can be flaky, look dull or feel rough .In other areas, typically the T-zone, your skin looks shiny, feels greasy and is prone to pimples and blackheads.
Starting with the oily area or the T-zone, this area as well as the rest of your face, should be cleansed at least twice a day with a non-oily face wash or cleansing cream. A non-abrasive astringent can be applied to this area, about once a week. Astringents can tend to dry the skin out, so be careful where you use it. Secondly on the dry areas of skin, such as the cheeks and neck, should have a moisturizer applied twice a day in the morning and then again at night. Both the dry and greasy areas need moisturizing
Always be sure to apply specific care to your T-Zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and Cheeks. That's where the oil builds up. A simple morning skincare routine should include a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. This is to be done first thing in the morning and doesn't require a great effort. There are clay masks, fruit extract masks, yogurt masks, and gel masks for T-zone area.
Sensitive Skin
A sensitive skin is a thin or a fine-textured skin. It reacts quickly to both heat and cold; therefore, it sunburns and windburns easily. It is commonly dry, delicate and prone to allergic reactions. Sensitive skin has a low tolerance level to certain products or environmental conditions. People with sensitive skin may react quickly to chemicals, heat or wind, pollution by developing red, blotchy, irritated skin or even break outs. Chamomile, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood are essential oils for sensitive skin.
Diet can play a big part in sensitive skin break outs. A healthy diet (containing plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables) will help skin look healthy People with healthy skin should also drink lots of water, which will help keep their skin hydrated. Hot and spicy foods are particularly likely to cause a negative effect.
Recommendations for sensitive skin
- Use almond or jojoba oil to cleanse your face.
- Comfrey steeped in water can make a good toner.
- Make a facial exfoliate by mixing grapefruit with oatmeal.
- Make a face mask out of fruit.
- Cucumber and yoghurt also makes a good face mask for sensitive skin.
- Licorice is a good product for sensitive skin. Look for skin care products that contain licorice.
- Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help prevent sensitive skin reactions.
- Aloe Vera can soothe skin that is red, irritated and blotchy. Apply directly to the skin.
Even when using natural products, people with sensitive skin need to be careful. Check every product on a small area of your skin first, and stop using a product if it seems to be triggering the symptoms associated with sensitive skin.
Basic Skin Care
A very basic idea for taking care of your skin is to know how to clean it wisely.
The following are some basic tips:
Cleanser - Cleanse your skin with good cleanser. It cleans the dirt and oil off your face, so start with that. Try to avoid bar soap since it is known for drying the skin. Use it twicely before going to bed and in the morning.
Moisturize- Moisturizers will help restore the moisture in your skin. If your skin feels tight, you need a moisturizer. Use it during the day, and then during the night before going to bed.
Toning- It helps to remove any residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind. The easiest way of applying a toner is to put it on a cotton pad and wipe face in outward and upward strokes. Use it day time and night as well
Some extra tips:
- You should never clean your face more than three times since excessive cleaning could dry the skin.
- An exfoliating cream can help smooth skin and slough away dead skin. There are natural ones also available using apple, yogurt, oatmeal and lemon. Sensitive skins should use exfoliating creams less frequently.
- Eye Cream may be one of the most expensive products but it is also one of the most important. Skin around the eyes is extremely sensitive and requires special attention.
- If you use makeup, don't forget to use an Eye-Makeup Remover.
- Facial skin should not be pulled and the movements while cleaning it should always be upwards. Even though cleaning your face only takes a few seconds, it should be an opportunity to activate circulation.
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