With the overwhelming number of skincare products available today choosing the correct products can be a daunting task. The first step to finding effective products is understanding your skin-type. Each skin-type has unique issues and concerns that should be addressed by the product you use on a daily basis.
Skin can be characterised in the following three ways:
Normal Skin is skin that is balanced. It produces enough oil to create an effective hydro-lipid barrier but does not appear shiny. It is firm, supple and elastic. The pores are not highly visible and the texture is smooth. Good circulation leads to healthy, bright complexion.
Dry Skin is skin that does not produce enough oil. It can seem dull and often feels tight. Lack of oil on the skin can lead to tightness, flakeyness and premature aging. Pores tend to be nearly invisible, but skin lacks firmness and elasticity.
Oily Skin is skin that produces too much oil and can take two forms. In the first case, too much oil is secreted onto the skin leaving it looking slick and greasy. In the second case excess oil creates hard plugs clogging pores and causing breakouts. Pores on oily skin tend to be larger and the texture of the skin can be rough.
Additionally, there are sub-categories of skin-types that can further effect each of the categories above:
Sensitive Skin is skin that is thin in texture and often has blood vessels close to the surface. As a result it is easily effected by the environment externally and internally and tends to blotchiness, redness, heat and irritation. Skin that is sensitive and dry tends to become dryer under stress, where as skin that is sensitive and oily tends to produce more oil and clog when under stress.
Dehydrated Skin is skin that is lacking in water. It is often flaky and itchy. Oily dehydrated skin is often created by the use of harsh products compromising the hydro-lipid barrier which allows water to evaporate from the surface of the skin. Oily dehydrated skin tends to breakout as a result of pores being clogged by the flaky skin and an over-production of oil caused when oil is washed away from the skin. Dehydrated dry skin is common among those that struggle with dry skin as it is the oil your skin produces that holds water in. Many of the same issues that plague people with dry skin are amplified by the addition of dehydration.
Understanding these classifications will help you pick the most effective products for your skin which will lead to the best results. Remember, SANO offers free 10 minute skin consultations in which we can help you figure out what will work best for your skin. We are always happy to answer any questions you might have about how to best treat your skin or any products you are using.
