five types of skin

we've gotten two of the big things out of the way, hair and body. so hopefully, from henceforth, when you are engaged in a discussion, you can use phrases like... that's a lovely dress but i don't think it is suitable for my apple-shaped body. i will also prefer pants because they compliment my perm. sounds like a fashionista eh? 

well, for tonight, we shall continue the basics series and talk skin. i did do a brief introduction on skin here but it was more focused on skincare and how it's important to keep skin moist. this post focus purely on what skin types there are. once again, there are five. if you are not sure which skin type you belong to, you can head over here for a quick check.

image from samrx

skin types can be dry, oily, sensitive, normal or combination. know that it can change throughout the day. for instance, my skin tends to become very dry after swimming. when skin types change, so must your regime. so while it is good to have your regular stock of skincare, do have one or two items that are suitable for other skin types. (tip: ask for samples or trial sizes. there is no point in buying a huge bottle / jar and not finish using it.)

next point to note about skin products (and i learnt this very early on) is that there are oil-based and water-based ones. hence, you have to pay attention to that little detail in your buys. i remember in my youth, i used an oil-based series and my skin (face) did not react too well to it. outbreaks were pretty common, i thought it was my diet and i even avoided oily food for three months. after a switch to water-based products, everything cleared up within two weeks.

anyway, here are some pointers for the different skin types.

dry skin: hydrate regularly from the inside (yes, drink lots of water) and outside with mists, rich hydrating creams or lotions. i would recommend you pick up products that claim long hours of moisture lock-in.

oily skin: prone to acne if not cared for. doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you should steer clear of oil-based products. on the good side, oily skin generally remains younger looking. keep blotters handy but don't overdo the blotting... herbal steam treatments and clay masks are good.

sensitive skin: reacts to environmental conditions and do not take well to cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetically manufactured oil type ingredients, fragrance oils and artificial colours. you will benefit more from natural, gentle products and treatments.

normal skin: (i hate these fortunate souls!) you will benefit from regular cleansing, toning and moisturising. also if you send me cash (i take all currency), your soul will benefit from it as well. good karma follows.

combination skin: (welcome to my nightmare world!) i had combination skin for a while. this means different parts, different conditions. 

image from skin of life

usually you will have an oily 't-zone' area which covers the forehead, nose and chin while skin around cheeks, eyes and mouth is dry. this means different parts, different treatments. after six months of trying to DIY, i gave up and went for regular facials... let other people do the work. 

on a final note, skincare is essential and not just for the face. we have five senses as human and two of them relate to our skin. how we look and feel will determine how someone else responds to us. you don't really want to feel like sandpaper when someone holds your hand, right?

fash'on... BAM!