What's your skin type?
"The type that covers the outer surface of my body, what are you on about" was my reply when the young lady in a white coat asked me that very question. However, knowing what skin type you actually have and using the correct products on your face can really make a difference to those problem areas you may have.
More of us are starting to realise the benefits that having a good skin care regime brings. Not only does taking good care of your skin make you look better by eliminating those signs of aging and blemishes but it can also make us feel healthier, as our skin is the body's first line of defence against sickness.
At metro-sexual.co.uk we aim to give you the tools to determine what type of skin you have, so that you can get the best possible results from your products. There are so many products that treat and enhance your skin in different ways and different products are designed to deliver different results. So it is important to know your skin type to enable you to choose the best products for you skin.
MALE SKIN IN GENERAL
Due to our higher levels of collagen, male skin is up to 20% thicker and tougher than female skin . Male skin is also oilier, with larger pores, a richer blood supply, and an increased a tendency to sweat compared with women's skin. This means that if you are currently "borrowing" your girlfriend's products you may find that you will get better results by switching to products which are formulated specifically to deal with male skin problems.
NORMAL SKIN
Characteristics
This is the skin we'd all love to have as your skin exhibits no specific problems. It will be clear, even-toned, with a fresh and healthy look. Normal skin has small sized pores and is smooth and firm to the touch.
Treatments
The main priority is to keep your skin the way it is. Follow a simple skin care routine using products that won't dry out your skin it out or make it too oily.
• Drink plenty of water to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated.
• Use a good facial wash at least once a day and a facial scrub 2-3 times a week.
• Moisturise at least once a day after shaving with a non oily product.
DRY SKIN
Characteristics
If your skin feels tight on your face or if your skin is prone to peeling and has visible flakes then you probably have dry skin. Dry skin is due to a lack of natural oils in the skin and thus dry skin needs regular moisturising.
Treatments
Dryness can be brought on by environmental factors such as the sun, strong winds and central heating in winter so try to protect your skin from prolonged periods of exposure in these types of environmental settings.
• It is very important to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated if you suffer from dry skin especially if your skin is exposed to the environments mentioned above.
• Use a nourishing facial wash that won't dry out your skin at least once a day. NEVER use soap on your face. Use a facial scrub 1-2 times a week but do not rub too hard as this may cause irritation.
• Moisturise your skin day and night preferably use a moisturiser with a built in SPF of at least 15.
SENSITIVE SKIN
Characteristics
Sensitive skin tends to react by turning red and blotchy to a lot of skincare and shaving products and also to harsh environmental conditions. If you burn easily in the sun this is another sign of sensitive skin. If your skin is particularly sensitive, always try new skin care products on a small section of skin and leave it for 24 hours to make sure no reaction with your skin occurs before using the product on your face.
Treatments
With sensitive skin it is important to use products which are designed specifically for your skin type with the common irritants removed from them.
• Avoid using any products which contain harsh chemicals or are heavily perfumed as this will lead to irritation.
• It is very important to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Use a nourishing facial wash designed for sensitive skin once a day. NEVER use soap on your face. Use a facial scrub 1-2 times a week but do not rub too hard as this may cause irritation.
• Moisturise your skin twice a day using a moisturiser with a built in SPF of at least 15 to help protect your skin from the sun.
OILY SKIN
Characteristics
Oily skin tends to look shiny. Oily skin also tends to have larger and more visible pores which are more prone to blockages and due to the excess oil present on the face there is more of a tendency to suffer from spots and blackheads.
Treatments
With an oily complexion it important to use products that are oil-free and anti-bacterial as they contain ingredients that will soak up excess oil and remove the shine your skin.
• Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Use an oil free facial wash designed for oily skin morning and night it is important to keep the skin as clean as possible to reduce the chance of spots.
• Use a facial scrub 3-4 times a week this will also help reduce the oil and dirt on your face.
• Moisturise your skin once a day using an oil free moisturiser, this will help to reduce the visible shine of your skin.
• If you suffer from particularly oily skin you may wish to try a face mask. These reduce the oil on your skin and contain anti bacterial agents to reduce spotty outbreaks.
COMBINATION SKIN
Characteristics
It's not uncommon to have a complexion that's a combination of several different skin types but the most common is a combination of oily and dry. One section of your face may be dry, usually the cheeks or forehead while another section suffers from oily symptoms usually the T- Zone area of your face. The T-Zone oily areas are straight down the middle of your face, the centre of the forehead, nose and chin. In some cases however the skin could be normal everywhere outside the T-Zone and this would still be a combination skin type.
Treatments
One solution is to use different products on different areas of your face i.e. oil-free on the greasy areas and moisturising on the dry areas or there are specific products for combination skin as well which are often very effective.
• Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Use a nourishing oil free facial wash that won't dry out your skin at least once a day. NEVER use soap on your face. Use a facial scrub 1-2 times a week taking care not to rub to hard on the dry areas.
• Moisturise your skin once a day using an oil free moisturiser. You may want to moisturise the areas of your face which suffer from being particularly dry twice a day.
