Understanding your true skin type is the key to healthy, glowing skin, but how do you know what your skin type is?
Table of Contents:
How to determine your skin type
There are several ways to determine your skin type. Here are two of the easiest methods you can do at home.
Bare-faced method
The bare-faced method is easy. All you need to do is cleanse your face thoroughly and pat dry. Leave skin bare for at least 30 minutes. After that, inspect your face—see if there’s any shine on your cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Give it another 30 minutes, and evaluate whether your skin feels dry, especially when making facial expressions.
If your skin feels tight, it’s likely to dry. On the other hand, if there’s a noticeable shine on certain parts of your face, it’s likely you have normal/combination skin. However, if you have excessive oil on your forehead, nose, and cheeks, you likely have oily skin.
Blotting sheet method
Another method to find out your skin type is through the blotting sheet method. Pat a blotting paper on various parts of your face. Hold the sheet up to the light to see the amount of oil. If the sheet picked up minimal or no oil at all, you likely have dry skin.
If there’s oil from the forehead and nose areas, you likely have normal/combination skin. But when the blotting paper is saturated with oil; no questions asked—indeed, you have oily skin.
Skin types
Now, what is the meaning behind your skin type?
• Dry skin
Dry skin is characterized by a lack of adequate amount of water in the superficial layer of the skin. This skin type feels tight throughout the day; flaking may also be noticeable. Typically, this skin condition is mainly due to genes, environmental factors, and climate.
The epidermis contains fat and protein. Lipids or the “fat” portion of the skin and other proteins prevent the skin from getting dehydrated. However, when there’s a deficiency in proteins and lipids, the moisture from the skin evaporates quickly.
The signs of dry skin are:
- Itching
- Red plaques
- Rough dry skin
• Normal/Combination skin
Normal/combination skin has dryness on the cheeks. This skin type is more prone to breakouts on the cheeks, while their t-zone tends to be well-moisturized.
Combination skin is having oily skin in some areas of the face and dry skin in other areas. Several factors result in this skin type, but most of the time, it all comes down to genetics.
• Oily skin
Something useful to remember is that we all have oil in our skin. The sebaceous gland that is under the pores is responsible for the production of natural oils to keep the skin healthy and hydrated. However, some individuals have sebaceous glands that produce too much oil; hence, this creates oily skin.
You know you have oily skin when the skin always looks shiny and you go through plenty of blotting sheets per day. Moreover, oily skin will feel greasy even within hours of cleansing.
When you have oily skin, you will be more prone to breakouts because the oil mixes with dead skin cells that get stuck in your pores. Similar to other skin types, oily skin is often due to genetics, age, location, season, and enlarged pores. Another cause could be the use of incorrect skin care products.
• For Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you are aware of how challenging it is to manage this skin type. You need to put in a significant amount of time and effort to determine the ingredients that cause irritation and inflammation.
You can handle this by using one product at a time—either for skincare or cosmetics. Make sure you test a new formula on your inner forearm to minimize potential reactions on your face. Additionally, look for products that come with non-irritation and paraben-free ingredients.
The 6 basic rules of skincare
No matter what type of skin you have, these tips will keep your skin looking its best. Here are the basic rules of skincare you should follow:
1. Sunscreen is crucial! Never step out of your house without sunscreen on. If you are staying at home you may also consider using sunscreen. Make use of broad-spectrum sunscreen that can block both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Avoid direct sunlight. Keep yourself protected at all times by wearing asun hat when out in the sun. When you're exposed to the sun for too long, it could have adverse effects on the skin, such as the formation of wrinkles.
As for thesun hat, get a hat that will give you full facial protection. Ideally, the fabric must have a UPF feature. Additionally, there aresunhats that come with additional elements, such as flapsor mesh coverings if you need more coverage.
3. Don’t smoke! The toxins in cigarettes can damage collagen and elastin. Smoking speeds up skin aging; hence smokers are more prone to wrinkles not only on the face but on the body as well. Smoking also increases your chances of developing Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and it can also contribute to developing psoriasis.
4. Drink plenty of water every day, and make sure you are hydrated well. Drinking plenty of water can help improve skin elasticity which helps fight gravity for a more youthful look.
5. Wash your skin gently but thoroughly every day. Make sure NOT to wear makeup to bed. Keep in mind that makeup can prevent the skin from getting its much-needed renewal.
6. Moisturize every day to reduce the chance of developing extreme oiliness or dryness. With the right kind of moisturizer, it can help your skin maintain its balance.
Importance of protecting the skin
Too much sun can cause a lot of skin conditions, such as skin cancer. Therefore, it’s important you keep your skin protected at all times.
Protect your skin from the sun by wearing the right clothes. You can find clothes that have UV protection, which is crucial for individuals to spend time outdoors during the daytime. A protective layer of clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and sun hats can protect your skin from direct contact with the sun.
As mentioned, we have a wide selection of sun hats you can choose from.
Look extra fashionable with our Jasmine Series Sun Visor. The wide-brimmed visor offers maximum sun protection and it comes with adjustable velcro straps for that perfect fit.
For something more casual, theWanderer Series Hat is perfect for sun protection. The hat features a wide brim, breathable fabric, and adjustable drawstring to keep you comfortable when you’re out.
If you're looking for the ultimate outdoor hat,the Floater Series is the one for you. With this, you can maintain a cool head, thanks to its breathable mesh panels.
We believe in prevention is the key, and staying protected here at GearTOP is our priority. Regardless of your skin type, and daily routine, you can never go wrong with ourSun Hat collection.!
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