Dehydrated Skin
Don't be fooled that oily skin can't suffer from a bout of thirst because it can. Dehydrated skin is caused by ex-posture to weather (varies between hot and cold), illnesses and also stress. It looks dull and feels slightly itchy. A test is to put you fingers across the bottom of your check and gently press upwards. Any fine horizontal lines indicate dehydrated skin.
Moisture creams give skin an immediate relief. Hardworking ingredients, specifically humectants (moisture trappers), grab humidity from the air and hold the water in the skin. Hydrating masks are a quick fix and serums can be slotted into your daycare during this high and dry time for an added moisture surge.
Dry Skin
Dry ski makes your skin look old, tight, dull and flaky due to a lack of sebum. It dries out fast in the sun, wind and cold and can look aged before its time if not respected. Dry skin can be confused with dehydrated skin, but whereas parched skin feels instantly better with a slathering of moisture, dry skin feel as though it needs more.
Buy an extra creamy cleanser and avoid toners containing alcohol, as they can have real drying effect to your skin. For a moisturizer, look for concentrated formulas. In the long term these can make a real difference to dryness. Exfoliate regularly: dead skin cells (which look like dry flaky skin) can prevent moisture from reaching the deeper layers of the skin, also drink plenty of water everyday.
Stressed Skin
A stressed skin is one suffering from flaking, blotching and blemishes. Any skin type can be stressed due to a whole combination of things, including anxiety, pollution and harsh weather.
Use protective products to soothe the skin. Look for buzzwords such as "comforting" and relaxing'. A night cream can give over-the-edge skin plenty of TLC too.
Oily Skin
Shininess, open pores and blackheads sum up an oily skin. This skin produces too much oil and can be brought on by humidity or hormonal fluctuations. In the long term, through, it ages more slowly, so it's not all bad news.
The wrong choice of product can make a huge difference and with oily skin tending to attract more dirt than dry, it's crucial to get the cleansing balance right. Anything that contains alcohol will strip and result in an overproduction of sebum, making oily skin worse. This skin craves a gentle touch, so look for specific products to redress the oil balance. Opt for non-comedogenic formulas. If you are prone to breakouts, look for products containing benzyl peroxide and just dab them onto spots - not slather on the whole face.
Combination Skin
This is skin has a split personality; one part may be dry while another part may be oily. The term "T-zone" refers to combination skin where the forehead, nose and chin are oily but the cheeks and the area around the eyes are dry.
The trick with this kind of condition is to find products that will keep your skin hydrated while minimizing breakouts and shine in the oily areas. Look for a light cleanser designed for combination skin and graduate the use of moisturizer according to the area of the face. Products that boast alpha hydroxyl acids and vitamin A retinols can also help balance this type of skin.
Sensitive Skin
Many dermatologists believe that sensitive skin is made, not born, and is much on the increase due to the lifestyle we lead. Illness, stress or chemical insult cans all se off sensitive reaction, which can range from itching and swelling to soreness and roughness.
Before buying creams, scan the ingredients. The fewer, the better. The most irritants include fragrance, alcohol and dyes. Test samples on your neck for a few days and see how your skin reacts. And keep products to a minimum: each harbor around 20 to 40 ingredients, so even just using four a day will subject your complexion to several hundred different chemical substances. Look for the buzzword "hypoallergenic".
Aging Skin
It's said that there are three major factors involved in skin aging which are chronological, environmental and hormonal aging. All of these give rise to skin that has a noticeable loss of firmness and looks and acts fatigued.
Here you need a two-prong approach. First, preventative skincare is key it's estimated that up to 80 per cent of premature aging is caused by UV light, so moisturizers with an added SPF, preferably 15, should be used and works wonders. Second thing you should do for you over thirties should consider adding at least one "active" product to your daily routine. "Active" means with ingredients in a strong enough concentration to produce visible changes in texture and quality. Vitamin A and C is also helpful.
