Ever wondered why some cosmetic products slap great on a person’s face and the same products come out a total mess on another individual?
Look no further for your answers Fam, I have the blueprint right here. It is most likely due to a difference in skin types.
I have breezed through the subject topic “skin types” in one or two of my previous make up posts, but at this point, I feel it deserves a post of its own, considering how important/vital it is when delving into the make up world.
Identifying your skin type would make it easier to choose the best products that suit your face for a flawless, long lasting face beat.
Skin type categories
Basically, there are four skin type categories with one add-on. What I mean by add-on is that, each of the four categories could be combined with a common add on. Not to worry, you would understand my point in a minute.
The skin type categories include
- Dry skin
- Normal skin
- Combination skin
- Oily skin
Each type could then have a common add on known as “ sensitive skin” Don’t fret we would take each skin type in strides.
Dry skin
Dry skin is usually marked by scaling, itching, and cracking across borders on the skin. It could make affected individuals have an unappealing surface appearance and of course sift out the beauty of a face beat if the dry skin is not accounted for. They are a variety of reasons why a person could be saddled with dry skin, it can occur naturally whereby it affects different parts of the body including the hands and arms, or could occur as a result of lifestyle changes.
Dry skin signs and symptoms usually vary according to age, etiology (causes) and health status of the individual. It is generally characterized by a feeling of tightness and/or roughness. It could also cause the skin to look ashy with associated symptoms such as itching, redness and cracks. Cracked skin is commonly observed in very dry skin and presents as small cracks, which, may become deeper and even bleed in serious cases. The good news however is that some over-the-counter moisturizers may be all that is needed to treat it.
This skin type would require more moisture for any face beat on the skin to look great. Therefore it is always important to trap in moisture for this lot and avoid any form of mattifier or mattifying primers because they would inadvertently worsen the dry state of the skin. Instead, the use of oil or hydrating serums, hydrating masks, hydrating moisturizers and hydrating primers would fly better and trap in the desired moisture required to keep a face beat longer.
Normal skin
Just as the name suggests this skin type has literally no con, and if I am being honest, is the most desired skin type. It’s neither dry or oily and always looks well hydrated. People with normal skin tend to have a great balance of moisture on their skin, with small pores and an even tone. This is the goal of many but sadly only a few people especially in this part of the world generally have Normal skin. If you are one of the normal skin gang, I congratulate you lol! Buying make up products won’t be as tedious for you as it could get for others.
Combination skin
Is your skin dry in some areas and oily in other areas? If so then I must say that you have combination skin. The thing is that, this skin type is a bit tricky to work around in terms of care and product choices. However, with the right Information at your finger tips, it gets a whole lot easier. For this skin type, the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) are typically more prone to oiliness while the dry areas are usually around the cheeks, jaw area, and along the hairline.
A number of factors could cause one to have a combination skin type including; a change in climate or a harsh cosmetic/ skin care product. Not to worry though a few tips could help to manage this skin type. These tips include, the regular cleansing of the face with a face wash, the use of a good toner and night moisturizer, ex foliating every once in a while, and watching out for harsh ingredients in make up products. For the oily areas, it is preferable to use the lighter weight formula products with a gel, thin lotion, or liquid texture. It is also better to focus on oil-absorbing or matte-finish formulas for the oily areas of your combination skin and go with more emollient products over the dry areas.
Oily skin
I can’t even lie this is the least desired skin type. Oil doesn’t really seat well with most cosmetic products. Ladies obviously would be glad to do away with excess oil on their face. As annoying as having an oily skin could get, there are ways around. Oily skin that is left untreated could cause enlarged and clogged pores as well as dead skin cells. Blackheads, pimples and other types of acne are also common with this skin type. Pores become visibly enlarged, especially on your nose, chin and forehead. Astringents, mattifying primers and oil free products generally would come in handy for this particular skin typ.
Add on (Sensitive skin)
Sensitive skin like I mentioned earlier is more or less an add on as opposed to a full skin type, in my opinion. This is because, a person with dry skin could also have sensitive skin, likewise a person with normal/ combination/oily skin could have sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin basically is skin that is prone to inflammation. People with sensitive skin may have skin conditions such as acne, rosacea or contact dermatitis, a type of red, itchy rash. Their skin could also be especially prone to stinging, burning and itching. In some cases it might present with diffuse redness and dryness.
These etiology (causes) of sensitive skin could be associated with exposure to substances such as dyes or fragrances, as well as other environmental factors. If the skin is sensitive, identifying triggers and avoiding them would go a long way in helping to reduce the skin’s sensitivity. Also, using clean make up tools at all times makes it easier to combat problems that usually come with sensitive skin.
Now that we understand the basic knowledge of skin types, picking make up products would be a lot easier. As we go along we would look into products suitable for the various skin types/ categories.
Discover your skin type today guys and navigate the make up world with immense confidence.
