Winter is here and the frost is not only biting your nose but your whole face. Fortunately, with a facial skin care routine that exactly meets your skin care needs, you can be on your way to a healthy, radiant skin tone.
YOUR SKIN IS DRY OR SENSITIVE IF:
o Stings or burns when using skin care products
o Gets easily irritated
o Sometimes appears red and inflamed
o Feels itchy, dry, rough, and scaly
Facial care for dry skin:
Regular bath soaps clean well but are powerfully alkaline and irritating to both dry and sensitive skin. Clear soaps that contain glycerin and alcohol can also be too drying. Therefore, as an alternative to soap, dermatologists suggest soap-free cleansers for sensitive skin. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, you may need to alternate a washable lotion with a sensitive skin stick. After cleansing dry skin, apply a light, hypoallergenic, preservative-free, multi-purpose, water-based moisturizer. For extremely dry skin, moisturize with petroleum jelly or an oil-based lotion with 20 percent urea. After cleansing sensitive skin, apply a light, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer such as Eucerin. To check your tolerance to the product, apply the moisturizing cream behind the ears for the first few days.
YOUR SKIN IS NORMAL IF:
o It is usually soft and flexible
o Is generally transparent/blemish free
o Does not seem dry or greasy
Facial skin care for normal skin:
You’re one of those lucky people whose face can take some abuse and still bounce back, looking fresher than ever. Almost any cleanser (from regular bath soap to bars for sensitive skin) will work for you. If you need a moisturizer, some people with normal skin don’t! — Choose a lightweight, hypoallergenic, preservative-free, all-purpose, water-based moisturizer after washing.
YOUR SKIN IS OILY IF:
o Has enlarged pores or blackheads
o Looks shiny and feels greasy
Facial care for oily skin:
Regular bath soap, morning and night, is fine for cleansing – your skin actually benefits from the drying effect of strongly alkaline bath soaps. If necessary, use a styptic pad at noon. Since your skin is naturally oily, you may not need
to hydrate. But if you do, choose one that’s non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause acne) and is oil-free or water-based, like Neutrogena or Aveeno, for example.
YOUR SKIN IS COMBINATION IF:
o Has fat on the forehead, nose, or chin
o It is dry on the cheeks and around the eyes
Facial skin care for combination skin:
Dermatologists recommend one of two cleansing routines for women with combination skin. You can wash with a mild facial cleanser in the morning and use an alcohol-free astringent on oily areas later in the day. Or wash with a soap-free cleanser on dry areas and regular bathroom soap on oily areas. Treat dry patches like dry skin, then apply a water-based or oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer all over your face.
Skin care tips for every skin type:
No matter how oily, dry or sensitive your skin is, always clean it gently. Use warm (not hot) water and fingertips (not a washcloth). Rinse well. Then use a towel to dry (not rub) your face. Wash your face no more than once or twice a day. After patting the skin dry, apply moisturizer to the skin while it is still damp to ensure it is absorbed. Unless your moisturizer provides protection from the sun’s harmful rays, consider applying a light sunscreen as well.