Step 1: Clean Up!
Wash your face thoroughly. Do not use a soap-based cleanser, and do not use a moisturizing type of cleanser. The problem with soaps used on the face is that they leave a soapy film, which will hinder getting the correct skin type diagnosis. The same goes for using a moisturizing cleanser. It will moisten you skin and give you an incorrect result. Also make sure not to over wash or over scrub your face because you can easily dry out your skin by over scrubbing or washing for too long. This ruins any chance of you getting inaccuracies.
Step 2: Be Patient
Wait for at least an hour, and do not touch your face during this period of time. Your fingers have a great deal of oil on them, and if you touch your face during this waiting period, it may give a false designation of your having oily skin. Work on your computer, send some text message, watch a movie for an hour, or better yet, read some more of my blogs that you may have missed before you get your results.
Step 3: A Gentle Dab Will Do
Now take a tissue and gently dab your face in the T-zone region, which is your forehead down to your nose and then on down to your chin.
Last Step: Determine Your Skin Type
Based on the results of the tissue dabbing along your t-zone, you should be able to determine your skin type.
Generally skin falls into 4 different categories
A) If you have dry skin, there will be flakes on your tissue, or if no flakes, your skin will feel taught and stretched. Often people who have a dry skin will have very small pores.
B) If you have oily skin, there will be oil on the tissue. People with oily skin will also commonly have large pores and their skin will exhibit a sheen.
C) If you have normal skin, you will not find much of anything at all on the tissue, and your skin will feel neither tight nor dry, or have any kind of a sheen to it. Normal skin generally has medium to small pores that are not particularly visible.
D) If you have combination skin (probably the most common type) you will find that different areas of your face will have different results. For example, your forehead might be slightly oily but your nose and chin are dry or normal. Never fear a combination skin diagnosis, there are plenty of products to help you bring your skin into balance
Now What?
You have just done a basic skin type analysis, CONGRATULATIONS! By determining your skin type you can start looking at products designed especially for you and your skin and determine which ones will be the most beneficial to you.
Understanding your type is important to your skin health and your beauty regime, you do not want to use products designed to re-introduce more natural oils into your skin if you already have oily skin. Doing that leaves you at risk for a potential acne breakout. Take your time to determine what products will work best for your skin type, and if you have specific issues such as acne or dry skin spots knowing your skin type will help you address those too. Always be aware that using organic cleansers and skincare products is far superior to using any type of a chemically produced skincare product. Please also remember that if you have a serious skin condition or a persistent one on any part of your body you should consult your doctor first.
Monique Baskin
