In many ways our skin is oil and water.  Some people have oily skin with a dry surface due to harsh products used to dry out oil—the problem is, you can’t stop your oil glands from producing oil with skin care products, but you can strip them off the skin’s surface layer so harshly that skin feels dry to the touch.  This skin type should try an oil-free moisturizer.  Dead skin can sometimes be confused with dry skin.  Exfoliation is important to keep skin smooth, free of flakes and tiny bumps.

Those with dry skin have less water deep in the skin and not enough oil being produced to hold it in.  Moisturizers containing a little oil are best for this skin type.  Remember when performing, skin produces perspiration and oil.  Even dry skin types should consider oil-free products when exposed to these conditions.

Your Skin Type and Needs

It is not always easy to know your skin type.  Here is a description of skin types and their characteristics.  This will help, but remember only a dermatologist can positively identify your exact skin type.  Allow skin twenty minutes to respond after cleansing in order to best identify your skin type.

Oily

Shortly after cleansing your skin seems to become oily and shiny.  You often have breakouts.  Your skin feels heavy, making you want to clean it more than twice a day.  Pores are enlarged and may have blackheads (hardened oil plugs in blocking pores) or whiteheads.

Normal to Oily

Skin can become oily in specific areas like the forehead, nose and chin, commonly called the T-zone because of its shape.  You may have some breakouts or find you breakout once a month.  Your skin may feel oily in some areas and dry or normal in others.   In the winter months you are drier and in the summer months more oily.   Pore size is small to medium.

Normal

Skin may have a small amount of oil, but usually just feels normal.  You rarely have breakouts.  A pink glow exists from good circulation.  There may be a few blackheads and pore size is small to medium.

Normal to Dry 

Skin feels normal, except for dry areas, like the cheeks or forehead.  In the winter you feel tight and dry after cleansing, but not so much in the summer.   You never get breakouts.  Pores are small without blackheads.

Dry

Your skin feels tight after cleansing and you need to moisturize right away.  It is flaky at times and can feel uncomfortable and tight in harsh weather climates.  Generally you look dry and never get breakouts.  Pores are small or invisible.  Body skin may be very dry and chaps easily.

Sensitive

Sensitive skin is not common.  Poor skin care including the wrong products for your skin type, stress, diet, harsh weather and over exposure to the sun, all may contribute to irritated problematic skin. If in the past you have been prone to rashes and red, itchy irritations then you probably have a sensitive skin type.  This skin type can be very sensitive to food.  Eat foods that are anti-inflammatory like organic whole grains, fruit and vegetables.  Stay away from refined carbohydrates, sugary or starchy processed foods.

If all of a sudden you develop an irritation, check a few things out first: Have you been out in the elements and have a sunburn or windburn?  If so, use the appropriate treatments and/or avoid the elements. Have you recently started using a new product?  If so, stop using it and see if it clears up. 

Always read and follow the instructions provided with your skin care products.  Other possible irritants to look for are: preservatives in cosmetics, mineral oil, lanolin, petrolatum, certain fragrances, dyes, old make-up, dirty brushes, Paba in sunscreen, and pollution.

Remember:

  Most sensitive skin people are allergic to fabrics like wool.

  If you are using a new product line, test one item at a time.

  Do a patch test.  Put the product on your forearm for severaldays in a row to see if you develop a reaction.

  Look for words on the product labels like 'Allergy Tested,' 'Fragrance Free,' 'All Natural,' 'Hypo-Allergenic,' Dermatologist Tested,' 'Non-Comedogenic' for breakouts and 'Ophthalmologist Tested' (for eyes); keep in mind that 'Unscented' isn’t the same as fragrance free—fragrance might have been added to neutralize the smell of certain ingredients.

Those with sensitive skin should consult a dermatologist to determine what kind of allergy or irritant reaction they are suffering from.

 Healthy Skin Comes From Mind, Body and Spirit

Your skin is not just a separate, individual organ.  It is inter-related to the rest of your body.  What you feel, eat, and the stress you put on your body can greatly affect the condition of your skin.

Learn to take it easy on yourself emotionally.  Get rid of guilt, fear, anxiety, tension and stress.  Remember emotions affect our skin.  An example of this response to emotion is the way skin becomes flushed from embarrassment, perspires when nervous or becomes oily when under stress. Just beneath the surface, nerve cells actually touch your dermis.  Nerves can act as a stimulus for many skin disorders like hives, eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea.  On the bright side, love and joy can improve your skin, giving you a beautiful glow.  Don’t forget other skin influences: hormones, diets rich in processed foods, sugar, caffeine, salt, and fats and even overly vigorous exercise can create a strain on your system.  Dry skin yet oily at the same time with breakouts, rashes, premature wrinkles, puffy eyes, oily hair and dandruff are all symptoms of a body out of balance.

Tip: Don’t forget to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, take extra vitamins including minerals and find the time for relaxation.

For more on skincare, at home spa body treatments with natural remedies and aromatherapy see Christine’s book 'High Performance Beauty' on www.modedion.com and sign up for the newsletter 'Mode Dion’s Makeup University' for more upcoming tips and podcasts from the Youtube Channel under the same name.