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When planning your skincare regimen, you must first determine your
skin type. Answer the following questions:
When in the sun, does your skin burn, peel and then tan?
After cleansing your skin, does it feel tight and tingly? Itchy?
Is your face oily an hour after you’ve washed it? Or does your
makeup disappear by midmorning? As an adult, are you breaking out
like a teenager?
Does your skin feel tight after washing in hot water? Does it
reflect light or appear dull and patchy? Are flakes or red spots
visible where there used to be clear skin?
If you answered yes to question 1, your skin is dry or sensitive.
If you said yes to question 2, you have combination skin, normal in
some places, oily in others.
If you said yes to question 3, you have oily skin with overactive
sebaceous glands.
If you said yes to question 4, your skin is aging.
Sensitive Skin
Symptoms include:
Thin and delicate skin, fine pores, flushes easily, prone to broken
capillaries, frequent allergic reactions, prone to rash breakouts.
Treatment: Use gentle cleansers and rinse with luke warm or cool
water. Avoid using hot water and washcloths. Using hypoallergenic
and fragrance-free moisturizers is essential to protect sensitive
skin. Avoid products that contain a lot of stabilizers, chemicals
that add to the shelf life of a product, because it wreaks havoc to
hypersensitive skin.
Dry Skin
Symptoms include: Feels tight after cleansing, fine wrinkles,
flaking and red patches appear.
Treatment: Due to the high temperatures and low humidity levels,
more moisture is lost during the summer. Thus, dry skin should
always be well protected during the warm months of the year. A good
moisturizer is necessary in the winter because central heating can
also cause moisture loss. To ensure your skin has enough moisture to
lessen the appearance of wrinkles during the winter months, always
use a heavier moisturizer with lower humidity levels. Remember to
moisturize your entire body.
Combination/Normal Skin
Symptoms include: Medium pores, skin has a smooth and even texture,
good circulation and a healthy color, dryness may occur on cheeks,
but oily in the T-Zone.
Treatment: Normal/Combination skin will benefit from a good skincare
regimen and usually reacts well when left alone. This skin type can
handle just about any environmental factor that is encountered.
Oily Skin
Symptoms include: Shiny skin, experience tightness, enlarged pores,
prone to blackheads and blemishes.
Treatment: Oily skin may not necessarily lead to acne, but it is
essential to determine how to control it. It is normal to have oil
on the surface of the skin, which can easily be removed with careful
cleansing. Oil can also be trapped within the sebaceous duct, but
with regular exfoliation, it will improve the amount on your skin.
If you can control excessive oiliness, your skin will reward you, as
oily skin is less prone to wrinkles later in life. Remember that a
slightly oily complexion is the essence of a youthful glow.
The importance of cleansing your skin
Skin experts recommend avoiding soap because of its high pH. A high
pH (alkaline) soap will dry the skin and diminish its life
expectancy. Technically speaking, the skin's surface is mildly
acidic, having a pH of around 5. Most soaps are well over 7, and
some as high as 10. Soaps with a high pH will not only dry the skin
but also eliminate the acid coating found on the skin’s surface. All
Enfusia and Cocoon cleansers are pH balanced.
Daily cleansing gets rid of surface dirt, make up, dead skin flakes
and excess oils. It is recommended to cleanse every morning and
evening.
Unlike soap, cleansers remove makeup and dirt, but leave the skin
feeling silky and supple. Cleansers basically consist of oil, water
and surfactants. The oil dissolves the oil on the face; the
surfactants dissolve everything else; water washes it all away. Some
cleansers contain lots of oil; others have none. If you use a
cleanser that’s too rich for your skin, it can clog your pores; if
it’s too dry, it can irritate your skin. Here is where knowing your
skin type comes into play. Choose a cleanser that suits your skin
type and condition.
Moisturizing is essential
Good moisturizers are made with a complex blend of botanical
ingredients that combine the positive effects of emollients,
humectants and lubricants. These combinations help to counteract the
effects of dehydration and help keep the skin soft, smooth and
radiant.
Water is the secret ingredient for dewy-fresh skin. Well-moisturized
skin is soft and supple, reflects a healthy glow and ages less
quickly. Moisturizing also prevents the skin from drying and
chapping, which in turn slows the aging process.
Moisturizing tips:
To work more effectively, dampen the skin first, as the top, dead
layer of skin will absorb a small amount of water.
Outdoor Skin Treatment
Sunshine, in moderation and with the right type of sun protection,
can enhance your sense of well being. While in the sun, your skin
manufactures vitamin D, which is needed for good mental and physical
health. But fifteen minutes of limited exposure early in the morning
or after 3 p.m. will supply all the vitamin D you need.
Undisciplined sun exposure can lead to sun damage: photo aging -
loss of elasticity, sunspots, lines and wrinkles – and possibly skin
cancer.
Ideally, you should use a total sunblock or a super-efficient
sunscreen (SPF15 or more) on the face and neck. Start applications
of your high-protection sunscreen 30 minutes before heading out,
begin at the collarbone and work upwards - and reapply frequently.
Don't forget the easy-to-forget spots: your ears (including the
tops), your hairline and scalp, the tops of your feet, and your lips
(use a lip balm with SPF 15). Be extra vigilant about protecting
your nose: 70 percent of all facial skin cancers show up there. |