Skin Types

Good skincare therapists and some basic training can generally help you to stay on top of most of the issues confronting you. Honest.

A skin condition, on the other hand, is something that crops up now and then and thumps you – things like dehydration, prematurely-aged skin, pigmentation, sensitised skin or breakouts. Visit Skin Conditions

First, here’s the low-down on skin types. You need to know your skin type to help you work out what products you should be using and how you keep it looking and feeling at its best. None of this is rocket science and nobody has normal skin 100% of the time, so relax and read on.

Skin Types - and their most likely features

Normal

• soft, plump, with good elasticity
• smooth and firm to the touch
• well-balanced and neither dry nor oily
• a healthy colouring for your ethnic group
• problem free, without spots or blemishes

Oily

• oily, particularly in the T Zone - forehead, nose, chin
• possible enlarged, open and/or clogged pores,
  particularly in the T Zone
• blackheads, spots or blemishes

Dry

• dull and ‘thin’ appearance
• dry to the touch, maybe rough
• can feel tight, mostly post-shaving / cleansing
• vulnerable to flaking, peeling
• small pores or no visible open pores

Sensitive

It is often difficult to understand whether skin is sensitive or has been sensitised. Sensitised skin is a skin condition ( visit Skin Conditions ) and a skincare therapist can help you understand the difference.

Sensitive skin :

• is easily irritated
• tends to redden when exposed to hot, cold, wind or sun
• reacts to shaving products, some cleansers
• is sometimes dry, itchy, blotchy, sometimes stings
  

Combination

• any combination of the above skin type characteristics,
  most often dehydrated on cheeks, with oily T Zone