Analysis of the skin

The following descriptions will help you recognize skin conditions and make decisions about skin care products.

Normal skin
Analysis
Comfortable feeling, smooth, even texture with small pores. Cheeks are the driest area but not excessively so. May experiance some shine and larger pores on the forehead nose or chin. water and oil content in the skin is balanced.
Care-
Normal skin needs a routine cleansing with a foaming cleanser exfoliation twice a week moisturization with lightweight lotions and the use of a sunscreen to keep it healthy. A diet rich in vitamins ac&e helps keep skin smooth and soft sufficient fluid intake is important to maintain hydration and rid the body of toxins.

Dry/Extra Dry
Analysis
Feels tight after washing, may look dry or flaky feels rough and uneven dehydrated maybe sensitive pores are small almost invisible show fine line faster than other skin types.
Care
Dry skin requires special care a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet with foods high in water content such as fruits and vegetables and at least 8 glasses of water a day keeps this skin type hydrated. Caffeine and alcohol cause dehydration so limit in take to 2 cups of glasses a day. Using richer cleansers limiting sun exposure and using a good moisturizer can protect your skins natural oils. Layering different textures of moisturizer can do wonders to hydrate the skin begin with lightweight face oil and then layer a richer cream over that. Night creams with alpha hydroxy acid AHA help remove the dry dead skin while moisturizing  the new. Air conditioning and heating create dry environments correct this in your home by using humidifiers.

Oily Skin
Analysis
Oily skin is shiny especially through the t-zone the forehead nose and chin it is a condition caused by overactive sebaceous or olive oil producing glands may have large visible pores frequent breakouts few signs of aging such as fine lines
Care
Management of oily skin and the prevention of breakouts requires a healthy diet and a regular skin care routine cleanse the face at least twice a day to prevent dirt accumulation and to keep pores open use an alcohol free astringent to remove excess oil used oil free moisturizers to keep the skin from over drying

Combination Skin
Analysis
Oily through the t-zone dry cheeks or spotty hydration larger pores on the forehead nose and chin
Care
Care for this skin type requires regular cleansing toning and moisturizing of the oily areas and the use of a milder cleanser and denser moisturizer for the dryer areas. Moisterising products containing AHA will benefit this skin type

Sensitive Skin
Analysis
Can range from dry to oily easily irritated by cosmetics moisturizers and cleansers sensitive and prone to redness itchy or blotchy
Care
Sensitive skin requires mild non perfume cleansing products use an alcohol free toner formulated for sensitive skin also use cleansers and moisturizers specifically formulated for this type of skin.

Misleading Skin Conditions
Do not be fooled the skins condition can be quickly impacted by changes in the environment healthy diet and even current product choices for cleansing toning moisturizing or makeup there are many skin conditions that can hide your actual skin type redness and dryness or flaking can be caused by a medical condition or medication skin care products can be overused causing oily skin to become dry or flaky dry skin that is over moisturized can appear greasy redness and irritation can be caused by low grade allergies to cleansing moisturizing or makeup products necessitating a change to gentler product.

Self-Test: Skin Analysis
Look at your own clean unmoisterized  skin in the mirror is the overall texture flaky dry shiny oily or smooth normal

How does your skin feel after you wash it with your current cleansing regimen tightness through the forehead is an indication of dry skin

How does your skin normally look by mid day is there oil break through or dryness even though you have moisturized

What lifestyle factors are influencing your skins current condition stress hormonal fluctuations sun exposure diet

Does your skin have noticeable sun damage how are you protecting yourself against the Sun

An accurate skin analysis will help you determine the most effective cleansing hydration and makeup product for your skin type and condition however when problem skin shows no improvement or worsens see a dermatologist