The Face - Knowing Your Skin Type

Each face is composed of an extremely complex set of features which includes the hair, forehead, eyes, eyebrow, ears, nose, mouth, cheeks, lips, teeth, chin and skin. The face is also where most of our senses are located such as the sense of smell, taste, hearing and seeing.

The skin of the face is in need of more attention than the rest of the body.  This is because the face has more oil glands, concentrated in the central forehead, eye areas, chin and nose. You need to perform a brief morning facial care regimen and a longer one before sleeping.

Facial skin changes continuously. It evolves from the fresh, new and fine textured skin of the newborn into the wrinkling, sagging and weathered skin of old age.  There are major factors that influence and affect our facial skins. These are hormone changes, amount of exposure to the sun, and time.  The effects of these factors however depend on the genes we have inherited.

Heredity plays a significant role in how our skin ages. It is already encoded into our individual DNA, which determines our own personal biological clock.  No matter our skin care habits, the genes we inherited will dictate our looks as we age.  The good news however, is that aside from using bioengineered beauty products, we can alter our inherited skin features by eating better, doing the right exercise and properly caring for and protecting our skin.  We now have control over how old or young our skin looks.
The skin’s structure is identical on every part of the body. Variations occur according to where it is and how it functions.  Facial skin in particular is adapted to monitor temperature changes and atmospheric conditions.

Skin Types

There are four skin types and each one may need different approaches to achieve health.  It is very important to apply the correct skin care procedure for each one.

a.    Normal skin - has the proper balance between oil and moisture. It looks clear, healthy and supple. It still needs good skin care but needs less treatment that other skin types.
b.    Dry skin - cannot retain moisture and it may flake. It is prone to lines and wrinkles.  Needs regular use of moisturizer.
c.    Oily skin - has on over secretion of sebum resulting to excess oil on the surface of the skin.  This type can develop spots and pimples so it is important to have regular and through cleansing.
d.    Combination skin - combination of both oily and dry skin. In some instances, the forehead, chin and nose may be oily but the cheeks and other areas may be dry. It is important to treat each area with the right skin care that is appropriate for that skin type.

One question about skin that is always asked is what can we do to get a great looking skin and have it forever. The truth however is not one single right answer will suffice to cover this vast and dynamic subject. This is because our skin constantly changes through time, through the changing seasons and even environmental changes. The key to obtaining a better looking skin and keep it that way is to be always aware of your skin’s needs, depending on where you are, how changes affect your skin and why is it important to realize when the changes are occurring.