Understanding Your Skin Type

Everyone is familiar with skin issues - after all, what is puberty even, without the appearance of a single pimple? That being said, the case of the grass being greener, or the skin being clearer on the other side always seems to be the case when it comes to the skin type a person is blessed with. Let me tell you, awareness about skin type and understanding the way it behaves is the first step toward establishing a healthy skincare routine.

One of the easiest and quickest ways to find out your skin type is to wash your face and pat it dry.

• If your skin starts to feel tighter and lacking in moisture, it is definitely a sign of dry skin.
• If it appears shiny, you have an oily skin type.
• If your face appears shiny in just a few zones of your face while the remaining area appears dry, you have combination skin.
• Sensitive skin may turn red and itchy on exposure to various products, even when simply rubbing your face gently.
• Normal skin usually has an adequate amount of oil deposition on the face, and your face doesn’t feel dry either.

Another easy way to differentiate between skin types is by the appearance of fine lines and pores on the skin. While oily skin has larger and more prominent pores on the skin, dry skin is more prone to the skin appearing wrinkled, along with fine lines.

One very important aspect that is often forgotten is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin which is commonly mistaken to be the same, when in fact they are vastly different. A surprisingly lesser known fact is that oily skin can also be dehydrated, as oil and hydration are due to different properties of the skin - while oil production makes the skin appear shiny, dehydration can make the skin appear dull due to its lack of ability to retain moisture or water into the skin. This can create misunderstandings when it comes to understanding skin type.

A point to remember is that any kind of skin type can be acne and dandruff prone, although more frequently seen in teens and young adults. While acne can also be helped by a focused skincare routine and sometimes by even tweaking your diet, it is often due to hormonal changes in the body and may even require medical intervention. Neem and Ginger, natural ingredients that are part of Omeo’s Antidandruff Shampoo are perfect ingredients to fight tough dandruff, while the Omeo Aloe vera cream is ideal to hydrate young skin.

Now we move on to the plethora of products designed to suit different skin types. Despite them containing properties targeted at certain issues, it is still advisable to conduct a patch test before use, since every person may react differently to the same product. This patch test can easily be carried out by applying a small amount of the product on the inner side of your arm, leaving it on for the recommended amount of time, and observing it - no redness, itching or flare-ups certifies that the product is generally safe for use. Ingredients such as Calendula and Aloe vera are generally mild on all skin types, and also help retain skin moisture even after gentle cleansing.

No matter what your skin type, it is imperative to understand what works for you, and embrace the type you have. After all, everyone has beauty, and it deserves to shine bright!