A healthy skin is protected on the surface by a hydro-lipid film, formed principally by water and some lipids (sebum). A dry skin, very dry, extra dry is by its nature fragile and easily irritated. If dehydrated for too long, problems may arise. It will tend to age more quickly! Determine your skin type to take care of it!
Skin Types
1/ Normal Skin: is comfortable and doesn’t shine, doesn’t tug and is smooth to touch.
2/ Oily Skin: the skin shines, the pores are dilated with blackheads or pimples and appears as if one is sweating.
3/ Dry Skin: the skin is fine, stretched, eventually rough to touch, is dull in aspect and is accompanied by tugs even sometimes irritation.
4/ Mixed Skin: is at the same time oily (the T-zone of the face: forehead, nose, chin) and normal or dry on the other parts of the face.
So, it is the SEBUM secreted by the skin that determines PRINCIPALLY the type of skin: too much sebum, the skin will shine and, if not enough, it will tug.
It is therefore important to know your TYPE of SKIN to determine the types and proportions of fatty acids your skin needs to regain its balance and play fully its role of barrier.
Add to this, Skin Characteristics:
- A mature skin: the result of ageing and a loss of elasticity and firmness. Wrinkles begin to appear as well as some slackening, a loss of firmness making the shape of the face sag.
- A sensitive skin: the skin is uncomfortable and has excessive reactions (redness, itching…) at simple contact with external factors (wind, humidity, sun, cosmetics, spicy food…)
- A dehydrated skin: due to a lack of water in the skin. All types of skins (dry, oily or mixed) can present this problem. Skin dehydration becomes apparent by a loss of radiance and discomfort such as tugging, especially after cleaning. This is a transient problem and can easily be solved by drinking at least 1.5litre of water/day.
HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DRY SKIN AND DEHYDRATED SKIN?
Dry skin or very dry skin is a particular skin type. It is a permanent condition marked by a feeling of tugging over the whole face and body where the skin is lacking water and lipids.
The case of dehydrated skin can apply to all types of skin at some time in life. It is a reversible phenomenon and a temporary one characterised by localised tugging at specific times due to a bad fixation and a loss of water.
How to determine your Skin Type?
2 simple questions to ask yourself
- Does your skin shine?
- Does your skin tug?
If you answer
- NO to both questions => NORMAL SKIN
- YES to question 1 and NO to question 2 => OILY SKIN
- NO to question 1 and YES to question 2 => DRY SKIN
- YES to both questions => MIXED SKIN
How to take care of your skin?
Cleansing: to remove impurities and allow the skin to breathe. It must be gentle and respect the pH of the skin’s acidity. It is therefore very important at night as it will remove impurities gathered during the day: oil, dust, make-up. In the morning, a simple rinsing suffices for most of us.
Hydrating: essential if one wishes to have lovely skin! The stratum corneum (superficial layer) of the skin, helped by a well-chosen moisturising cream will form a protective film against outside aggressions avoiding the loss of dermal water.
Hydrating needs 2 types of ingredients:
The humectants (glycerine or aloe vera for example) retain water and emollients (vegetable oils) that keep the hydration by making a protective occlusive barrier while procuring a softness of touch.
Exfoliation: Exfoliation allows the removal of dead cells that tarnish the complexion. Choose a gentle defoliant with micro-grains or make one yourself (4 spoons of fine salt for 2 spoons of hazelnut oil or almond oil). Massage in a circular movement to reactivate blood circulation and revive your complexion’s radiance. Ideally, this should be done weekly.
Protect: In order to avoid accelerated ageing of the skin it must be protected from climatic aggressions: cold, wind and mostly sun. It is the culprit of the origin of wrinkles because of the free radicals it produces and these appear in your forties. Our skin can produce antioxidants that fight free radicals but it can easily feel overworked.
2 ways to fight by dermal application against the emergence of new wrinkles:
- Applying products rich in antioxidants (Polyphenols, Vitamin E, Essential Oils, Vegetable Oils…) and that contain anti UV filters (FPS: 2 to 5) such as Macadamia or Jojoba.
- Protecting the skin when exposed to the sun using mineral filters that protect against UVA and B*. This is a must for those who live under the sun most of the year!
* UVA is responsible for tanning but they encourage ageing of the skin and the apparition of wrinkles. They are the cause of elastin and collagen degradation. Exposure to UVB drives tanning but also delayed burns (sunburn). They encourage skin ageing and skin cancers. Know more about sunburns here
