Your skin just happens to be your body's largest organ. To maintain optimum health, proper skin care is absolutely essential. Just as you need to cleanse the body and give it proper nutrition to stay healthy, you need to cleanse, tone and moisturize to nourish and protect your skin.

The first step to beautiful skin is determining what your skin type is. Armed with this information, you can properly care for your own skin type and you'll be using the products that are right for you!

Listed below are the features of the 5 main skin types. Compare these to your own skin's features. Each type is described and you're given the basics for daily care of that type. Once you're sure of your customized care needs, go on to read our 5 Ways to Beautiful Skin for everyone!

Which of these do you think is the closest match to your skin?

Normal Skin:

• Normal skin does not feel dry or oily.
• Pores are visible but not large or clogged.
• After a wash it feels smooth and comfortable.
• At midday it still looks fresh and clean.
• Only occasionally break out in spots.

To care for normal skin, you should start with a gentle foaming facial wash. Massaging it into your face will give you a rosy complexion. Cool your skin with a refreshing toner. To finish, dot moisturizer onto your skin and massage it with your fingers in light upward strokes.
                                           
Dry Skin:

• Dry skin has a thin and papery texture.
• It feels dry to touch.
• The pores are very fine.
• After a wash it feels tight, as though it is too small for the face.
• By midday flaky patches appear.
• Hardly ever break out in spots.

For dry skin, use a creamy cleanser to melt away dirt. Leave it on your skin before sweeping it away with a cotton ball. Splash cold water onto your face to clean and refresh your skin. Use a thick cream moisturizer to seal in as much moisture as possible.
                                           
Oily Skin:

• Oily skin feels very greasy.
• The texture is often very thick and coarse.
• There are large, visible pores.
• After a wash it feels fine.
• By midday it looks shiny.
• Often break out in spots.

To care for oily skin, start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture. Soak cotton ball in a gentle astringent lotion and sweep it over your skin to refresh and cool it. Even oily skin needs a moisturizer, but choose a light, watery fluid. This will be enough for your skin. Allow the moisturizer to sink in, and then absorb the excess with a tissue to prevent shine.

                                           
Sensitive Skin:

• Sensitive skin can be easily irritated.
• Typical reactions are itching, burning, chafing and stinging.
• After a wash a wash it feels dry and itchy in places.
• By midday there are flaky patches and some redness.
• Occasionally break out in spots.

If you have sensitive skin do not use facial washes or soap; instead use a light, hypoallergenic cleansing lotion. Use a moisturizer to strengthen your skin and provide a barrier against irritants. Make sure you use an unperfumed (unscented) moisturizer, so as not to irritate your skin.
                                           
Combination Skin:

• Combination skin is normal with a few dry patches and a few oily patches.
• Dryness is usually on the cheeks.
• Oiliness is usually on the T-zone.
• After a wash some areas feel dry and some smooth.
• By the midday the T-zone is shiny.
• Often break out in spots in the T-zone.
• Most women have combination skin.

Caring for Combination Skin:

If you have combination skin, use a foaming facial wash in the mornings to cleanse your skin. This will keep the oily areas clean to prevent blackheads. In the evening, use a cream cleanser to soothe your dry areas. This will keep a balance between excess dryness and excess oiliness. Use a strong astringent for your oily areas and a mild skin freshener for the dry areas. This is not an expensive option, as you will only need a little of each. Use moisturizer on your whole face, but make sure you concentrate on your drier areas.


                                 

These five basic elements should be in everybody's skin care routine in order to achieve beautiful looking skin.

1. Cleansing:
   Using a cleanser everyday removes dirt from your skin and any excess oils.
   
   
2. Exfoliating:
   The grains in exfoliating scrubs remove the top layer of dead skin. It improves the look of the skin, unclogs pores, and makes skin more receptive to moisturizer.
   
   
3. Freshening:
   Freshening the skin with a toner or astringent will improve the look of your skin and lessen the appearance of pores.
   
   
4. Moisturizing:
   This will form a barrier over your skin to prevent moisture escaping. It will also keep your skin feeling soft and smooth all day.
   
   
5. Protection:
   Wearing a sun cream every day will keep your skin looking younger for longer and protect you from dangerous UV rays.

                                                

Beauty consultant Nance Mitchell in Beverly Hills, California, suggests that you brush your teeth (toothpaste can irritate the area around your mouth) before cleansing. Splash your face with tepid water, then smooth a quarter-size amount of a mild, soap-free cleanser over your face. (It's up to you whether you use a fresh washcloth or your fingertips, but fingertips are gentler.) Lightly massage the cleanser into your skin with circular strokes. Rinse with tepid water, then blot — never rub — with a clean towel.

                                                          
Copyright © April 2005  Lori Markham and Low Carb Luxury