Determining Skin Type

Quiz to Determine Skin Type

Determining your skin type is very important because it can decide what kind of product is right for you in order to provide a flawless finish throughout the day and making sure that you're not using products that can break you out as well.

1. Oily Skin (makeup's worst enemy but less likely to get wrinkles)
2. Dry Skin (more prone to wrinkles & can make you look worst with makeup)
3. Normal Skin/ Combination (not too oily & not too dry; has a combination of both depending on products used) --> best of both worlds
4. Acne prone (self explanatory)

Fast Forward to determine skin type-->






1. Oily Skin

Those with oily skin can find it difficult to keep makeup in place and more often then not by mid day they will look like a disco ball regardless of the primers, matte foundation and powder they have used to set everything in place. They can also be acne prone with the excess oil productions. Be more sensitive to products that can lead to break outs.

Oily skin test:

• wash your face with cleansing oil (good because it is often gentle where it will not strip you skin giving you a false positive for dry skin & it will not leave a film over you face either) & pat your face dry
• wait 1-2 hours (watch YouTube, do something that will not cause you to sweat)- AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE
• Examine your face under magnifying mirror and observe for large pores and greasiness but do not touch the face with fingers 
• get 1 ply tissue and pat on all over your face starting with T zone (forehead, nose and chin area) then pat your cheek with separate tissue 
• Results
• if tissue appears to stick and you can see through the tissue in the T- Zone & not the cheek => you have normal/combination skin where you're just oily in the T Zone area which is very common because those are the areas with the largest pores that can produce oil
• if the tissue appears to stick all over your face => you have oily skin (your face is producing so much oil that is visible on tissue & mirror even through you have not applied anything that may cause oil production) --> GOOD news is that you are less likely to get wrinkles because with oily skin, your skin is supple and plumper looking. BAD news is that you're likely acne prone because of all the excess oil production. 

Tips:

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel $31CAD here

Review

$3.99USD at Ulta

• using the right moisturizer; people will often skip moisturizer thinking that their face is oily enough and they do not need moisturizer! WRONG that is the biggest mistake, because you skin still needs a barrier for protection & during the colder months you still need to condition and nourish your skin. Your skin will think you are deprive of moisturize (moisture & oil are 2 different things) and over produce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture although oil does not provide the same protection as moisture. 
• try oil free moisturizers with a gel consistency where it will just provide enough moisture without clogging pores & increase oil production 
• Skin can benefit from a clay mask once a week where it can cleanse the pores to prevent acne and to keep oil at bay
• foaming cleanser works well for those with oily skin; I find that it does a good drop at 'stripping' the skin & pores of dirt (those with dry skin should consider milk cleansers)
• Use primers & make sure you set your liquid foundation with a powder or consider getting a decent coverage powder foundation 
• carry blotting sheet/ powder to touch up during the day
• blot skin with 1 ply of tissue before each step of makeup 

2. Dry Skin

This is also very self explanatory & you can do the exact same test where you wash your face with a cleansing oil and pat dry and wait 1-2 hours and see what happens. Those with dry skin probably don't have to wait long before you can tell you have dry skin. You will start to have a tight pulling sensation all over you face and those with extremely drug skin will start to see dry patches. In this case your skin is dry and it is not even producing a film of oil to protect your face therefore you need to apply an external agent protect you skin and provide it with moisture and lock in whatever moisture your skin is producing.  It is common for those with normal skin during spring & fall to have dry skin during the colder winter months since the air is drying with the heater and your face is being exposed to the elements. It is also normal for you to have different skin type during different times of the year and it can also depend on your hormones & stress level in your life. I personally have normal skin & will have dry patches during the winter months where it requires me to amp up with skin care regime. 

The problem with dry skin is that it need extra attention and finding the right product so that your makeup will not look like a desert on your face. If you can find the right products, makeup especially foundation will last longer and you can use highlighter or a dewy foundation to give yourself a glow. I personally prefer skin that is on the drier end because I have products that can normalize my skin therefore making makeup application easier. It is very important to keep you skin hydrating otherwise you are prone to wrinkles. 

Tips;

• use sheet masking then rub the serum in
• milk cleansers or oil cleanser to avoid stripping skin of natural oils 
• moisturize moisturize moisturize
• consider using a oil moisturizer (Terra Organic Argan oil)
• carry moisturizing mist to provide face with pick me up 
• avoid powder foundation cause it can make dry skin more obvious
• consider serum with hyaluronic acid
• moisturize immediately after cleansing your face
• avoid alcohol toners
• consider a cream rather than lotion / gel 
• drink water!

$25CAD here - this little miracle product comes in a variety of different container making them so unique and fun. During the winter month, this is what I use after serum. It has a light floral scent & it does not leave my face greasy but provide it with the right amount of moisture. 

$52CAD @ Sephora. Pricer option but it worked break for me when my face went through a phrase of flakiness where my face literally was falling off (gross I know) I went through 2 jars of these during winter & it fixed everything. This can be a little greasy but when your face is flaking off you won't mind the grease as much. Plus Sephora has a great return policy or you can alway ask for a sample & try it out, you have nothing to lose. 

What it is:

A treatment moisturizer for dehydrated and delicate skin.

What it is formulated to do:
This soothing essential suits even the most irritated and reactive complexions. It helps relieve dryness and improves the skin's natural moisture balance. Immediately effective comforting properties especially benefit traumatized, allergy-prone, thin, aging, sun-sensitive, tight, and dehydrated skin types.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This antioxidant-rich treatment does not contain propylene glycol.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre $30CAD on ebay. This is a multi-purpose item that is also great for those with dry skin. 

3. Normal / Combination Skin

Those that don't belong in either category or have a combination of both consider yourself lucky because your skin is acceptive of a wide range of products that makes it low maintenance and easily to up keep. During spring & fall my skin is more on the normal side where I'll still have small patches of dry skin if I have been applying acne products on specific spots to destroy it (which is reasonable because those products will contain salicylic acid which can dry your skin). 

Tips:

•  maintain skin by using SPF to protect from damage
• use sheet mask & clay mask to keep face clean and supple to prevent acnes
• avoid using stripping products that can make your face dry
• can use powder or liquid foundation 
• tone, treat & moisturize --> all skin type
• with normal skin, the goal is to maintain skin's current status
• you have the luxury of being able to dry variety of products without worry too much about breaking out

4. Acne prone

Fairly self explanation where no matter what you do, you break out. It can be due to stress, hormones and diet. Best to consult a dermatologist if all else fails. Acne.org provides a detail regime & description of things one can do to prevent or diminish acne. I had acne in high school, but as I got older, it went away on its own & I learned to take care of my skin better. 2 options of treatment that can be found in the drugstore are Salicylic acid & Benzoyl Peroxide; both tend to dry you skin out a little bit. 

$8 at the drugstore and it has 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. I use this as spot treatment but when my face is freaking out, I will mix this with a light moisturizer and apply it to my entire face (moisturizer makes it easier to spread and won't dry out your skin)

Tips:

$3.99 CAD @ Walmart - leaves skin soft & clean!! Super affordable, I've been using it x 5 years!

• AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE DURING THE DAY - there are many bacterias on your hands 
• cleanse 2x daily preferably with a cleanser that contains some sort of acne treatment
• consult dermatologist 
• use moisturizer that contain acne treatment as well 
• clay mask can also help to get ride of excess oil that can lead to break outs
• BCP for females can also hope regulate hormones
• breakouts during that time of the month is reasonable & can be maintained with regular acne spot treatment
• remove all makeup before sleep; give skin to breath where you should avoid wearing makeup everyday 
• consider the fact that your products made me breaking you out
• consider a balance diet; the way your body is in the best shape therefore you skin & cells is getting the proper nutritions
• being gentle with your skin - avoid picking at breakouts cause it just causes bacteria to spread
• tea tree oil - anti bacterial properties
• Aspirin mask (combine 2 tablets of uncoated aspirin with just enough water to form a paste and add small amount of honey. Leave on till it completely dries and warm your face up with water and you can use aspirin as gentle exfoliation and rinse off. Pat dry )
• Wash pillow cases once a week or stray it with something anti bacterial 
• BIO oil can be good for scar left over from acne

Lush Tea Tree Water $21CAD here I love spraying my face throughout the day to prevent bacterial build up. It feels refreshing and freshens up my makeup. 

Bonus 

Large pores

• this will often lead to increase oil production as well and your makeup can settle into the pores making it look less than perfect 
• this can be fixed with a good primer 

Benefit The POREfessional Primer $36CAD @ Sephora 

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12 hr Perfecting Primer $39CAD at Sephora

• Both of the above are very good options
• exfoliate the face to keeps pores clean hoping to shrink them in size
• washing face with hot water tends to open pores, good idea to splash a bit of cold water at the end of your cleaning regime to close to pores
• use of a toner

Anti-aging

• preventive is key 
• sun protection everyday even in the winter time
• start at age 22 with preventive properties 
• taking care of your skin while it is young
• try your best to normalize your skin 
• serums are a good option 
• serum C
• Q10 products
• retinol products - this should be used in moderation till your skin tolerates it because it can dry out your skin (ROC is a reasonably priced line with retinol in their products)

~~~~~Tee hee