HOW TO KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE
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- By Nimo Naturals
- August 13, 2022
- 1,815 views
Knowing your skin type is essential in the journey to a healthy and flawless skin. This is because it helps you be able to determine the best products and ingredients best suited for your skin. The different skin types include dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, combination skin and sensitive skin.
Different products are created for different skin types and so it is very important to understand your skin type so as to be able to choose the best products suited for your skin.
Let’s break down these skin types one by one.
1. Normal Skin
The normal skin type is the most desirable type of all. Its pH and oiliness are perfectly balanced and is most often blemish-free. It appears smooth and healthy with normal-sized pores.
If you are blessed with this skin, good for you! The only thing you need to do is maintain it so your skin remains healthy.
How to take care of normal skin
Even with this skin, you need to have a routine with your basics in place. The skincare basics are cleansing, moisturizing and sunscreen.
The following are tips you can take with you to best take care of normal skin;
1. Have a skincare routine in place with a suitable cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Ensure your cleanser cleanses your skin without stripping it, get a moisturizer that hydrates your skin such as our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Cream, and DO NOT skip sunscreen. Despite your skin being normal, it is still susceptible to sun damage. So, to maintain its normalcy, make sure you put on sunscreen and remember to reapply at least every two hours when outdoors.
2. Ensure you remove your makeup every night before you sleep if you wear makeup.
3. Skincare starts from the inside, so ensure you are drinking enough water daily to keep your skin hydrated and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep it glowing.
4. Incorporate ingredients such as vitamin C into your regimen, just to boost its appearance.
5. Do proper research before buying any product to ensure that it will cater to your skin’s particular needs.
2. Oily Skin
This skin type is characterized by a greasy or shiny appearance all over the face. Its greasiness is caused by the overproduction of sebum, which is a substance naturally produced by the skin to keep it moisturized. It can also be caused by genetics, hormonal changes, or the climate.
It is the most susceptible to acne and blemishes since the overproduction of sebum leads to clogged pores, which then causes acne, enlarged pores, whiteheads, and even blackheads.
How to take care of oily skin
The best way to take care of this skin type is to find different ways of balancing its oiliness.
1. To control oiliness, use products that are non-comedogenic. This means they don’t clog pores hence are more suitable for oily skin.
2. Use products with active ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, activated charcoal, and clay. These ingredients are known to balance oiliness and clear clogged pores of excess oil and dirt. These include our Acne Be Gone Cleanser with 2% salicylic acid, our Detox Face Mask or our Clarifying Facial Oil & Clarifying Facial Toner.
3. Do not skip moisturizing. One of the things you may do if you have oily skin is to skip the moisturizer since you believe your skin is oily enough. However, doing this will cause your skin to become even more oily as it tries to compensate for the lack of moisture. Get a lightweight moisturizer that is non-comedogenic such as our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Cream.
3. Dry skin
Dry skin is characterized by looking flaky or powdery. In severe cases, it may even peel or crack. If you have this skin type, your skin often feels tight and you get easily sensitive to certain products. It may be caused by climate changes, aging, or the overuse of dehydrating products.
How to take care of dry skin
The best way of taking care of this skin type is by keeping the skin moisturized at all times.
1. Use products with hydrating active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, sodium lactate and propanediol. Such as our Hydrating Facial Toner.
2. Use occlusives such cocoa butter, shea butter, squalene, and olive oil. Also, use products that are cream-based and have a heavier texture as they are more moisturizing.
3. Reduce the frequency of cleansing. Some cleansers can be too stripping on the skin, making it even drier. Invest in cleansers that do not strip off your skin and that are better suited for dry skin such as our Oatmilk & Honey soap. Ps, none of our soaps strip off the skin off its natural oils.
4. Speaking of cleansing, stick to lukewarm or cold water when cleansing your skin. Hot water can dehydrate your skin further.
5. When drying your skin after cleansing, gently pat dry instead of rubbing. Rubbing can cause more dryness and increase your skin’s sensitivity.
4. Combination Skin
This skin type might be a bit complex but is quite common. It is characterized by having an oily t-zone, which is your forehead and nose, then the rest of your face is dry. It can be caused by genetics, climate changes, and the use of products unsuitable for your skin.
How to take care of combination skin
1. Ensure you have a skincare routine with the basics in place for the overall health of your skin.
2. Use a gentle cleanser to avoid stripping your skin.
3. Hydrate hydrate hydrate hydrate. Always keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
4. Make sunscreen your BFF.
5. Sensitive Skin
This skin type is characterized by having a reddish or pinkish appearance. It can also be painful to the touch. It is caused by over-sensitivity of the skin’s nerve endings or triggers such as excess sun exposure, the wrong products, and even foods.
How to take care of sensitive skin
1. Avoid skin care products that are highly fragrant, and have ingredients such as dyes and parabens. Before buying a skin care product, check the ingredients list and avoid those with parfum listed as their ingredient. Fragrances can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin.
2. Avoid products with dehydrating ingredients such as alcohols.
3. Before trying any products, do a patch test on a small section of your skin, preferably on the inside of your arm, wait for 24 hours and observe how your skin reacts.
4. With this skin type, you want to use products that are gentle and soothing. For example, if using a mask, you could place it in your fridge for about half an hour before applying it. The effect is a cooling and soothing sensation which can help your skin calm down.
5. If you have tried everything to no avail, consult a dermatologist. They can give you expert advice on how to take care of your skin and recommend products to help with your skin’s sensitivity.
How to know your skin type;
You may be wondering, now that I know the different skin types that are out there, how can I know what my skin type is?
Well, you can follow the following steps below;
1. Cleanse your face as you normally would, pat dry, and do not apply anything for the next 30 minutes.
2. After 30 minutes, closely observe your skin in the mirror, touch your skin to feel its texture, and make facial expressions to sense how your skin feels.
-if you have normal skin, there will be no significant changes observed or felt after the steps.
-if you have oily skin, you will notice your forehead becoming greasy, which later progresses to the rest of your face.
-if you have dry skin, your face will appear powdery and flaky. Your skin may also feel tight and dry when touched.
-if you have combination skin, you may notice your forehead and nose getting oily and shiny, while the rest of your face stays normal or feels dry.
-if you have sensitive skin, you may notice some redness, and your skin may feel irritated or painful when touched.
It is important to know your skin type since none of us have the same skin type. Skin care is not a one size fits all thing, that’s why what may work for someone else, may not work for you. With knowledge about your skin type, you can know what’s best for you and make wise choices in your skincare product purchases or even the regimen you follow.
Do you know what your skin type is? Let me know in the comment section😊
2 Comments
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Ivynne Karemi
I have oily skin and I've been in search for the remedy for so long. But not anymore since the products from you guys @Nimo Naturals have made me feel confident once again. Thanks a load💋💯
2 years ago
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Rachel Kaburi
Which products would you recommend for combination skin?
2 years ago