What is Your Skin Type?
Assess Your Skin Before You Buy
Before you consider buying any over-the-counter skin care products, there are a few basic facts about your skin
you must know. These include:
• Your skin type. It is oily, dry, normal, sensitive, mature, acne-prone? A combination of several of these?
As nice and neat as those four (or six categories) may be, the truth is, understanding your skin type is more
often than not far more complicated than this, which is why lots of women find identifying theirs elusive,
leaving them unsure. Yet, understanding your skin type is incredibly important—just not in the way the cosmetics
industry approaches it or the way we've been indoctrinated to think about it!
Your skin changes, varying from season to season, month to month and even week to week! It changes as we
age. Adding to this complexity is the possibility of skin disorders such as rosacea (which affects more than
40% of the Caucasian population), eczema, skin discolorations, precancerous conditions, blackheads, sun damage,
and whiteheads. Four or six categories of skin type can’t begin to describe this accurately. However, we can
provide some insight and encourage you to observe your skin, being aware that it is not static and may not fall
into strict categories.
• Your skin complexion. Do you have fair skin that burns easily or light to medium that may burn? Or do you have
a medium tone that usually tans or a darker complexion the only rarely burns? Or is your complexion so dark that
you never burn?
• Your skin concerns. Do you want preventative maintenance to avoid premature aging? Do you have a skin problem,
such as persistent acne, age spots, melasma or rosacea? You may also have large pores, sun damage, facial
wrinkles or fine lines that require special attention. Do you have eye puffiness or under eye bags that will
require special care?
• Your personal habits. We all know that aging is a natural biological process that affects all of us. The aging
of your skin is also greatly affected by external factors that accelerate this process. Are you a smoker? Do you
spend a lot of time in the sun? Do you take a daily vitamin? Do you consume a well-balanced diet? All these
factors will affect how you should care for your skin. At Reflections’ Choice, we encourage you to stop smoking
or even just to consider stopping (you have to start somewhere!)
In particular, smoking, known to cause lung cancer and encourage heart disease, has significant aging effects
on your skin and hair.
Effects of cigarette smoking on your skin and hair:
• Increases wrinkles, especially if you are a woman
• Can make your complexion red or orange
• Can produce pale or yellowish skin in places
• Causes puffiness
• Creates those “yellow fingers” stains
• Brings about premature aging of your skin
• Causes gray hair
• Results in thinning hair, more pronounced in men but also seen in women
• Slows wound healing
• Increases your risk of squamous cell cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, with over 250,000 new cases per year estimated in the United States. It arises in the squamous cells that compose most of the upper layer of the skin.
Most SCCs are not serious. When identified early and treated promptly, the future is bright. However, if overlooked, they are harder to treat and can cause disfigurement. While 96 to 97 percent of SCCs are localized, the small percentage of remaining cases can spread to distant organs and become life-threatening.
For more information on squamous cell cancer: www.skincancer.org/squamous/index
Whose skin is most affected?
• Affects women more than men
• Increases wrinkles around the mouth
• Has a greater affect on white versus dark skin
• Increases if you have smoked for more than 15 years
• Increases if you smoke more than 1 a pack a day.
What does smoking actually do to the skin?
• Smoking causes drying of the surface of the skin as nicotine is a diuretic
• It reduces the vitamin A levels in the skin
• Smoking affects matrix metalloprotienases (MMPs) causing collagen to degrade and elastin to fragment
• While aging from the sun happens in the higher levels of the skin (dermis), smoking predominantly affects the
lower, deeper part
• Smoking lowers the blood supply to the skin and reduces collagen production, both of which slow healing in the
skin
• This slow healing has an influence after surgery including cosmetic surgery or laser resurfacing. It prolongs
the healing process and increases the risk of complications
• Nicotine, carbon monoxide and hydrogencyanide have toxic effects on healing tissue
• Some suggest that nicotine may suppress the immune system to increase susceptibility of viral infections of the
skin such as warts.
Other External Factors
• Exposing our skin over many years to sunshine (without adequate protection) will give the skin an old wrinkled,
blotchy look. Drinking too much alcohol over many years may also give you an older appearance. A healthy,
low fat diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables, is good for mind and body and our skin! Our skin is a
reflection of our health. Good nutrition, exercise, and sleep will aid in the health of the skin. Drinking
plenty of water helps prevent a build-up of toxins and serves to hydrate the skin.
Note: We recognize that many women and men spend a great deal of time out doors at work or pleasure.
We certainly don’t recommend that you change your life style! Just protect your skin and replenish your
sunscreen once or twice during the day as necessary. Your skin will repay you with health and radiance.
If you need help, email your questions to us at support@reflectionschoice.com. We will provide you with
information, resources and recommendations. We also encourage you to see a dermatologist for advice on any skin
issues that go beyond the basic requirements of good skin care and minor problems.
How to Determine Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type is easy, and the following information will help you decide which products are best
for you.
Instructions
STEP 1: Wash your face with a skin cleanser, then rinse and pat dry.
STEP 2: Wait one hour.
STEP 3: Note whether your skin feels "tight."
STEP 4: Press a separate piece of tissue onto each area of your face: chin, center of cheeks, outer cheeks,
center of forehead, outer forehead and nose.
STEP 5: Examine each tissue and look for oily residue or flaky skin residue.
STEP 6: Interpret the results. Oil on each tissue indicates an oily skin type, while oil on only some tissues
(specifically those on the T-zone, which is the center of forehead, nose, chin and center of cheeks) indicates a
combination skin type. Flaky skin residue on all tissues - without oily residue - or a tight feeling in the
skin indicates a dry skin type. No oil and no flaky residue on any parts of the tissue indicates a normal skin
type.
Tips & a Final Word
Avoid Touching Your Face
There are several important reasons to touch your face as little as possible:
Facial skin is extremely delicate. Care should be taken to avoid irritating the skin. During cleansing and
exfoliation use a gentle touch to aid in the cleansing process. Avoid over-cleansing.
Rubbing the skin can cause redness, irritation, and possibly bruising. The eye area is the most sensitive part of
the face and the most important in avoiding rough touch. Use brushes or cotton pads for applying make-up and a
light touch when inserting contact lenses.
Avoid touching your face unless you have thoroughly cleaned your hands. Your hands and objects you touch carry
germs and bacteria which can be transferred to your face upon contact. Your skin can then become irritated or
even infected. Maintaining clean, healthy facial skin is vital to preventing acne and skin disorders.
Pore size is another indication of skin type.
Small pores generally indicate dry skin, while large pores mean oily skin.
“Combination skin" products that claim to serve different functions on different parts of the face are
suspicious.
You are better off using different products on different areas. The goal is to provide your oily and drier areas
with appropriate products that address the needs specific to these skin types. Balance is a key word to keep
in mind when dealing with combination skin.
As you modify and adjust your skin care routine with products that are appropriate for your skin type, you will
hopefully notice only positive changes that get you closer to the skin you want.
Remember, as noted above, skin type isn’t static. Even with appropriate, well-formulated skin-care products,
your skin type can change depending on the season, your hormones, your stress level, and other factors noted
earlier. You should re-evaluate your skin as you notice differences, so keep this list close by so you can fully
understand what you are dealing with and not blindly apply products that have no chance of helping.
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