Beauty’s Only Skin Deep Yeh, Yeh, Yeh

I suffered with not so great skin as a teenager (thanks Dad)! I had pimples and oily skin on my face and back. My mom schlepped me from dermatologist to dermatologist, each having a different remedy. Use salicylic acid; use a sun lamp; take antibiotics; watch your diet e.g. no chocolate or shell fish (iodine); eat all the damn shrimp you want. So confusing! Of course my twin sister Jill had perfect skin–Jill took after my mom. To make me feel better, my mother would often say “Don’t worry. You will be happy when you get older. Your sister will age first”. Little consolation when you are in high school!

Perhaps that is why I am skin care obsessed and have been all my adult life. Don’t you know of people who have psychological scars as children who go on to become psychologists and psychiatrists? Just a theory.

My friends always ask me, “How do I know which products to choose for my skin when there are thousands of products out there”? The important first step is to determine your true skin type. I found an interesting article that streamlines how to identify it and wanted to share it with my readers.

How do we determine your skin type? There are two important factors that go into how our skin looks and having healthy skin: Genetics and environment.

Your genetic skin type which doesn’t change, (again, thanks Dad), and environmental influences like your diet, stress, sun and age. Because your skin can’t tell you what it needs; it can mean dryness, breakouts, redness, or a combination, turning your skin care routine into a guessing game. That is why knowing your skin type is important, because it provides a blueprint to habits and products that will work best for you.

Many people misdiagnose their skin type. It is common to think you have dry skin (genetic) when it is really just dehydrated due to stress or medication (environmental). But I am getting ahead of myself. Here are the steps to finding your skin type.

1. Determine your genetic skin type. This is determined by pore size, the placement of pores on your face as well as the level and rate of oil production, says skin specialist Tara Parenti (Nakedpoppy.com) You can balance it and correct it somewhat through cleansing and moisturizing, but it is with you for good. If you have large pores, as I do, you can’t shrink the size, but you can minimize the appearance. To identify your genetic skin type, simply ask yourself two questions. What time of day do you see oil or shine? and where on your face are the pores larger?
2. Oily skin: if you notice oil or shine on your skin in the morning (or even two hours after you cleanse). Or if you see large pores on a majority of your face. Every skin type has its challenges. Oily skin can mean blackheads (congestion) and requires frequent exfoliation and astringent toners to reduce oil. Oils high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids such as argan oil, jojoba oil, rosehip seed oil will help balance your skin’s excess oil production. No, you don’t need to use oil free products.
3. Combination skin: If your oil and shine picks up in the afternoon and larger pores are located in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). This is my skin type and the most common. Let your skin guide you here. If it seems dry, moisturize; if shinier than usual, use toner to balance oil. Your skin may change depending on weather, hormones or diet, so switch it up as needed. For example, I use a foaming cleanser and lightweight gel moisturizer in summer, and a milky, richer cleanser and medium weight moisturizer in winter.
4. Dry skin: If you have minimal oil and shine 24/7, as well as small, barely visible pores, your skin is dry. Dry skin means your skin lacks oil and your sebaceous glands are on the small side. What is confusing is that environmental factors such as sweat, makeup and oxidized sunscreen can masquerade as nighttime oil. Your skin will be happiest using a creamy or milky cleanser and a heavier moisturizer. My mom and my sister both had dry skin.
5. Sensitive skin: Three criteria determine if you have sensitive skin: a family history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever allergies. You have a tendency toward redness. You blush or burn easily. You are more prone to inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. Avoid processed foods and synthetic fragrances in your products. For exfoliation, use gentle resurfacing ingredients like lactic acid enzymes rather than harsh physical scrubs. My daughter Jamie and grandson Jesse have sensitive skin.
6. Once you know your genetic skin type, we can look at environmental factors that influence your skin. Some are inevitable like aging. Others like dehydration are preventable. Dehydrated skin can occur with any genetic skin type. It means a lack of water; you are not getting or retaining enough water, whereas dry skin is a lack of oil. Dehydrated skin is tight, flaky, dry, may burn or itch and can worsen the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It can be caused by medication, the weather, air quality or overuse of exfoliation. Add hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and drink lots of water.
7. Sensitized skin: External factors like dry winter air or overwashing skin. This is moderate to extreme dehydration and can cause compromised barrier function. Suspend exfoliation and moisturize regularly
8. .Mature skin: sun exposure, fine lines and wrinkles, slowdown in cell turnover, loss of elasticity, hydration, fat volume and collagen. Yup, I’m there. Sunscreen can slow these changes and use of retinol and skincare high in antioxidants, like peptides and Vitamin C.
9. Hyperpigmentation: Dark spots or patches caused by sun damage, hormones, acne scarring which cause pigment producing cells to create abnormal amount of pigment. Gee, I’m there too. Try brightening ingredients like Vitamin C and kojic acid.
10. Hormonal acne: a/k/a adult acne. Thank goodness I am not there anymore. Influenced by hormones, diet and lifestyle. Usually inflammatory cystic acne which comes and goes.
11. As far as what products to choose for your specific skin type, there is a new line of products called Follain that QVC is selling 25% off. There are products for every skin type, and the prices are reasonable. It is part of their clean beauty offerings, and they are relatively inexpensive. For example, Follain Balancing Oil Control Cleanser is $16.50, as well as the Hydrating Cleanser. The face moisturizer and toning mist is $29.81 for the two pieces. You can try the products for quite awhile, and send them back if you are not happy, until January 31, 2021 with their holiday return policy.
12. To help my aging skin, I rely on vitamin c serum every morning under my sunscreen and switch between retinol and hyaluronic acid serum at night under my moisturizer. I just discovered a fairly new line of clean beauty at gopure.com. They have a special deal for under $40.00 you can try the retinol serum, vitamin c serum and hyaluronic acid serum. They have a bundle with the three serums, an eye gel and retinol moisturizer for under $70.00. This is amazing, as clean beauty is usually much more expensive. As you know, I do not receive any compensation for recommending any products. I love doing the research for you all! XO. Penny