How to Decide on a Skin Care System

Almost everyone needs a good skin care system to help protect their skin as well as keep the aging process at bay. Some need heavier systems and some require only something light. Using the wrong system on your skin, however, could prove as damaging as using nothing at all. Using the following steps, you should be able to decide on the best skin care system for your type of skin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Access to running water
• Gentle cleanser
• A soft hand towel
• Tissue, tissue paper, or perm paper

How to Decide on a Skin Care System

1. The first step in deciding upon a good skin care system is to determine what type of skin you have. To do this, wash you face with a gentle cleanser and then pat it dry.
2. Let the skin rest without using any skin creams, moisturize, or makeup for a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 hours.
3. Take a tissue, piece of tissue paper, or perm paper and press it to your forehead. Lay that tissue down and then repeat the process on the nose and cheeks, using a clean tissue for each area.
4. Examine each tissue individually. If all of the tissues remain clean and the skin remains fresh looking without tightness or flakiness, then your skin type is likely normal.
   
   If the tissues appear clean but the skin looks flaky or rough then the skin is probably dry. If the tissue pressed against the cheek area appears oily, then your skin could be oily. If the tissue pressed against the forehead and/or nose appear oily, then your skin is most likely combination with what is known as an oily T-zone.
5. Once you know your skin type, identify other issues that might have an impact on your skin care system choice. These would include, but not be limited to issues like: the age of your skin; skin sun damage; skin that has been subjected to medical procedures or drugs; acne, eczema, psoriasis, roscea or other skin care problems; skin sensitivity; and/or skin allergies.
6. Finally, determine the way you want your skin to look as a result of your skin care system. These could include, but would not be limited to the following: soft and supple; fresh, dewy, younger looking; diminished wrinkles; and/or firmness.
7. Armed with all of the information about your skin type, skin problems, and the what you want your skin to portray, begin researching skin care systems that supposedly fit those specific needs. Use library or online research, looking for systems that have specific feedback with regard to advantages and disadvantages and overall success.
8. Choose the top 2 or 3 skin care systems identified that appear to meet your skin care requirements. Compare them against one another and choose the system that appears to best meet your specific needs, your pocketbook, and your desires concerning the way you want your skin to look.
9. Contact the manufacturer of the skin care system to ascertain if they provide free samples. If so, request some for trying out. If not, find out if they provide starter kits. If so, purchase one so that you can determine if the system will work for you. If neither is available, find out if they have any kind of money-back guarantee in the event that the system does not work for you.
10. If none of the above are available, but you still believe the skin care system in question offers the best chances for success, determine whether or not to purchase it. If not, then move on to one of your alternative skin care systems and repeat Step 9. If so, then go ahead and purchase the system.
11. Once you have decided upon a skin care system, whether it be by sample, trial size, or full size, thoroughly read the system's directions.
12. If, after reading the skin care system's instructions, you still have questions, contact the manufacturer by phone or email with an eye toward obtaining the answers you need.
13. When you are ready to get started with the skin care system, carefully follow the system's instructions.
14. Continue the skin care system for at least 30 days unless you run into problems with it. At the end of 30 days, review your skin to see if the system has affected your skin as expected. If not, then you might want to start over with an eye toward finding a new system. If it is working effectively, then you can decide whether or not you can afford to continue the system.
15. Discontinue the skin care system at any time if problems arise like rough, dry skin; red, painful skin; swollen, blotchy skin; or other skin issues. Then review the system to determine if the problem is an allergy to the skin product or something else altogether. If necessary, contact a dermatologist before deciding whether to continue the system or move on to another one.
16. In the event that any major skin issue arises as a result of using a skin care system, contact a dermatologist immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consider skin care products with built-in SPF protection against the sun.
• No matter what skin care system you choose, always supplement it with lots of hydration by drinking plenty of water each day.
• Most normal skin can be washed with gentle cleansers.
• For dry skin, choose cleansers that are creamy or milky with extra hydration and moisturize and wash it only once a day.
• For oily skin, use non-soap cleansers made for oily skin.
• For combination skin, use a gentle, non-soap cleanser.
• Use moisturizing creams that are rich in alpha-hydroxy and glycolic acids for normal skin.
• For dry skin, use creams that are rich with emollients.
• Avoid scented, colored, and dyed cleansers if your skin is sensitive.
• Exfoliate sensitive skin with creams that also contain vitamin C.
• Avoid using harsh soap products on delicate skin as it could strip away its natural moisture.
• Just because skin is oily that doesn't mean that it doesn't need moisturizing.
• Never use hot water on dry skin as it will dry it out further.
• Exfoliate dry skin only once or twice a week and use only those that contain retinol and alpha-hyrdoxy.
• Don't exfoliate sensitive skin with fruit acids and granules as they generally irritate.