The skin is the body's largest organ and taking care of it feeds a multimillion dollar industry. With pollution, sun exposure and stress, the skin takes a beating every day. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get good skin care, and with a few tricks and hints, you can increase the health of your skin.
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Type
Skin care begins with knowing what type of skin you have--normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive. You can have your skin type determined by a dermatologist or you can use Shelly Ballestero's test in her book "Beauty by God."
Wash your face with tepid water and then wait one hour. Press a lens or oil-blotting tissue on your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. If the tissue is dry and your pores look small, you have dry skin. If the tissue is oily and you have large pores, you have oily skin. If you have oil on your forehead, nose and chin and not anywhere else, you have combination skin. If you have medium size pores with a smooth skin tone, you have normal skin. Sensitive skin could be either oily or dry and reacts with redness or breakouts when exposed to allergic triggers such as dye, perfumes or other irritants. The Eczema and Sensitive Skin Education website has a list of ingredients that are known to trigger reactions.
Care
Use skin care products that are appropriate for your skin type. Whatever type skin you have, it needs to be washed, toned and moisturized twice a day. Use warm--not hot--water when washing your skin; hot water can dry out your skin and causes your body to produce more sebum. Don't scrub your face when washing it; use a clean washcloth and gently apply the cleanser to your face. Using a toner returns your skin to the proper pH level and all skin needs the nourishment of a moisturizer specific to its type.
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from the top layer of skin and allows for new skin cells. However, exfoliating too often can damage your skin and sends signals to your body to produce more sebum. Exfoliate no more than once a week and use the gentlest exfoliating product for your skin type.
The chlorine in tap water can dry and irritate skin; it often triggers allergic reactions in some sensitive skins. Consider purchasing a shower filter; an added bonus is that not only will it make your skin feel better, it will make your hair feel softer too.
Protect
Protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you avoid being out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. If you must be outside during the day, the academy recommends that you use a SPF 15 or greater broad spectrum sunscreen, broad-brimmed hats and sunglasses with 100 percent UV ray protection.
