Skin Types and Skin Care Basics

By Paul Vu

Normal Skin

To Maintain Sebum Balance and Optimize Skin Health and Radiance Normal skin is characterized by a proper amount of natural oil (sebum) being secreted on the skin's surface to act as a protective coating. It is also characterized by its smooth texture, even color, and excellent elasticity. Pores are nearly invisible and there is no tightness or flaking. Preserve this precious resource by using gentle cleansers and moisturizers that help to protect, hydrate and maintain the skin's delicate balance.

Oily Skin

To Control Hypersecretion of Sebum and Improve Skin Balance Oily skin is characterized by excessive activity of the sebaceous glands, resulting in a excess of the natural oil (sebum) that gives the skin an unpleasant shiny look. The trouble with oily skin starts when excessive excessive sebum production begins to build and harden, clogging pores and dulling skin. This can result in acne and other skin problems. A mistake that many people with oily skin make is to use drying cleansers and topical applications and to reject the use of moisturizers. However, this actually makes the problem worse! Sensing your skin's dryness, your body will actually produce more oil, in a vicious cycle. The solution is to use cleansers and toners designed for oily skin, as well as non-oily moisturizers. Proper hydration will actually cue your body to produce less oil.

Combination Skin

To Maintain Sebum Balance and Optimize Skin Health and Radiance A combination skin type shows both oily areas (such as forehead, nose, and chin) and dryness in other areas. For this skin type, focus on supplementing the lack of sebum on the dry areas while moderating the excess where needed.

Sensitive skin

To Reduce Sensitivity and Strengthen Sensitive Skin This skin type runs the gamut from dry skin that is thin and vulnerable due to a lack of protective sebum, to more oil-prone skin that becomes easily irritated with cleansing that is too aggressive. The skin's sensitivity results from the fragility of epidermal tissue, the imbalance of its ecosystem and sometimes the weakening of its protective hydro-lipid barrier. The reactions of sensitive skin are often unpredictable. In either case, gentle cleansers are required along with the use of toners to maintain the delicate pH balance that sensitive skin requires.

Dry skin

To Restore the Skin's Natural Protective Barrier Dry skin has many causes, both environmental and physiological. The most obvious and easily remedied is a lack of moisture near the surface of the skin, which can be the result of harsh soaps and skin treatments which damage surface integrity. Dry skin can also be caused by the under-production of sebum -- a substance which helps skin hold in moisture -- by sebaceous glands just beneath the skin's surface. It's important not to use harsh cleansers that will increase dryness and possible irritation, and to find a moisturizer that will keep your skin properly hydrated and nourished. It's important to restore the skin's natural balance by providing supplements, hydration and nourishment, in order for the skin to properly perform its natural functions, thus resulting in healthy, more resilient and softer skin.

Mature skin

As we age, the sebaceous glands slow production, leaving our skin more vulnerable to environmental factors and to dehydration. In addition, our skin's capacity to maintain the elastin and collagen within its connective tissue diminishes, which, along with a thinning of our subcutaneous layer of fatty tissue, results in skin that appears thinner and more translucent. An increased tendency towards dryness makes regular and deep moisturization important. Slowed production of CoQ10 also seems to have an affect on the appearance of wrinkles. It is particularly important to use skin care products that enhance your skin's natural immunity, as well as antioxidant-rich products that will help defend against free radicals and other causes of skin aging. Sunscreen is a must!