Establishing a Skincare Regimen

I'm a self-confessed product junkie. I love trying on new skin care products and makeup. While I love experimenting with new products, I do however, recognize the importance of a proper daily skin routine. Before you buy a product you should determine your skin type. There a five skin types and they are:

Normal Skin: Your skin is smooth and firm to the touch with small or medium sized pores. Occasionally, you'll get a blemish or two, and your face doesn't get too dry or oily.

Dry Skin: If your skin always feels and tight and is noticeably flaky and bumpy in some areas, then you have dry skin.

Combination Skin: When you have combination skin, you really have a blend of all the skin types and tend to get oily around your T-zone area. The surrounding skin is pretty normal and less problematic.

Oily Skin: If you feel like you can fry an egg on your forehead then you have oily skin. When you have oily skin, your face is visibly shiny, blemish prone and your pores are noticeably large.

Sensitive Skin: People who have sensitive skin usually know they have sensitive skin. If this is you, your skin can burn easily, react to certain cosmetics with dyes or fumes, and have skin irritation if there's a significant change in weather.

After you determine your skin type, it is important to purchase only products that suit your skin type. Using a product that isn't appropriate to your skin's needs can prove to be ineffective and may worsen the situation. I should also note that you should read and follow the directions on the products carefully. If not used properly, your skin will not benefit from the time and money you invested in taking care of your beautiful face.

You should always cleanse, tone, and moisturize both in the morning and evening. Please wash off all that makeup on your face! You should never be too tired to cleanse your face. This can help prevent clogged pores and will allow your skin a chance to heal and breathe.

When the seasons change, so should your skincare regimen. It should not be a dramatic change but adjusted to treat a specific issue when something changes with your skin. During the summer, I'll use a lighter moisturizer and during the winter I'll go with something heavier.

Establishing a skincare regimen is just a step towards beautiful skin.  Many people like me need more than just cleansing, toning, and moisturizing to achieve healthy looking skin. As my blog grows, I will address what those specific needs are and what treatment options are available.