What's Your Skin Type? One of the most important factors in looking young and healthy is the condition of your skin, so it's a good idea to take the best care of it you can. You may already know that the secret to truly beautiful skin is to maintain your health, and to carry out a rigorous skin care regimen on a regular basis -- but one of the keys to proper skin care is knowing and making allowances for your skin type. Being aware of your skin type allows you to plan which types of cleansers, moisturizers, and other tools you need to use in order to get the best skin possible. There are several recognized skin types (the number differs according to which expert you ask), but they tend to fall into three main categories: oily, dry, and combination skin. Add to that environmentally damaged skin, and you've got 99% of the human population covered. Most skin types are genetically determined, but can be worsened by the environment, diet, harsh soaps, and overuse of the wrong skin care products -- so be careful! Your skin care plan may also need to be modified for geography and season; if it's hotter than normal, for example, you may want to use skin products for oilier skin types, and if it's cooler, more moisturizer may be required. It's easy to determine which skin type you have. When you get up in the morning, before you take a shower, wipe your face with a dry tissue, top to bottom. If it comes up greasy, you have oily skin. If it's dry, you have dry or combination skin; a little grease on the center of the tissue also suggests combination skin. You can also catch a clue from how your skin feels. If it seems parched and stretched too tight, it's dry; if it's slick, it's oily; but if it feels smooth and supple, it's almost certainly normal. Combination skin is the most common skin type, and as such it's sometimes known by the moniker "normal skin." It ends to be oily in the "T-zone" -- across the eyebrows and down the nose -- and dry elsewhere. As such, it's easier to keep in balance than oily or dry skin, though as with any oily skin area, the T-zone may occasionally experience breakouts if not cared for properly. Your best bet for combination skin is to consistently deliver the moisturizers and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. You'll need to wash your face once or twice a day with a mild cleanser, though you might occasionally want to wash with a mild exfoliating cleaner to keep your pores unclogged. Be sure to rinse the cleanser off thoroughly with fresh, clean water. Follow that up with a skin toner to tighten and tone your pores, and finally, add the moisturizer that all skin types require. Oily skin lives up to its name: it's shinier than normal skin, with larger pores, and may seem thicker to the casual eye. The oiliness is caused by the overproduction of skin oil (sebum), which makes oily skin prone to clogged pores of all types. It can be a major battle to keep oily skin balanced and healthy-looking, but it responds well to regular exfoliation, deep-cleansing beauty masks, lightweight moisturizers, and the appropriate balancing ingredients to increase the skin's natural elasticity. Be careful not to overdo it, however: too many harsh cleaners can dehydrate your skin -- or worse, cause your pores to release more sebum, making your skin even oilier. In fact, in order not to damage your skin, you should hydrate it with natural products that are non-oily. Be sure to wash your face with a mildly exfoliating skin cleanser at least twice a day, and use an astringent or toner to tighten your pores and make them look smaller. Believer it or not, witch hazel extract works well, and it's cheap. Dry skin is basically skin that's parched and thirsty. It's tight, sensitive, and sometimes even flaky. It's all caused by pores that don't produce enough sebum, and can be worsened by hormones, aging, harsh detergents, and environmental factors. In order to return dry skin to a normal, healthy glow, you'll need to make sure that it's properly cleansed and hydrated. Use an exfoliating cleaner with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) on a daily basis. You can also use products with ceramides and lipids (types of fat molecules) to help dry skin remain supple and well-hydrated. Environmentally Damaged Skin is skin that has lost some of its natural suppleness and elasticity due to environmental damage -- usually wind, sun, smoking, and pollution, but stress can also contribute. Uneven skin tone, roughening, dryness, and premature aging are all part of the package. While treatment can vary according to the type of damage, it's a good idea to start with professional skin exfoliation and Vitamin C treatments, and to use supplements that promote the production of skin collagen to improve the skin elasticity.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Personal Care Site, part of Localwin Network.