Skin Care

Guide to skin care products for your skin type

There is a wide market for skin care products, and many brands produce different varieties of the same basic facial skin care range—different scents and ingredients but the same basic packaging and design.

Some people may need to use a great many skin care products, while others seem to get away with using only soap and water. However, the importance of looking young prompts many women to shop around for anti-aging skin care products.

Natural skin care

A recent fashion for organic ingredients has also increased interest in natural skin care ingredients, particularly plants and minerals. These are supposed by some to reach into the lower dermis more easily, fending off signs of aging, among other things.

Natural skin care products are generally believed to be less toxic and completely unadulterated, so under these products' care, skin is bound to be more healthy and better-looking. Many natural products also emphasise their use of organic or naturally sourced products, which some believe are better suited to sensitive or dry skin care.

Oily skin care

While dry skin gets a lot of attention, particularly from the moisturizer companies, oily skin has a set of problems all of its own. Many people suffer from oily skin at some point in their adult lives; in fact, oily skin is as common in the 30s and 40s as it is in puberty.

Oily skin tends to bring with it acne, whiteheads and milia, so keeping the skin clean is essential to avoiding unsightly blemishes. Sometimes, though, oily skin can be caused by the very cleansers and powders that are designed to clear oil from the face—they are too harsh and do more harm than good. Stripping the skin of oils can cause reactive seborrhoea, where the body produces more oil to compensate. A natural soap with no artificial perfumes is probably a good start to oily skin care. A cleansing mask may also help prevent pores from becoming clogged and can be followed by an antiseptic cream if the face appears spotty. Oil-free moisturizer can be used morning and night to prevent the loss of natural oils.