The T zone includes your forehead and your nose. Picture making a T, with the top of the T above your eyebrows and the length of the T along your nose.
Dry: Skin feels stretchy and taut, there are signs of flaky and dead skin after you’ve cleansed your face, and pores are small. With this skin type you’ll need to take extra care in moisturizing it. Oily: Shiny face and oil on the tissue, with large open pores. In order to achieve a glow with this face you’ll need to keep the oil production down by using lighter products. You don’t want your face to have a glow just from the oil! Combination: The tissue will be oily because of the T zone, but your cheeks and other parts of your face may be normal or dry. This is a very common skin type and can be treated easily. Normal: The tissue will have little oil and there will be no flakes of skin. This really just means that your face is healthy and produces an adequate amount of oil – not too much, not too little. You’ll still want to treat your face daily, though, to maintain its normalcy. Sensitive: This won’t necessarily show on your tissue, but it may show on your face after you’ve removed the tissue. Does your face look red or irritated? Do you often feel a burning sensation on your face after using facial care products? If this is the case, you likely have sensitive skin and will just need to take extra care when cleansing your face to make sure you don’t use products that are too harsh on your skin.
People who have more sensitive skin or dry skin should only do this once per day, as cleansing your skin too much can dry it out even more and cause it to be more irritated. If you have dry skin, try following CTM in the morning and then removing your makeup and moisturizing your face at night before you go to bed. Remember that exfoliating is also important. Exfoliate using a face scrub or an enzyme exfoliant two to three times a week for normal or oily skin, and one to two times a week for dry or sensitive skin.
Make sure you get a cleanser suited for your skin type. When buying a cleanser there will often be information on the bottle explaining what type of skin type the cleanser is good for. You can also use natural facial cleansers that will probably be less irritating on your face. A cream cleanser is more hydrating so it may feel more refreshing on your face and can be better if you have dry skin. However, you can also use a gel cleanser if you have more oily skin or want to remove makeup. Always remove makeup before going to bed, even if you usually cleanse your face in the morning. Leaving any makeup on your face while you sleep will leave your face feeling more oily in the morning and can clog pores. You can use makeup remover or cleansing wipes to quickly remove any eye or face makeup.
If your skin is dry or sensitive, be careful when using toner so it doesn’t dry out your skin even more and always test toner out on a small area to see how it affects your skin. Some toners may be stronger than others so you’ll want to read the bottles and do some research on what toner is best for dry or sensitive skin.
When you are stressed your body releases stress hormones including cortisol, which triggers an increase in skin’s oil production, leading to increased acne. [5] X Research source Stress may cause you to make involuntary muscle contractions that can lead to the formation of wrinkles and frown lines. While this can be treated with Botox or other medical procedures, it is best to keep your stress levels to a minimum. Getting adequate sleep can also lower stress levels. When you lose an hour of sleep your risk of psychological stress increases by 14%. Imagine losing four hours of sleep in one night— that increases your chances by over 50%! Try to aim for seven hours of sleep so that you don’t run the risk of developing acne from stress related to inadequate rest. [6] X Research source
A diet that is high in refined sugars, also known as a high glycemic index diet, can also cause breakouts, so read nutritional labels and try to avoid foods that are high in these sugars. [7] X Research source
Selenium – It’s a mineral that helps protect your skin from gaining free radicals that can cause wrinkling, dryness, and some diseases. You can find these minerals in foods like Brazilian nuts, shrimp, lamb, tuna, salmon, whole wheat pasta, light turkey, and cooked beef. Antioxidants–These also prevent free radicals from entering your body. Colorful fruits and vegetables like berries, tomatoes, spinach, beets, squash, and sweet potatoes all have antioxidants. CoQ10 – This is a key antioxidant that decreases in your body as you get older. You can find this in salmon, tuna, poultry, liver, and whole grains. Some skincare products also contain this to prevent wrinkles. Vitamin A – This prevents dry, flaky skin and can be found in carrots, cantaloupes, and oranges along with leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy foods. You can also purchase prescription acne products that contain Vitamin A called retinoids that will help treat wrinkles and brown spots. Vitamin C – This helps protect you from the sun and prevent sun damage. [9] X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandyman Expert Interview. 2 July 2020. Find this vitamin in citrus fruits, red bell peppers, papayas, kiwis, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Vitamin E – This is another antioxidant that can help save your skin from sun damage and prevent inflammation. Eat foods like nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, olives, spinach, asparagus, and leafy greens to obtain this vitamin. Healthy fats – Yes, some fats are good for you! Look for Omega-3s and Omega-6s to help create your skin’s natural oil barrier, which keeps away dryness and blemishes while also making your skin look younger and smoother. You can find these fatty acids in olive and canola oils, flaxseeds, walnuts, and cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Green tea – This is considered a “magic potion” for your skin because it can help stop inflammation, slow DNA damage, and prevent sun damage.
Just like any organ in your body, the skin is made up of cells that, without water, will not function properly. Skin is one of the last organs to be reached by water you have drunk, so make sure you drink an adequate amount so that it hydrates your skin. [11] X Trustworthy Source University of Wisconsin Health Integrated healthcare system of the University of Wisconsin focused on treating and providing support to patients and public health initiatives Go to source
Anytime you go outside, put sunscreen on. Sunscreens are made for different skin types as well, so if you have oily skin, find a lighter sunscreen with ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, and zinc oxide. You can also search for a label that says noncomedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores. [15] X Research source
Your cell phone also carries a lot of germs and oils that can easily attach to your face. The heat produced by your cell phone can multiply bacteria and when you put it to your face to talk on the phone you are being exposed to much of that bacteria. Get into the practice of cleaning your phone with a wipe or hand sanitizer once a day. [16] X Research source
If your skin tone is between two shades, choose the shade slightly lighter than your skin.
Make sure to use just the right amount. If you use too much concealer and don’t rub it in well, you will only draw attention to your blemishes. On the other hand, if you use too little, you won’t be able to cover up your blemishes or problem areas adequately.
A kabuki brush can be found at most drug stores in the cosmetic section. It has a dome-shaped head for wide, even coverage with short, dense bristles.
