Skin care is a daunting task. Maintaining the proper health of your skin and maintaing it requires steady skin care. The skin quality can get affected by a number of factors such as climatic conditions, your period, skin care products that you use and so on. All these factors can contribute in making the skin appear drier or oilier than it actually is. In fact, a wrong choice of skin care products may just worsen the condition.
More often than not we are faced with severe skin care dilemmas that need to be dealt with. Here are some common skin concerns and ways you can avoid them.
Problem: Dry and Sensitive Skin
Dry skin is a result of lack of moisture which further results in flakiness and irritation. Women who have dry skin often complain of increased sensitivity as well. This is because the lack of moisture makes the skin more susceptible to any foreign ingredients and can lead to extreme reactions.
Solution
Dry skin needs to be supplied with intensive moisture. Therefore use a heavy creamy moisturizer that hydrates the skin and replenishes the lost moisture within the skin. Apart from this, keeping in mind the sensitivity of the skin, one should use a mild hydrating cleanser that gently cleans the skin without leaving it dry. Also, limit the use of toners and absolutely avoid using alcohol based toners. In addition, the use of sunscreen is a must. Use a sunscreen that contains at least an SPF 15 and offers broad spectrum protection against the UVA as well as the UVB rays of the sun.
Dry skin is more prone to exhibit the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. Therefore, it is advisable to start an anti-aging regimen early in order to prevent the signs.
Some Product Suggestions
Kinerase Cream – It is an amazing moisturizing cream that provides anti-aging benefits to the skin. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases the skin's capacity to retain moisture. Kinerase cream contains Kinetin, a plant based agent that helps the skin retain moisture.
iS Clinical Cleansing complex - It is a gentle cleanser that deep cleans the skin and removes all the impurities from the skin pores. Though it is powerful, it can be safely used on sensitive skin and does not leave the skin dry.
Innovative Skincare Treatment SPF 25 Sunscreen - It provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and repairs sun damage.
Problem: Combination Skin
Combination skin is one of the most problematic skin types. It is characterized by increased oiliness on the T-zone of the face (the forehead, nose and chin) while the rest of the face remains dry. Maintaining combination skin gets all the more difficult because the face requires two different kinds of treatments at the same time.
Solution
The key to maintain combination skin properlyis to treat different parts of the face differently. Use a creamy cleanser to wash your face so that all the impurities including the excess oil particles get removed without making the skin excessively dry. In addition, you have to exfoliate your face about twice a week and concentrate on the oily T-zone. However, do not forget to moisturize. Use a light moisturizer for your forehead and nose areas and a creamier one on the cheeks.
Also, if sunscreen lotions become too heavy, you can use powder sunscreen that protect the skin against sun damage and can be easily dabbed on the skin.
Some Product Suggestions
Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser – It is especially formulated for Normal to Dry skin types. It is a soap-free cleanser that gently removes impurities, oil and makeup and leaves the skin clean and fresh.
Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub – It scrapes off the dead skin cells and calms and hydrates the skin. With regular use, it reduces the appearance of visible imperfections caused by the sun and aging.
iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen – It is a revolutionary powder sunscreen that contains physical UV blockers comprising of 25% titanium dioxide and 20% zinc oxide. It provides sun protection against a vast spectrum of sunlight.
Problem: Oily and Acne Prone Skin
Oily skin is a result of excessive sebum production by the skin cells. Oily skin can further lead to acne breakouts and inflammations because of accumulated impurities within the skin pores. People with oily skin record excessive greasiness on their face which further attracts dirt particles and pollutants.
Solution
Oily skin needs skin care products that soak up the excessive oil on the skin and control oil production within the skin cells. Washing the face twice a day is an absolute must. If the oiliness gets too much, you can also rinse your face once more in the afternoon. However, oily skin is no excuse that you can skip moisturization. Oil and moisture are two different things. Even though your skin may have excessive oil, it would still need the requisite moisture. Use a lightweight oil-free moisturizer to moisturize your skin. In addition, you should use acne care products to treat the acne breakouts and inflammations.
Some Product Suggestions
Obagi C-Cleansing Gel – It cleans the skin thoroughly and removes all the accumulated impurities like dirt, debris, excess oil particles and make up residues. It contains Vitamin C that gently conditions the skin as well.
Dr. Marilynn Syrett is a physician who graduated from Western University of Health Sciences. She has an ardent interest in researching about various skin care products and has review many popular products from brand names like Clayton Shagal, NeoCutis, Obagi and iS Clinical.