How To Take Care of Your Delicate Skin

Taking good care of your skin isn’t just important for your appearance – it’s crucial for your health, too. As the largest organ you have, your skin is vital to your general health. 

Skin is delicate, and unfortunately, not everyone takes good care of theirs. 

Fortunately, learning how to take care of your skin is easy and simple. However, skin care involves more than just cleaning it and using lotion. It also involves getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, having a healthy diet, and managing stress levels. Your unique skin type may also determine any additional treatments as well, such as using moisturizing masks or exfoliating scrubs. 

If you take care of your skin, it can help take care of you. Plus, the resulting healthy and glowing complexion is worth the effort! 

In this article, you’ll learn all about how to take care of your skin. 

Types of Skin

The most important step in taking care of your skin comes in understanding your unique skin type. 

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it is as complex as your lungs, heart, and other vital organs. Using treatments and cleansers that are too harsh, even if they are recommended for excessive oiliness, may trigger your skin to produce more oil. Conversely, applying moisturizers that are too heavy or thick can result in decreased natural oil production, resulting in even drier skin. 

Identifying your skin type – and your skin’s specific needs – will help you choose the right treatment options that will result in a healthier, more radiant complexion. 

Every person’s skin is unique, but there are a few common skin types that may help you identify where your skin fits in the most. The main types of skin are:

• Normal Skin. Normal skin is neither too dry nor too oily. It has balanced sebum production and good blood circulation. 

• Dry Skin. Dry skin is characterized by a rough, flaky texture. At times, it can feel tight and cause irritation. 

• Oily Skin. Oily skin is characterized by a shiny, greasy appearance. It is caused by excess sebum production. People with oily skin are prone to acne breakouts. 

• Combination Skin. Combination skin is a mix of dry skin and oily skin. Typically, in people with combination skin, the cheeks are dry while the T-zone is oily.

• Sensitive Skin. Sensitive skin is skin that is easily irritated. People with sensitive skin may have strong reactions to fragrances, dyes, and chemicals present in products that come into contact with the skin. 

How to Know Your Skin Type

Do you want to know whether you have normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin? Here are some things you can do to determine your skin type.  

• Blotting Sheet Method

The blotting sheet method is a great differentiator between dry and oily skin types. Simply pat a blotting paper on the different areas of your face. Then, hold the sheet up to the light to determine how much oil is visible. If the sheet got little to no oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet picks up oil from the forehead and nose areas, your skin is normal/combination. If the blotting paper is full of oil, it is very likely that you have oily skin. 

• Barefaced Method

Thoroughly cleanse your face with a mild cleanser. Gently pat dry and leave your skin bare – and don’t apply any additional treatments, serums, or moisturizers. Then after 30 minutes, examine your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin for any shine. After another 30 minutes, check whether your skin feels tight, especially if you smile or make any other facial expressions. If your skin feels tight, you likely have dry skin. If you notice a shine on your forehead or nose, your skin is likely normal/combination. If you notice a shine on your forehead, nose, and cheeks, you likely have oily skin. 

Here are other ways to determine what your skin type is:

• People with normal skin don’t experience many breakouts. Your skin doesn’t tend to negatively react to weather changes or new products. Your skin is firm. You don’t feel like you have to constantly blot oil from your face all day long. 

• People with dry skin often experience flakiness, cracks, and itchiness. Your skin may feel tight and have a paper appearance. 

• People with oily skin often have a shiny complexion. You’re likely no stranger to mattifying powders or blotting sheets. 

• People with combination skin often have an oily T-zone (the area across the forehead and down the line of the nose) and normal or dry skin on the rest of the face. 

• People with sensitive skin experience frequent rashes and bumps, has skin that flushes easily, experiences stinging or burning after using a skin care product, or has patches of flaky and irritated skin. 

How to Take Care of Your Skin

Once you know your skin type, you’ll have a better idea of how to take care of it. Below, we list down some general skin care tips to help you achieve a healthier, more radiant complexion. 

1. Eat and drink with your skin in mind. 

No matter how many luxurious products you slather on your skin, if you don’t eat a healthy diet, you’ll find it hard to achieve healthy, glowing skin. To get that healthy glow, you also need to supply your body with beauty-boosting vitamins and minerals. Plus, there are some foods that you may want to avoid to prevent certain skin issues. 

You also have to make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day – it’s a skin care must. If you don’t drink enough water, it can make your skin look dull and dry, and emphasize fine lines. Aim to drink at least 2 liters of water a day. 

2. Limit your time in the sun. Always apply sunscreen to help protect your skin from sun damage – whether you’re going out or not (sun rays can still go through windows!). About 90% of skin aging is caused by the sun, and not to mention the scarier risk of skin cancer. So, make sure to always apply a sunscreen – even on cloudy or rainy days – with SPF 30 or above that protects against both UVA and UVB damage. 

3. Make sure you know how to properly layer your skin care products. If you’re using several skin care products, make sure that you know how to layer them properly. If you don’t apply your skin care products in the right order, you could prevent them from being absorbed properly, which means that they won’t be as effective. The general rule of thumb is to apply the most lightweight formulas first so they can be absorbed easily without the barrier of heavier creams. To avoid piling, give your skin a few minutes to absorb the product first before moving onto thicker creams.

4. Don’t apply too much product. When it comes to skin care, more is not always better. For instance, if you apply too much moisturizer, it could potentially block your pores. Plus, it’s a waste of both product and money considering your skin won’t be able to absorb it all anyway. 

5. Shower and wash your face with lukewarm water. The oil in our skin has a wax-like consistency and using hot water to shower or wash your face essentially ‘melts’ the oil, stripping the skin of its much-needed moisture. Showering or washing your face with lukewarm water is ideal because it allows the oil in your skin to warm up a bit, allowing a proper cleanse without completely stripping it. 

6. Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase. You can’t rub a wrinkle into your skin, but you can cause them while sleeping. If you’re a side sleeper, you can be rubbing your face into your pillow, putting friction between the fabric and your skin. This friction creates creases which can result in wrinkles. However, if you sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase, the fabric allows your skin to ‘slip’, thus minimizing the chance of creating wrinkles.

7. Never forget to do a patch test. Before you start using any product, make sure to always do a patch test. By doing a patch test, you can avoid the risk of irritation or an allergic reaction. To do a patch test, simply apply a small amount of product to your inner arm to check how your skin reacts to the formula. 

8. Don’t use expired products. This might be a no-brainer, but its worth repeating: Never used expired skin care products. Don’t use products past their expiry dates – your beloved beauty products harbor bacteria, and these can lead to irritations and infections, not to mention, they no longer perform as well. After a while, products can produce harmful toxins that can be dangerous, not just to your skin, but to your overall health. As a general rule, if you can’t remember when you bought your foundation, eyeliner, or face cream – get rid of it!

The Bottom Line

Healthy, glowing skin is achievable – no matter what your skin type. With the right skin care products, treatment options, and a little TLC, you can achieve that healthy and glowing complexion you’ve always wanted.