Hydration should be an integral part of everyone's daily skin care (especially when it comes to facial skin). In fact, it allows to restore its hydro-lipid balance and can leave it softer and smoother to the touch. Adequate hydration helps keep it supple for longer and delay the signs of skin aging. Identify your skin type, choose the right products and follow specific guidelines to care for and moisturize it properly.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the various skin types
Step 1. Learn to identify the typical characteristics of normal skin, which is first of all characterized by the absence of imperfections
Normal skin is neither too oily nor too dry. If you have this type of skin, the pores are likely to be barely visible and you are unlikely to suffer from pimples, irritation or sensitivity caused by skin care products. The complexion of people with normal skin tends to be radiant and free from blemishes.
If you have normal skin, you won't need any specific treatments, but you should still apply a moisturizer after washing
Step 2. Learn to recognize the classic symptoms of dry skin
If the skin is dry, then it is dry to the touch and perhaps even inelastic when the muscles of the face are moved quickly or try to stretch them. Dry skin may appear flaky and sometimes on the verge of peeling. Cracks may form accompanied by bleeding, and she can also be visibly dehydrated.
- Many people suffer more from dryness in the winter, due to climate change.
- In the event of dryness, the surface of the skin may also appear dull and have marked fine lines or wrinkles.
Step 3. Recognize if you have oily skin
Immediately after washing your face, oily skin does not stay dull for a long time. It tends to get shiny again pretty quickly. The skin will appear shiny due to the greasy matter produced by the sebaceous glands; moreover, the pores are dilated and are quite visible on the central area of the face. Oily skins are also predisposed to the formation of impurities.
Oily skin is more common among young people. The epidermis tends to dry out over the years
Step 4. Determine if you have combination skin
If you have oily skin in the T-zone (nose, eye-brow area, forehead, chin), while it is dry on the rest of your face, then it is mixed.
- If you have combination skin, you will need to properly moisturize the different areas. Follow the specific guidelines for oily skin in the T-zone, while for the rest of the face you should follow the guidelines given for dry skin.
- Combination skin is usually characterized by pores that appear larger than normal due to dilation. This can also cause more frequent breakouts and impurities.
Part 2 of 3: Moisturize Dry Facial Skin
Step 1. Avoid washing your face too often if you have dry skin
Frequent washing will dry out even more. In fact, using more water won't help hydrate it. At the time of washing it is preferable to use lukewarm water.
- When you shower or wash your face, use lukewarm rather than hot water;
- Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser;
- Try removing makeup and dirt residues with a micellar solution if you want to clean your face without water;
- Avoid using hot or cold water when washing your face. Exposing the skin to extreme temperatures can cause dryness, irritation or even rupture of blood vessels.
Step 2. Exfoliate your skin using a mild chemical
Avoid using exfoliating products with large grains, such as dried fruit shells and sugar. Instead, opt for a mild chemical exfoliant. This will help remove dead skin cells and bring out the new layer of skin underneath, which is smoother and softer. Make small circular movements while applying the product. Rinse it well with warm water and pat your skin dry to dry.
- Apply the moisturizer immediately after exfoliation;
- Exfoliate your skin only once or twice a week.
Step 3. Use a specific moisturizer for dry skin
Start by using a product formulated for dry or chapped skin. If you think your skin is only slightly dry, choose one designed for normal to dry skin. Opt for a light moisturizer during the day and a more full-bodied moisturizer in the evening, like an intensive product.
- If you want to use a natural ingredient, choose an oil, such as olive or coconut.
- You should also look for moisturizers with ingredients that are good for dry skin, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, urea, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, lanolin, glycerin, petrolatum and mineral oil.
- For dry skin, creams are preferable to lotions, as they contain more oil; consequently, they are more suitable for retaining water and promoting proper hydration.
Step 4. Apply the moisturizer immediately after washing your face
It is important to put it on immediately after washing, so that it absorbs better and helps to retain any water left on your face after washing it. Apply it evenly and let it act for a few minutes, until you start to feel more hydration. You can later put on your makeup.
Don't apply too much, otherwise it will be a waste of product. Using more will not give you any additional benefits
Step 5. Apply sunscreen every day
A broad spectrum moisturizing sunscreen (which protects against both UVA and UVB rays) will protect you from burns and sun damage, which age your skin. It will also prevent it from drying out further.
Apply sunscreen in the morning to moisturize your face. You shouldn't need any additional creams. However, if you want to use another moisturizer, put sunscreen on first. Wait a few minutes for it to dry, then apply the moisturizer on top
Step 6. Make a face mask
Face masks are effective for treating all skin disorders, including dryness. If you have dry skin, don't do this treatment more than twice a month. To combat dryness problems it is good to use a mask that contains one of the following ingredients:
- Olive oil;
- Argan oil;
- Coconut oil;
- Honey;
- Egg yolk;
- Carrots;
- Tomatoes.
Part 3 of 3: Moisturize Oily Facial Skin
Step 1. Wash your face twice a day
If you have oily skin, you should wash it a little more often than if you have dry skin. It is preferable to wash your face twice a day with a special soap. However, avoid doing this more often, or you risk making the situation worse. Do not use hot water or steam, as high temperatures deprive the skin of essential fatty acids.
- Also, since oily skin is the most prone to acne (due to the high amount of sebum trapped in the pores), it is best to use a face soap that contains tea tree oil, lemon or salicylic acid.
- Over-washing can dry out the skin, causing it to produce more sebum to compensate.
Step 2. Exfoliate your skin once or twice a week
Choose a chemical formulated for oily skin. Apply it in small circular motions, then rinse with warm water. Pat your skin dry with a towel and apply a moisturizer to finish.
Avoid using mechanical exfoliants, which often contain nut shells and other potentially irritating ingredients. Prefer chemical ones to perform the procedure more gently
Step 3. Use a moisturizing lotion formulated for oily skin
Look for a product suitable for normal to oily skin. It is wrong to think that oily skin should not be hydrated, you just need to choose targeted products. However, only use water-based ones to avoid greasing the skin.
- Lotions are preferable for oily skin because they do not contain the oils typically added to moisturizers.
- Although some recommend using various types of oils to cleanse oily skin, most experts argue that this method can do more harm than good, often causing impurities and other types of skin damage.
Step 4. Remember to apply sunscreen
To protect your skin, thereby preventing damage and burns, you need to make sure you use sunscreen every day. If it's oily, look for an oil-free formula specifically designed for your face.
- The cream should offer broad spectrum coverage and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
- If you have oily skin and use sunscreen, this product should be enough to moisturize it. There is no need to layer it with a moisturizer.
Step 5. Improve the skin texture by making a mask
Using mattifying or exfoliating masks regularly will help you improve skin texture. In the case of oily skin, this treatment should be done a maximum of twice a week. You can use ready-made or homemade masks. Both types can give excellent results.
- To find out more, read this article.
- If you have oily skin, use a face mask that contains one of the following ingredients: lemon, avocado, egg whites, cucumber, or milk.
