Understanding Your Skin

Knowing your real skin type and understanding your true coloring are the first and most important steps you can take toward using cosmetics effectively and making the most of every feature.

In this section, easy-to-follow charts, diagrams, and comprehensive color palettes for all types of complexions allow you to find out exactly what makeup will work for you and why. If you get the basics right, you will be well on your way  to achieving the very best from your makeup every time.

Discovering Your Skin Type

The first, most important step you can take toward caring for your skin properly is to choose the right cleansing products for your particular skin type. The skin on your face is under constant attack from both inside and out, with elements such as the sun and wind causing wrinkles to develop prematurely, and poor diet leading to acne and oiliness. Factors such as stress, pollution, and the changing seasons can also take their toll.

making skin look dull, flaky, and lifeless. To combat these enemies, skin needs to be well cared for throughout your life. Moreover, as cleansers, loners, and moisturizers become increasingly sophisticated, it is especially important to use the right one for your skin type. Examine your skin first thing in the morning, then use the chart below to assess which type you are and discover which kinds of products to use and which to avoid.

Characteristics of different skin types

Cleansing

1 normal skin

Looks: Clear with an even Icxiurc. Feels: Soil and smooih.

Problems: Pimples may occasionally break out. particularly around the chin and nose: dry patches can develop if skin is not cleansed and moisturized.

Use a creamy liquid or cream cleanser, a water-soluble cleanser or gentle facial soap.

dry skin

Looks: "Thin" or papery with fine pores, and is prone to broken veins on the checks.

Feels: Tight after cleansing, and can read by becoming red and blotchy.

Problems: Lacks moisture because skin does not produce enough sebum, the skin's lubricating oil.

Develops lines more easily than other skin types.

Use a cream cleanser, a very rich liquid cleanser, or a moisturizing, nonperfumed soap, bui rinse off ihoroughly.

oily or combination skin

Looks: Shiny and greasy, combination skin has only palchcs of oiliness. particularly around the nose, chin, and forehead.

Feels: Uneven and rough.

Problems: Prone lo pimples, blackheads, and enlarged pores; combination skin may have patches of dryness on the cheeks, as well as acne.

Use a light lotion or a milk cleanser; treat severe skin eruptions with a medicated liquid cleanser.

Looks: Clear, but easily becomes red and blotchy. Feels: Hot, burning, or stinging when irriiated. Problems: Reacts when it comes into contact with an allergen or an irritant, cither externally or internally; can develop swellings, bumps under the skin, and flakincss.

Use a hypoallcrgenic cleanser thai is free of possible irritants or allergic substances. Avoid using soap, which can strip away the skin's protective layer and so make ii more sensitive. (Sec also pages 58-59.)

tut skin's structure

The skin is the body's largest organ and its main function is to provide a protective covering, although it also regulates body temperature and registers touch, pressure, and pain. It is made up of thousands of components, including sweat glands, oil-producing (sebaceous) glands, blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, collagen fibers, fai cells, and sweat pores. The visible skin on the surface of the body is only a small pan of this complex organ. Skin has three layers: the epidermis (the top outer layer), the dermis (true skin), and the hypodermis (the bottom layer).

The epidermis is the body's waterproof covering and consists of dead and dying cells thai are constantly being replaced by new skin cells formed in the dermis.

The dermis is situated underneath the epidermis and contains most of the skin's living structures, such as blood vessels, nerve endings, and sebaceous and sweat glands. 1 also includes collagen fibers, which give the shin strength and resilience.

The hypodermis is the deepest layer. ft is composed mainly of fat cells, which cushion the blood, lymph, and nervous systems, and help preserve body heat.

 (source: Dk publishing Inc - Classic Makeup and Beauty - Mary Quant)