i don't know how to "know" my skin type
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free skin care · Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:48 pm

well after getting accustomed to everything this forum has to say about skin care, i now know even LESS about my own skin! haha Laughing

but the greatest part about it is that i am going to start from the ground up! it seems like you all really know your own, individual skin type inside and out. that's rather impressive. rarely does a person understand a part of their body so well that they know just how it will react to certain chemicals. most of you seem completely comfortable putting cooking ingredients from the kitchen on your face! i, on the other hand, wouldn't dream of applying anything to my skin unless it comes in a shiny bottle from the beauty aisle. this forum truly is a miniature science laboratory because the majority of you have a basic understanding of the ingredients that work best on your skin! it all makes so much sense now! the more i get to know myself (skinwise) the better off i'll be.
anyway, my endless rambling really does have a point. since i'm really only starting a serious skin routine now, i feel as if it might be wise to go to a specialist -- not a dermatologist specifically, but i've heard of estheticians? all i really know about my skin is information i got from a magazine: after cleansing, if your face still feels taut after 15 seconds, you are a dry skin type. THAT'S ME! yep, i have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to this stuff. yeah right! so if anyone can help me out with the very first step as to who i should see (salon, doctor, ...) i'd be incredibly grateful! thanks so much and keep on staying beautiful!

free skin care · Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:02 pm

Well, it is certainly worth a try, however, I wouldn't necessarily believe everything that they had to say. They will, after all, probably try to sell you something that is *perfect*, for your skin type. Wink

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my esthetician and trust her completely, however, I went through many bad ones before I found this one, and got some bad advice along the way. The best way to learn about your skin, is to listen to it, IMO.

What are you using on your skin now, may I ask? I used to be the same with moisturizer and thought I *needed* it. Not say that I don't need moisture, however, I was indeed over-moisturizing. That caused my skin to stop its own oil production. I was completely reliant on creams.

free skin care · Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:57 am

right now, i'm cleansing my face with a non-foaming, mild cleanser because i figured out that suds dry out my skin way too much. then i put on spf 45 sunscreen. that's pretty much it except for a hydration mask that i use from time to time.

free skin care · Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:10 pm

You could try cleansing with oil. I haven't got into the oil cleansing method exactly, but I use jojoba oil (rosebud's recommendation) for cleansing when my skin is feeling dry or seeming stressed out. I just put some on a cotton thingy and wipe...usually I do it about 3 times, until I can wipe it and there is no dirt on the cotton.

You may also want to consider a Vit C serum, like Vivier or PSF or Cellular Skin Rx. I think everyone should use a Vit C serum, and the these ones are also a bit moisturizing. Simple is good, but maybe your routine is not giving your skin quite enough.

free skin care · Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:36 pm

Quote:

The best way to learn about your skin, is to listen to it, IMO.

Well said Faith! That's really the heart of all skincare matters.

Jaime, good call in switching to a milder cleanser! A strong cleanser will overstrip your skin and may damage the natural lipid barrier that holds moisture in. IMHO it is best to go for the mildest one that does the job.

Faith (again), I was just reading about a study that found that 3X a day application of moisturizer on the arms resulted in a marked increase in susceptibility to irritation.

free skin care · Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:09 am

crazyskin wrote:

I was just reading about a study that found that 3X a day application of moisturizer on the arms resulted in a marked increase in susceptibility to irritation.

That is really interesting! I am not surprised either. I think that many people (including myself) see dryness as something to be slathered over and fixed. Really though, I think that rebalancing your skin naturally, although its tough, is the best approach. IS Clinical ProHeal is what really helped to change my skin to normal. This is really the best for my skin, alothough absolutely kills my credit card. Wink

Dr. H Rythmic Nights helped me tremendously in the process. Now, ACV toner and the occasional application of oil (jojoba, emu...) keep flaky skin at bay. Smile

free skin care · Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:03 am

Faith, there are soooo many products out there making all sorts of (sometimes unfounded) claims. If you factor in individual differences in how skin reacts the situation becomes even more difficult. Its no small achievement for you to have found the right products, that's great! Very Happy

free skin care · Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:56 am

15 seconds isn't long enough to tell Jaime. More like 15-20 minutes. Everyones skin feels taut immediately after washing. If you still don't know after 15 mins, go to cosmeticscop website and read the parts on skin facts.

free skin care · Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:28 am

i know, i realized that i goofed that. the magazine says 15 minutes! you're right!

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