Putting together an effective skin care regimen can be challenging because there are so many options. Figuring out what type of skin you have and how to care for it most effectively can help you get the clear, glowing skin you want with less stress.
Identification
Finding the best facial skin care for you depends on two specific factors: skin type and skin tone. Your skin type may be normal, oily or dry. To figure out your type, wash your face with a cleanser meant for normal skin and evaluate your skin after an hour. If it's already shiny, your skin is oily. If it feels tight, you probably have dry skin; and if it feels just fine, your skin is probably normal. Determining your skin tone is even easier. If your skin is pale, you're fair. If it's somewhere between light beige and dark tan, you have medium skin tone. And if your skin is darker than that, you have a dark skin tone.
Basic Skin Care
Your everyday skin care regimen should keep your skin clean and hydrated and be based on your skin type. If you have normal skin, a gentle cleanser and moisturizer should work fine, says Ava Shamban, a dermatologist in Santa Monica, in "Real Simple" magazine. Dry skin needs a moisturizing cleanser and a moisturizer that contains super-hydrating ingredients, like ceramides or hyaluronic acid, says Fran Cook-Bolden, a dermatologist in New York City. If you have oily skin, you'll need a pore-clearing cleanser that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid and a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that won't clog your pores, says Leslie Baumann, author of "The Skin Type Solution."
Special Skin Care Needs
Your skin tone will help you decide what skin care you need beyond the basics. If you have fair skin, you're prone to sensitivity and sun damage, notes "Cosmopolitan" magazine, so opt for gentle products and apply sunscreen every time you head outside. Medium-skinned people may have more issues with facial hair and hyperpigmentation, so "Cosmopolitan" recommends using a hair-inhibiting lotion and fading cream that contains hydroquinone. Dark skin can get ashy when it's too dry, so moisturizer is essential, and since dark skin may be more prone to ingrown hairs, regular exfoliating is a must.
Considerations
Whatever your skin type, daily use of broad-spectrum sunscreen designed to block both UVA and UVB rays is essential, reports the beauty department at "Elle" magazine. Sunscreen should be the first step in any facial skin care regimen.
Expert Insight
As you start to notice wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and other signs of aging on your face, you may want to add anti-aging products to your skin care regimen. "Real Simple" magazine recommends using a daytime antioxidant treatment to target free radicals that cause damage and a nighttime retinoid to stimulate collagen production and prevent sagging skin.
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