Okay, I made this topic for those who don't know their skin type or don't know how to find it. I thought it might be a little useful for when you're buying facial products and such. I did some research and added some of my own knowledge to it. Enjoy!

To determine what skin type you have, take the 'skin test.' To do this, wash your face & pat it dry then take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper & press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots & become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose & chin) then you have combination or normal skin. About 70% of women have combination skin.

Here are the 5 different skin types & their characteristics.

Type 1: Oily skin tends to shiny with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads & blemishes. You might experience some tightness.

-Oily skin feels very greasy.
-The texture is often very thick and coarse.
-There are large, visible pores.
-After a wash it feels fine.
-By midday it looks shiny.
-Often break out in spots.

Caring for Oily Skin Type:

To care for oily skin you should start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture. Soak cotton wool in a gentle astringent lotion and sweep it over your skin to refresh and cool it. Even oily skin needs a moisturiser, but chose a light, watery fluid; this will be enough for your skin. Allow the moisturiser to sink in and then absorb the excess with a tissue to prevent shine.

Home remedies for oily skin
1) Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

2) Beat together 1 egg white, 1 tsp spirits of camphor, 1 heaping Tbsp skim milk powder and a scant drop of essential oil of mint. First apply a thin film of odorless castor oil to the skin , then apply a thick layer of the egg white mask. Lie back for about 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water, then rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution or witch hazel.



Type 2: Normal Skin

-Normal skin does not feel dry or oily.
-Pores are visible but not large or clogged.
-After a wash it feels smooth and comfortable.
-At midday it still looks fresh and clean.
-Only occasionally break out in spots.

Caring for Normal Skin Type:

To care for normal skin you should start with a gentle foaming facial wash. Massaging it into your face will give you a rosy complexion. Cool your skin with a refreshing toner. to finish dot moisturiser onto your skin and massage it with your fingers in light upward strokes.



Type 3: Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic & can be rashy.

-Sensitive skin can be easily irritated.
-Typical reactions are itching, burning, chafing and stinging.
-After a wash a wash it feels dry and itchy in places.
-By midday there are flaky patches and some redness.
-Occasionally break out in spots.

If you have sensitive skin do not use facial washes or soap; instead use a light, hypoallergenic cleansing lotion. Use a moisturiser to strengthen your skin and provide a barrier against irritants. Make sure you use an unperfumed moisturiser so as not to irritate your skin.

CLEANSERS

-Sweet almond and jojoba oil: massage gently, remove with warm cloth
-Papaya: mash and smooth over face, massage gently, remove

TONERS

-Herbal: 1oz dried/3 big handfuls fresh COMFREY, 600ml water. Heat herbs in water slowly, tightly covered. do not boil, remove from heat, infuse overnight. Use as a regular toner. Keep refrigerated, use within 3 days.

EXFOLIATORS

-grapefruit and oatmeal: add 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to the juice of a grapefruit. Mix to thick paste. Spread on face and leave on 15 minutes, remove with warm water.

MASKS

-grapes - mashed: cooling, soothing nourishing tonic.
-peach - mashed: soothing, texture refining
-cucumber and yoghurt: mashed together, add clay powder to smooth the mixture. Leave 10 minutes. Remove with lukewarm water. A cooling, soothing and toning mask.


Type 4:Dry skin feels tight, especially after cleansing, & have fine wrinkles, flaking & red patches. In women of color, skin may appear ashy or dull from dead skin buildup.

-skin has a thin and papery texture.
-It feels dry to touch.
-The pores are very fine.
-After a wash it feels tight, as though it is too small for the face.
-By midday flaky patches appear.
-Hardly ever break out in spots.

Caring for Dry Skin Type:

For dry skin use a creamy cleanser to melt away dirt. Leave it on your skin before sweeping it away with cotton wool. Splash cold water onto your face to clean and refresh your skin. Use a thick cream moisturiser to seal in as much moisture as possible.

Home remedies for dry skin
1) Make a puree of 1 banana and 1 papaya, peach or avacado. Apply to skin. Leave on for at least 20 minutes then rinse with warm water, followed by a moisturizer of natural margarine or natural vegetable oil.

2) Apply natural mayonnaise, either homemade or from natural foods store. Massage into skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes, rinse thoroughly with warm water.


Type 5: Combination skin is like having a split-personality. One part may be dry while another is oily. The term "T-zone" refers to combination skin types where the forehead, nose and chin are oily but the cheeks and the area around the eyes is either normal or dry. This will fit the majority of combination skin types except for a small percentage who may have symptoms such as a pimply forehead or cheeks that are dry where all else is normal.

-Combination skin is normal with a few dry patches and a few oily patches.
-Dryness is usually on the cheeks.
-Oiliness is usually on the T-zone.
-After a wash some areas feel dry and some smooth.
-By the midday the T-zone is shiny.
-Often break out in spots in the T-zone.
-Most women have combination skin.

Caring for Combination Skin Type:
If you have combination skin use a foaming facial wash in the mornings to cleanse your skin. This will keep the oily areas clean to prevent blackheads. In the evening use a cream cleanser to soothe your dry areas. This will keep a balance between excess dryness and excess oiliness. Use a strong astringent for your oily areas and a mild skin freshener for the dry areas. This is not an expensive option, as you will only need a little of each. Use moisturiser on your whole face, but make sure you concentrate on your drier areas.

Home remedies for Combination skin

1. Choose an oil-based eye makeup remover to clear away every trace of eye makeup from this delicate area which is prone to dryess. Use a cotton bud to remove any stubborn traces. Splash with cool water afterwards to rinse away any excess oil.

2. Use a foaming facial wash in the morning to cleanse your skin. This will ensure the oily areas are clean, and that the pores on your nose are kept clear to prevent blackheads and blemishes. Massage a little onto damp skin, concentrating on the oily areas. Leave for a few seconds to dissolve the dirt, then splash with cool water to remove the cleanser.

3. In the evening, switch to a cream cleanser, to ensure the dry areas of skin are kept clean and soothed on a daily basis. This will give you a balance between excess oiliness or excess dryness in your complexion. Massage well into your skin, concentrating on the drier areas, then gently remove with cotton-wool pads.

4. To freshen your skin, you need to buy two different strengths of toners to deal with the differing areas of skin. Choose a stronger astringent for the oily areas, and a mild skin freshner for the drier ones. This isn't as expensive as you think, because you'll only need to use a little of each. Sweep over your skin with cottonwool pads.

5. Smooth moisturizer onto your entire skin, concentrating on the drier areas. Then blot off any excess from the oily areas with a tissue. This will give all your skin the nourishment it needs.



That was really long. haha. I guess you should take the "Skin Test" and scroll down to your skin type to find out the best products and such for your skin.
If there any mistakes, please tell me.

I have combination skin. Ahhh it sucks.

Great topic though.

OILY skin. Eckk.

I got normal skin
Great topic I think I read this in a mag before but greta job for posting it

I'm combo skin to the max. It's horrible...argh!

Normal skin for me.

combination..

</3 oily skin

thanks for this topic. it shall help alot of people.

normal and sometimes sensitive. mostly normal though.

Glad everyone liked this topic. ^^
I have Combination skin.

Thanks for this its very useful. Now I know that I have combination skin .

Oily skin.

f**k.

Well, i use nozema product. It's not good enough. i add soft watery aloe vera moisturizer. It works a bit but not enough.


your topic is great! i know a friggen way to clean my face.

uhm my skin is dry..i hate it whel not that dry but a lil dry

This is a great topic, but it sounds like it should be in fashion/beauty.

oily skin. ew.

yoghurt and honey is also a good mask

Sensitive skin. I get rashes way too often.

There's a beauty forum?

^
Nope. There's a fashion subforum.

combination...

I've got combination skin. I hate it when my forehead and nose gets all oily..

great tips though i still dont know what skin type i am after trying the methods. Maybe i didnt take rice paper, but anyhow, i think im combination but I do what normal skin types do.

I have combination skin. I always thought I had oily though. Thanks for the info and tips. They are very useful.

Mine is a combination of dry and normal.
Good topic

I think I have combination skin but it's not like how you described it. Some days my face is really flakey and dry and then during school my face gets really oily later on in the day. I have to use moisturizer because without it my skin would feel too dry but it feels like it's the moisturizer that's making my skin feeling oily later on in the day. I'm so confused.

ohhh great topic.
helps alot