Skincare Types: Secrets for Combination Skin Care

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2008

There are countless people who feels like their skin is confused and can't make up its mind. Maybe some parts of the face are shiny and greasy, while other parts feel normal or even dry.

Skincare-News.com's latest article, "Combination Skin: Characteristics, Causes and Care," solves the mystery with expert advice for product choice and developing a proper routine.
http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=488

Characteristics
Combination skin is characterized by a mixture of oiliness and dryness. Typically, the oily areas tend to be the T-zone, consisting of the forehead, nose and chin. The cheeks are normal to dry. Pores may be larger in the oily areas -- with pimples, blackheads and breakouts sometimes occurring -- and dry areas may feel rough and irritated.

To determine combination skin, take the "tissue test." Take a tissue and hold it against the face. If there's oil on the tissue where it touched the T-zone, but no oil where the tissue touched the cheeks, this is an indication of combination skin.

Causes
Many factors can cause combination skin, including hormones, age, genetics, the way in which lipids are organized in the skin and even the weather. Hormonal changes can lead to changes in skin's oiliness or dryness. Teens and young adults tend to have oilier skin, especially in the T-zone. Also, hormones change due to menstruation and the birth control pill, which can make skin oilier in certain areas. Finally, weather can exacerbate combination skin. Dry cold weather can cause skin to dry out and become irritated. Conversely, hot humid weather can increase oil production, on the T-zone as well as the cheeks.

Care Plan
Combination skin requires special care to balance the oily and dry areas of the face. Proper cleansing, treatment, moisturizing and sun protection are all necessary.

Cleansing: People with combination skin often have difficulty finding a cleanser that works for their unique skin needs. It's best to avoid products that are either too drying or too rich. Instead, use a foaming or gel cleanser to get rid of dirt and oil without causing irritation or dryness.

It is important to exfoliate the skin regularly to remove dry, dead, rough skin cells. These can flake off and block pores, causing blemishes and blackheads, so use a gentle and effective exfoliating product.

Treatments: Treatment products are another important skincare component, helping to balance the skin. Some experts advise using a hydrating/moisturizing mask on dry areas (cheeks) and a deep-cleaning clay mask on oily areas (T-zone). While using two different masks is certainly an option, some product lines manufacture masks specifically designed for combination skin. For those who suffer from breakouts, which may occur around the T-zone, it is also important to use acne treatment products with salicylic acid.

Moisturize: Moisturizing is especially important for drier areas of the face, but the entire face needs moisture. Just as with masks, it is easy to find a moisturizer specially designed for combination skin. Generally, experts recommend moisturizing dry areas twice a day and moisturizing oily areas once a day.

Sun Protection: Like all other skin types, combination skin needs protection from the sun. UVA and UVB rays can damage skin, so use oil-free sunblock all over the face daily (and on any other exposed areas).

Natural Treatments
Natural treatments such as aromatherapy oils, home-made exfoliants and masks may help treat combination skin. For example, try mixing essential oils like chamomile, lavender and ylang ylang (just a few drops) together with an oil-free moisturizer. These ingredients have antibacterial properties and may help to rid skin of dirt or bacteria.

Exfoliating treatments can be made at home by mixing and grinding nuts, seeds or oatmeal along with water. These will slough off dead, dry skin cells -- especially common around the cheeks. Add citrus peels from fruit -- like orange or grapefruit -- to the mix and apply it to the oily T-zone.

To make a mask for dry areas, use ingredients like yogurt, mashed bananas or avocados to moisturize. On oilier areas, try pureed strawberries and apples.

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About SkinCare-News.com -- "Your Source for Intelligent Skin Care"
Skincare-News.com is the online source for consumers seeking intelligent beauty and skin care news, advice, tips and articles. Founded in 2005, SkinCare-News.com features articles, news items and frequently asked questions on skincare and beauty related issues. SkinCare-News.com is located in Sacramento, California, but receives visitors from all around the world. For more information, visit http://www.skincare-news.com.

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