Maintaining a great exterior? We spend tons of time and money on the exterior of our cars and homes, yet how much time and thought do we pay our most important exterior—our skin?Our skin the largest organ of our body: it protects from disease,sun,and allows vital nutrients to enter our system. Knowing what type of skin you have is necessary when trying to make the correct skin care decisions. There are 4 basic skin types : normal/ combination, oily, dry, and sensitive. Here is a simple test to determine what type of skin you have: wash your face, pat it dry, and wait 15 min then take a piece of rice paper or lens cleansing paper and press it on different areas of your face.

Normal /Combination- If the tissue sticks in your T-zone but not on your cheeks your skin is normal/combination. This means you have oily and dry patches of skin. This type of skin tends to have a smooth even texture, good circulation, and healthy color. If you have this skin type you may have to use a combination of skin care products to treat the different types of skin, such as a heavier cream for your cheeks and an oil free cream for your T-zone.

Oily skin- if your skin is oily the tissue will stick to your skin, pick up oily spots and become translucent. Oily skin tends to have large pores and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. The good thing about oily skin is that it ages better than other skin types. People with oily skin should stay away from heavy creams and cosmetics with oil in them.

Dry- If your skin is dry the tissue will be completely clean with no oily spots. Your skin will feel frequently tight and flakey, and you will have small pores. This skin type needs thorough treatment and care to keep it healthy and to help it age well. Heavy cream cleansers and moisturizers are the best for treating dry skin. Also frequent facials for exfoliation and getting professional grade treatment masks are ideal for dry skin.

Sensitive or Sensitized Skin- This skin type tends to be dry, feel tight, and get red and irritated easily. It is very fragile and needs careful care and treatment. Facials are excellent for treating sensitive skin because they use calming and cooling masks that soothe easily irritated skin.

Whatever skin type you might have a skin care professional can easily assess what type of treatment you might need and what products and cosmetics suite your skin type best.