How many times have you looked at your celebrity idol and sighed at the sight of his/her flawless skin? The secret to a healthy, glowing skin is not really a secret. It starts with a simple understanding of the type and need.
Meeta Awatramani, Training manager, Clarins-India, shares the right way to care for your skin.
How do you identify different skin types?
Identifying your skin type is crucial to recommending the perfect skin care programme.
Dry skin feels tight, particularly after cleansing and sometimes itches. It has a matte appearance and a rough feel. Sometimes it can show redness. This is due to insufficient production of the natural sebum causing sensitivity.
Combination skin shines on the t-zone (forehead/nose and chin) while the cheeks are drier and uncomfortable (The reverse can happen in a few cases). Make-up tends to disappear while open pores, blackheads and blemishes are present on the shiny area.
Oily skin is oily and shiny all over the face and leads to break outs. Make-up never stays on while open pores, blackheads and whiteheads are dominant. This is primarily due to excessive production of sebum that clogs the pores and provides a breeding ground for bacteria.
Dehydrated skin lacks a healthy glow and is mainly due to insufficient or lack of moisture in the skin. It feels tight and uncomfortable showing fine horizontal lines like creased tissue paper. Skin can be flaky, uneven and sallow. Dehydration is the main hazard in cities and is due to stress, spending long hours in air conditioned/over-heated environments, pollution, insufficient intake of water, medication and climatic factors. All skin types can be dehydrated.
What is a good skin care routine for each type for both men and women?
The basic regime is the same: cleanse, tone and moisturise; exfoliate and apply face mask twice a week. However for women it's a little more elaborate. It has been said that a woman's skin is about 15 years older than a man of the same age!
However, men are less sun savvy than women, meaning they don't use sunscreens. Therefore it is important for them to use products specifically designed and formulated to meet the needs of a man's skin.
What's the skin care routine for someone who wears make-up regularly?
Before wearing make-up it's extremely important to prepare your skin. Do not forget to set the foundation with loose powder. For impeccable finish, it is recommended to apply the foundation with the brush. Never forget to remove your make-up in the night followed by the routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturiser before hitting the bed.
Speaking of make-up, how do you choose the right shade of foundation?
The right shade is the one closest to your skin tone. To do so apply on the jaw line and on the nose- the colour should blend easily with your natural skin tone.
How important is it for men to take care of their skin?
Men do not need a skincare routine because it's not masculine! And that's definitely not true! Apart from a slightly thicker epidermal layer compared to women, men also have all the skin issues that women do! In today's competitive society, men who groom themselves tend to do better than those who don't!
Besides facial hair, there are structural differences between a man's skin and a woman's. Androgen (testosterone) stimulation causes an increase in skin thickness, which accounts for a man's skin being 25 per cent thicker than a woman's.
Also a man's skin texture is tougher. Sebum (oil) and its production also differ. After puberty, sebum production is greater in males than females, which is attributed to androgen secretions and accounts for men having longer lasting acne. Regardless of age, men also have a higher collagen density than women.
Why opt for a shower gel/milk over soap?
Shower milks/gel help neutralise the effects of hard water while maintaining the skin's moisture balance and leave it feeling soft, fresh and delicately scented unlike soap, which can be harsh and rip the natural moisture film of the skin.
