Caring For Your Skin Type
The first step in a solid skin care regimen is to fuel your body with clean, wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. What you put inside will show up outside. I highly recommend using the face mapping tool to help you identify those internal organs that might need support.
The second is to know and understand your skin type (Is it oily, normal, sensitive, dry, combination or mature) in order to treat it effectively. Until the organs or internal issue that’s causing your skin care woes are managed, you’ll need to manage your external symptoms/characteristics with a sound skincare routine.
In addition, the skin is bombarded by exogenous toxicants, dust and bacteria throughout the day. So cleansing, toning and moisturizing are absolutely recommended for all skin. The key is, knowing the type of skin you have so you can care for it appropriately.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll be posting a brief summary of the six common skin types, which I refer to as benchmark skin types. We’ll start with one that I am well acquainted with.
Oily Skin
This is my skin type. Large pores, shininess, some tightness, blemishes and pimples usually characterize oily skin. This skin type can change depending on the weather or time of year. For example, during the winter months, the skin tends to be drier and produces less oil. Conversely, during times of high humidity and heat, oiliness tends to increase.
Stress and hormonal imbalances can also cause an increase in oil production. The great benefit of this skin type, however, is that it’s not prone to premature wrinkling and aging. With the right care, you can turn this skin type into an asset later on. Here are some tips to follow daily. Remember, consistency is the key.
- Try not to scrub. Rather, wash gently with a mild cleanser twice per day. You do not want to remove all the natural sebum (oil) from your skin. This will only stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil to compensate for what was lost and this can be even more problematic.
- Avoid Alcohol based astringents. Use a milder variety. Apple cider vinegar is a wonderful, natural toner.
- Choose water-based, products, since they will not clog your pores and exacerbate the problem.
- Use toxicant-free products, which will not clog pores or trigger allergic reactions.
- Diet plays a very important role in controlling oily skin. The fact is, the skin produces more oil than it should because something internally is triggering the oil glands to flow more than usual. So addressing hormonal balance and gut inflammation are ways to begin. Avoid starchy, sugary and processed foods. Cut down on iodine, they cause flare-ups. Also, maintain a diet that includes, fresh fruit, dark green leafy and colorful vegetables, and be sure to drink lots of water daily.
Dixie Lincoln- Nichols is a biological science educator, health and wellbeing consultant and Qigong instructor. Her work has been featured in media outlets like, Oprah Mag, SELF, Yahoo and more. She is the founder of Inside Outer Beauty Market, a multi-cultutal retailer curating and creating products to support the body inside and out. Visit the site at www.iobeautymarket.com