Physio Radiance Series: Understanding Your Skin Type

Part 1 of An Article Series

Before you choose your skin care products, it is important to know your skin type. Knowledge about your own skin will help you make the best decision with regard to the right products and proper skin care routines. Your skin type is genetically determined and not all products are suitable for your particular skin needs.

The health of your skin later in life largely depends on what you eat and your lifestyle. To always look great, the first step is to determine your skin type so that you can match it with the best recommended methods to enhance your looks and slow the ageing process.

Generally, we can single out five basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive, with each having particular characteristics and requiring specific type of care and/or treatment. One of the simplest ways to determine your skin type is to use a simple test with a clean facial tissue (or blotting paper) to wipe your face in the morning, when you have just woken up. Press a separate piece of tissue onto each area of your face: chin, centre of cheeks, outer cheeks, centre of forehead, outer forehead and nose. Examine each tissue and look for oily residue or flaky skin residue. Interpret the results.

Normal Skin

If the tissue does not reveal any traces of oil, then your skin belongs to the normal category. Your skin should feel vibrant – the right balance between elasticity and suppleness. Normal Skin is the least problematic type of skin. It looks clean and smooth and has good circulation. Even with a minimal care, you will have a healthy complexion well into your advanced age.

Watch out for dryness and fine lines appearing in the early to mid 30’s. To prevent this from happening, I recommend the use of the Physio Radiance Replenish Pack on a daily basis. Cleanse your skin in the morning, follow with the Remineralising Toner Lotion, Extreme Anti-Oxidant Serum and Radiance Enhancer Day & Night Fluid. This will help balance the skin’s hydro-lipids levels (Water & Oil) and add resilience and firmness to the skin. If you are using the Physio Radiance Visage+ facial device, it will further enhance the effectiveness of the products.

Points to look for: smooth unblemished skin, fine pores, no wrinkles or minimal fine lines, balanced water & oil levels.

What you may expect: dryness, fine lines & wrinkles, uneven skin tone, loose muscle tone

Dry Skin

If your skin is dry, the paper will be clean but the skin on your face will feel flaky, dry and tight after you have wiped it. The reasons for this problem is mainly hereditary but lack of water and over exposure to air-conditioning can also affect your skin. Dry skin can easily develop a sallow tone, wrinkles fine pores and it is very prone to ageing and irritation. It might still look great on a young person, but to keep it healthy, you should use the Physio Radiance Replenish Pack on a daily basis. Cleanse your skin in the morning, followed by the Remineralising Toner Lotion, Extreme Anti-Oxidant Serum and Radiance Enhancer Day & Night Fluid. This will help balance the hydro-lipids levels (Water & Oil) of your skin and add resilience and firmness to it. If you are using the Physio Radiance Visage+ facial device, it will further enhance the effectiveness of the products. Additional application of the Extreme Anti-Oxidant Serum will help reduce dryness and keep Ffne lines and wrinkles at bay.

Points to look for: dryness and flaky skin, tightness of skin after cleansing, fine pores, milia seeds (oil seeds), fine lines.

What you may expect: severe dryness, deep fine lines & wrinkles, uneven skin tone, loose muscle tone, pigmentation

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, the paper will have spots of facial oil on it, corresponding to the areas of your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Oily skin is problematic – it usually looks greasy, thick, coarse, shiny and has enlarged pores. It has a tendency to break out into acne. A good thing, though, is that oily skin is not prone to ageing and wrinkling. Careful cleaning, minimising carbohydrates consumption and avoiding rich creams that are high in oil can be helpful in improving the quality of your skin.

Points to look for: excessive oiliness, open pores, comedones (blackheads), acne & post acne scars.

What you may expect: acne & pustules, enlarged open pores, dead skin accumulation, “Icepick” – scar similar to chickenpox scars and even keloids (raised scars)

Combination Skin

If your skin is the Combination Skin variety, like that of most women, the tissue will have traces of oil coming from your nose and forehead but will be clean in the areas that touched your cheeks. Combination skin has patches of both dry and oily skin, and it requires different types of care in relation to particular facial areas.
Dry zones, which are usually located on the cheeks and around the eyes, should be treated with rich creams and moisturisers. Oily areas, usually on the forehead and nose, will benefit from frequent and thorough cleaning.

Points to look for: oiliness, open pores, comedones (Blackheads), shiny, acne & post acne scars over the oily areas of the skin T- Zone

What you may expect: acne & pustules, enlarged open pores, dead skin accumulation, “Icepick” scars over the oily areas of the skin T- Zone

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is easily identified as it is usually very dry, tends to feel tight, and becomes inflamed and irritated easily. Characteristically, sensitive skin develops reddish and scaly areas, can be itchy and tingly, and is prone to breaking into spots. It is the most challenging and fragile type of skin, which needs a very special type of care. I would recommend a hypo-allergenic product as it has safe levels of active ingredients. Here you should use Physio Radiance Replenish Pack on a daily basis. Cleanse your skin in the morning, followed by the Remineralising Toner Lotion, Extreme Anti-Oxidant Serum and Radiance Enhancer Day & Night Fluid, to help balance skin hydro-lipids levels (Water & Oil) and add resilience and firmness to the skin. As sensitive skin is more delicate, please watch our for skin reactions.

Points to look for: redness, broken capillaries, dryness over the oily areas of the face’s T- Zone

What you may expect: small acne breakouts, itchiness, and tightness of skin

Congested and Acne Skin

Acne skin condition are characterised by areas of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, greasy skin, and possibly scarring. The subsequent appearance may lead to a person having anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and in extreme cases, depression. Genetics is estimated to be the cause of 80% of cases. Diet and cleanliness has little significance unless you have allergy to certain foods. However, cigarette smoking does increase the risk of developing acne and worsens its severity as it lowers your body immune system. Acne generally affects skin with a greater number of overactive oil glands and oily skin types. Seen more typically during puberty in both sexes, acne is often brought on by an increase in androgens such as testosterone. And the presence of bacteria Propionibacterium Acnes, which is normally present in the skin.

Points to look for: excessive oiliness, open pores, comedones (blackheads), acne & post acne scars

What you may expect: acne & pustules, enlarged open pores, dead skin accumulation, “icepick” scar similar to chickenpox scars and even keloids (raised scars)