-Know the Skin You’re In-

Hello beauties and Happy New Year! 

I hope that everyone has enjoyed the holidays, the festivities and the time off. I’m super excited to announce that I will be doing a series of posts dedicated to the foundation of great skin care. After all, what’s makeup without great skin underneath? Makeup will not do your skin any justice, if anything can make your skin more problematic. Over the next few weeks I will be discussing skin and how to take care of it properly so that you can get that great skin too.  

Today’s post will focus on skin type. Okay, so not many people know what their skin type is. I’ll cover that. Shall we begin?

• Your skin type is based on oil production in the skin. This is very important so keep it in mind. Below are five skin types:

*Normal-balanced oil production

*Oily-higher level of oil production

*Combination-usually oilier in the T-Zone; any instance of normal skin with areas of heavy oil production

*Dry-little to no oil production

*Sensitive-typically dry and tight; easily irritated and/or inflamed (red)

--In my professional opinion having sensitive skin is not really a skin type but more of a skin condition. A person can have any of the four above skin types plus sensitivity. --

****How do you know what your skin type is? I usually will ask a client a series of questions to help me determine that answer.****

• What does your skin feel like in the morning when you wake up?

---If your face has a natural (light) luster to it –you fall into the normal category.
---If your face is covered in oil-means you have oily skin.
---If your face is heavily oiled in certain areas and normal or dry in others-your skin is what we call combination or combo skin.
---If your face has absolutely no shine-you have dry skin
---If your skin appears inflamed, dry, tight or possibly scaly/flaky-you have sensitive skin.

• What is your skin like after you cleanse it?

---If after you was your face and there is little to no change-you probably have normal or dry skin.
---If your skin is oily and feels super tight-your skin is probably going to fall in the oily or combo range.
---If your skin is bright red, itchy, tingling/burning and or flaky-your skin is more than likely sensitive.

• How often do you wash your cleanse?

---The frequency can determine the oil production/secretion as well as if your skin's pH's level is balanced

• What do you use to cleanse your face with?

---Using the wrong products can offset your goal but more importantly using the right products too much may be affecting your skin.

• Are you using an exfoliant or abrasive?

---Trying to even out raised, rough, dry/patchy skin will weaken the outer most layers of your skin and prevent it from functioning the proper way. 

All of these questions give me some type of insight to at least narrow down the skin type and move on with the consultation. The way a person answers these questions will without a doubt help or hinder the treatment and overall health of the skin. Once again, I stress the importance of knowing what type of skin you have. Not only will you be able to buy the right products (to include makeup) but also you save money and you save your skin from unnecessary daily damage. I recommend that if you don’t know your skin type you answer these questions or send me an e-mail at misstoolbeltmakeup@hotmail.com with your questions or comments about the skin type that you may have. 

Later this week, I will let you in on what products and ingredients to look for that will help you take better care of your skin and put your best face forward. Until then, be blessed and be well!

-Vee-