NORMAL SKIN
In the ranking of skin on parameters of good and bad, normal skin certainly wins hands down. This is the skin we all dream of: even textured, smooth, soft and supple, neither is it too dry, nor is it oily. It is devoid of pores, blemishes and is clear and even toned. Normal skin needs little in terms of treatment and looking after. It looks healthy, flushed with the vitality of youth, and a basic cleansing-toning-moisturizing routine is all it takes to keep it looking good. Also, a good diet, one that is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of exercise will go a long way. Tanking up on water as usual is a sensible move in maintaining skin tone, texture and evenness. This skin type rarely breaks out into pimples and is given to outstanding blood circulation which explains the flushed, healthy look. However, it is also given to premature ageing, especially around the eyes, often due to the absence of sebaceous activities. The area around the eyes is more sensitive, thin and shows the first signs of ageing. Therefore, for those of you with this type of skin, do visit our section on eye care. Certain oils can be used to preserve the beauty of normal skin. Oils like geranium, jasmine, rose, lavender, fennel, sandalwood, lemon, and chamomile balance the oil content, prevent cellular degeneration and aid circulation. Use these essential oils in a carrier oil base of carrot, almond, olive or coconut. Honey, a wonderful companion for your skin, adds to the moisture content, making your skin look fresh and hydrated. Use it as often as possible for skin that's nourished and looks pampered and glowing.
DRY SKIN
Does your skin feel parched, flaky, stretched and totally dehydrated, especially after every run-in with the soap, cleanser, and face wash? Are you unable to go out minus a generous layer of moisturizer? Does the problem aggravate in winters? If the answers to the above are in the affirmative, you have what is called dry skin.
Dry skin is that kind of skin that looks parched and dehydrated, with a tendency to flake. This is often due to a lack of activity of the sebaceous glands which are the oil-producing glands of your skin. Plus, your skin, on the whole, is unable to retain sufficient moisture that will make it soft and supple. This gives it a dry appearance. This kind of skin is prone to the effects of ageing very fast; wrinkles, laugh lines, and crow's feet are inevitable set-ins for this type of skin. So persons with this kind of skin need to really have a very well-planned, skin-care regime that is overloaded with moisturizing elements and water. On the plus side, you will probably never have to battle pimples and acne and other oil-clogged disasters! It's more fine-pored, tending towards flawlessness, especially in the initial years. So with a disciplined routine, take up the challenge with dry skin and work it to your advantage for the years to come.
Winter is often the season when the skin is at its worst as the weather has very little moisture content, which often compounds the problem of the lack of moisture and hydration in the skin's layers. Summer may also be harmful for dry skin, especially if one does go in and out of air-conditioned offices and rooms innumerable times. Air conditioners are, anyway, known to lower humidity levels. Therefore, dry skin ends up looking more parched than ever. This type of skin is also adversely affected by the ultraviolet rays of the sun. This produces age spots and lines on the face and sometimes may also lead to cases of skin cancer. Thus, it is absolutely imperative for those with dry skin to have a veil of sunscreen (of SPF over 30) on the exposed parts of their bodies.
Also, eating sensibly and increasing the hydrating elements in your diet will be useful. Night-repair creams and eye-care products should be included in your skin-care regime.
Some of the things that could be immensely helpful for those with this type of skin are the innumerable array of face packs and moisturizers that we have lined up for you in this beauty bonanza. There is, also, an exclusive section on anti-ageing products. The eye-care section will also provide useful pointers. So stop by within these pages for a wealth of information that could work wonders for your skin. Most of it can be made and used in the cool confines of your home. The ingredients can be sourced from your kitchen. Now you really have no reason not to look your gorgeous best!
OILY SKIN
Does your skin feel oily first thing in the morning? Do you have to frequently wash it to remove oily residue from your face? Do you face problems of acne, pimples, and their residual woes of pitting, scarring and pigmentation? If yes, then you probably have oily skin.
Oily skin is often due to an over-activity of the sebaceous glands. So you have skin that is high on oil content. The texture of your skin is not too good, either. It's mostly coarse, thick and pigmented.
One of the biggest strains that oily skin brings with it is acne and pimples. Adolescence is often the time when, due to increased hormonal changes and reactions, there is a rush of sebum activity, and this leads to cases of break out. This is called 'adolescence acne' and often settles down with progressing age. However, if the oiliness persists, it signals a tendency to a have a lipid-oil balance that is less than satisfactory. Treatment in such cases is very useful, sometimes even necessary.
One thing that needs special mention in this case is that oily skin and its repercussions are rarely contained in a show of bad skin. In fact, the outreach is far deeper, to the layers of self-esteem and self-confidence. With the notion of beauty gaining so much prominence in our daily lives, the constant battering of our minds with slick pictures of women and men who have great skin, hair, smile... well, almost-great everything... our minds are getting programmed to adhere to certain standards. And quite unfortunately, a pock-marked, freckled face is not one of them. Therefore, at the first outbreak of pimples, there is a flurry of activity... in the hormonal discharges and also in the mind! With each fresh pimple, life gets mired in sinking levels of self-esteem, something that takes immense effort, courage and sensitivity to overcome.
In this book, we have tried to give you a complete range of recipes for cleaning and toning your skin. Oily skin needs far more nurturance. So along with patience, you also need a range of astringents which can help control oil production. Not for you are toners. Your skin is special, so it's astringents that work best for you. There's also a complete section on zit-zappers - technology that is home-grown, in your kitchen, all for you. Leaf through these pages and see what zapping technique will be most convenient for you. All of them are little gems handed down the ages; pick one of your choice. Alongside are de- pigmentation aids and recipes to tackle blackheads, brown spots and open pores. Kaolin, Fuller's earth, rose water, Vitamin A, and witch hazel are some of the ingredients that are very, very useful for your skin type. Read the relevant sections. Try the masks and packs, and you'll begin to thank yourself for picking up this book! And while you are at it, do remember not to touch your face too often. Clean your hands before you do so. Remember, a diet that is full of fresh fruits, juices, vegetables, and boiled products will work wonders for you. Cut off the fried snacks, the sugar, the high-calorie sweets, the calorie and oil-rich foods. Raise the levels of hydration in your body and remember to ditch alcohol and cigarettes. Exercising and remaining stress-free are other ways to handle oily- skin woes. Look into our Lifestyle section for handy tips to remain stress-free. Your skin is what you are. So chin up, remember you are beautiful. You just need a few of our handy hints to take it up from there.
COMBINATION SKIN
This is the kind of skin that combines dry and oily skin: So it is oily in parts and dry in sections. The dryness is usually on the region of the cheeks and the oiliness is on the T-zone, i.e., on the forehead and down the bridge of the nose. Although these do abate with every face wash, the T-zone becomes oily again within some hours. This zone is prone to skin break outs and blackheads, while the cheeks are more flawless, less prone to pigmentation and acne problems. Caring regime remains the same: an effective cleansing-toning-moisturizing regime that combines dry and oily skin care.
SENSITIVE SKIN
Sensitive skin is, as the name suggests, skin that is very sensitive to the vagaries of nature and also reacts very quickly to most skin-care products. This is why its skin care is slightly dicey, like walking on a tightrope. Any ingredient that clashes with the skin's cellular make-up might trigger a break out. This skin too is oily and dry in patches. It tends to break out into rashes and is thin and delicate with very fine pores. In fact, such a skin flushes easily, especially when out in the sun or cold. Herbal remedies really work best, which is why this beauty book is just right for you. The beauty recipes listed within these pages are for both dry and oily skins. So try these recipes. Most of them are naturally sourced. For sensitive skin such as yours, opt for organic products wherever you can. These are known to cause far less damage. Also, look after your diet and overall health. The second segment on lifestyle may provide useful pointers in this direction. Honey is what you ought to be using rather generously: go overboard on recipes that have honey in them. Take a look at the Cleansing Milk & Lotions section since you need mild products to keep your face clean. Almond, and jojoba-oil-inclusive recipes should work very well for your skin. Toners are very useful too, especially rose water. Grapefruits, too, are quite good for your skin. However, take care not to get into the sun after applying grapefruit. Go easy with lemon, eggs, bananas, and chickpea since these are known allergens, and might aggravate the condition. Overdose on watermelons, cucumbers, yogurt, green tea, aloe vera, and sandalwood since they are mild, hydrate and reduce redness and irritation. Turmeric, with its antiseptic properties may also work very well for your skin. Essential oils may work, but it's imperative that you do a patch test first: The perfume in them may cause a break out in the skin. There is little reason to believe that sensitive skin cannot be made as good as normal skin. Just opt for natural products wherever you can. Also be strict about the cleansing-toning-moisturizing regime. A disciplined lifestyle may work wonders for your skin like nothing else can.
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