Sunday, January 27, 2013

What's Your Type? Oily / Problematic Skin

A lot of the questions I get on a regular basis, is people asking me to determine their skin type, and recommend to them ways that they can utilize to take good daily care of their skin.  

For this reason,  I would like to start a series of posts dealing with the various skin types, and the ways and means that can be used to take care of particular skin types and problems that can arise.


I thought I would start first with………..

Oily / Problematic Skin

In general oily skin, even though more flexible and elastic, tends to be more shiny combined with enlarged pores.  Most often it is also likely that is susceptible to blackheads and skin discoloration or spots.  Finally, oily and problematic skins are more prone to acne.

Oily skin usually feels greasy to the touch,  and this can often be the case even a short time after you have thoroughly washed and cleansed your face. 

In addition, make-up application can be a real struggle and can “slide  off”  easily if it is not properly applied.



Now what causes oily skin?  This occurs because the sebaceous glands secrete excessive quantities of sebum.  Not that sebum is a bad thing.  We all need sebum on the skin surface because it oils the skin making it soft and pliable and in addition it helps the skin to retain moisture. What is bad of course is that over-secretion of sebum can clog the skin’s pores causing skin irritation and pimples.  

Our sebaceous glands are scattered unevenly in different parts of the body, but are concentrated more on the scalp, forehead, nose and chin.  They are more sparse on the cheeks, neck and around the eyes.  Almost all skin types have some “oily” parts.


So the question is......What can we do about it?

 

Cleansing
Use products specifically for oily/problematic skin.  This should generally include a gentle cleanser and tonic lotion.  I can’t stress how important it is to clean gently but thoroughly your skin.  
Peeling
Under NO circusmstances should you use a scrab- that is a peeling containing tiny granules.  It is ok though to use occasionally (perhaps once every couple of weeks) a gentle peeling in cream form.
Mask
An appropriate mask for oily skin will do wonders! Trust me!  Most people will not use a mask (or don’t realize or know the benefits).  I personally recommend my clients using the mask once or even twice a week.  What’s more, if they see a hint of a pimple appearing, they can use a little mask on that spot (at night) and go to sleep.  By the next morning the mask will do its wonder and will “dry” out the area.
Cream Care
Again, a special cream preparation is needed to deal with the oily skin needs. It needs to have anti-inflammatory and soothing agents that will will contribute to “normalizing the skin day and night.
What Products do I recommend?
Without any reservation I would recommend the Silky Way Line by Lady Esther Cosmetics.


All the products in the line contain cleansing and antiseptic ingredients which help protect the skin from infections and help promote the eradication of irritants. Most all of my clients have seen tremendous difference after using the products. 

Well…..please do send me your comments and any questions you may have about the particular care needs of your skin.  I will be happy to try and answer them for you as best I can.


Until next time...be beautiful!


 

2 comments:

  1. Dear Xanthi,
    My son is almost 11 years old and he has just had the first signs of acne start to appear on his forehead. What would you recommend for such a young age? Thank you and keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Jennifer,
    Thank you for your question and your kind words.

    Since your son is at a young age, I suggest that he only uses the most basic products to gently clean the face and T-zone in particular. As such I would suggest that he only uses an appropriate cleanser and a tonic lotion. Clean the area first with the cleanser gel and follow with the tonic (morning and night). This will help remove excess oils and impurities from the skin.

    ReplyDelete