Beauty Information

Factors that can Influence Your Skin Type


Normal skin type

Normal skin is smooth, finely-textured, soft and supple. If you are lucky enough to possess this skin type, treasure it by using light cleansers and lotions and mild toners and fresheners.

Dry skin type

Dry skin is usually thin and delicate and often flaky and prone to fine lines. It sometimes feels tighter than it should. Extremely rich and greasy creams are not good for it because they strangulate the pores, often enlarging them and so creating an extra problem. Use light oils and lotions for moisturising and choose herbal toners, which are mild and not too astringent. Try to restore the pH or acid-alkali balance with the application of such things as cucumber juice or diluted vinegar so that the sebaceous glands are encouraged to function.

Generally speaking, the emollient and hydrating herbs (chamomile, comfrey, cowslip, elderflower, fennel, marshmallow, orange blossom, rose, violet) are the best to use in lotions and toners for dry skin. But there is no hard and fast rule. Astringent herbs can be good for dry skins, for example, if blended with emollient herbs or oils and gels, and many herbs are suitable for all skin types. If the skin is sensitive as well as dry, see the notes on sensitive skin below.

Oily skin type

Oily skin is shiny and coarser-textured, often with enlarged pores. It is prone to blackheads and spots. Don't use alcohol to reduce the oiliness of the skin, as it will only worsen the problem. Many herbal toners are suitable for reducing oiliness and tightening the pores (see list of suitable herbs below). Egg-white makes a nice mild face-mask. Don't over dry the skin; moisturise with a light lotion. Aim to restore your skin's acid-alkali balance so that the sebaceous glands cease to produce such large amounts of oil.

Astringent and cleansing herbs are generally the best to choose when treating an oily skin. These are: cinquefoil, clary sage, comfrey, cucumber, dandelion, horsetail, houseleek, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, marigold, mint, parsley, sage, witch hazel and yarrow. But don't forget that many herbs are suited to all skin types and that many of the strengthening and anti-inflammatory herbs (chamomile, cowslip, fennel, lettuce, elderflower, orange blossom, rose, violet) are suitable for oily skins.

Combination skin types

The person with this skin type will have to follow two beauty routines, one for the dry areas, and another for the oily. I think the oily areas balance up more easily in this type of skin than when the whole face is oily, so don't despair.

Sensitive skin type

This skin is usually fine-textured and often prone to reddish veins and patches. Keep to light oils and lotions for cleansing and moisturising, and mild herbal toners and compresses to soothe the skin and reduce redness and veins. It is usually wise for people with sensitive skins to stay away from the stimulating herbs (lavender, lime flower, mint, nettle, sage, southernwood, summer savory, thyme).

Dull skin

Dull skin has lost the bloom of vitality and the soft glow of renewal. It looks matt and lifeless. Its acid balance has slipped. If it is oily or large-pored skin use diluted cider vinegar or lemon juice, or cucumber juice to balance it. If it is dry skin, use buttermilk or cucumber juice.

Mature skin type

Older skin can be toned and softened and restored to much of its former beauty. The skin is a wonderfully regenerating organ, given encouragement. Use a light hand with makeup if you must use it, as this dries and ages the skin.

Other Factors that can influence you skin

The foundation of a healthy beautiful skin is diet. Are you getting sufficient polyunsaturated fats? These are essential to a healthy skin and do not cause facial oiliness. They are found in cereal grains, nuts and cold pressed nut and vegetable oils.

Plenty of vitamin C is fundamental to a beautiful skin, because it builds collagen and elastin, the bonding and structural substances which give tone and resilience. There is no need to resort to tablets. Eat bean sprouts, green and red peppers, black currants, oranges and lemons. Then there are guavas and rosehips, so your diet need not be restricted or dull. There is infinite variety to suit every palate.

Lack of vitamin A can cause dryness of the skin. Eat dandelion, parsley, watercress, carrots, pumpkins, celeriac.

If your skin is unbalanced, either flaky or too oily, or if your lips peel, then check your intake of vitamin B foods. Oats, years, bran, goat's milk, whole rice, sunflower seeds, sprouted seeds and grains are some of the sources.

About The Author

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter - it's fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.


MORE RESOURCES:

Burning man: Richard Smith burns his sculptures to find their beauty
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 14 hours ago
I've done as well this year as I've ever done. And I've even lowered my prices. People desperately want some sense of beauty in their world. ...
San Francisco Open Studios: artists at work San Francisco Chronicle
all 3 news articles


Amusing Ourselves to Death in the Art World
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
The table top pieces in "Amusing Ourselves to Death" focus on inner beauty; "Jolly Roger" concentrates on outer beauty. The table tops are taken outside of ...


Malaysia Star

One stop beauty studio opens at mall
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 5 hours ago
A ONE stop beauty studio with new features such as a nail studio and model management academy opened its doors at the Plaza Pelangi recently. ...


Beauty formula unveiled at last
Canada.com, Canada - 11 hours ago
PARIS - To the likely dismay of those who argue beauty is in the eye of the beholder, biostatisticians said Wednesday they had devised a computer program to ...


Scarred in the quest for beauty
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 15 hours ago
A walk through any supermarket or pharmacy tells the story: for women, facial and body hair have joined age and gravity as enemies in the quest for beauty. ...
Doctors warn of beauty laser dangers Sydney Morning Herald
all 22 news articles


Beauty Queen: I channelled my energy into finding a lipstick in ...
Independent, UK - 5 hours ago
By Carola Long At Tate Modern's new Rothko exhibition I engaged in my favourite hobby of watching the people watching the art. ...


TSN.ca

Beauty of Sox is more than skin-deep
Boston Globe, United States - Oct 9, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. -- Under slightly different circumstances, we might now be celebrating Mark Kotsay the way we celebrated Bobby Kielty or, before him, ...
Just throw the pitch already Boston Globe
all 596 news articles


Greene County has plenty of beauty to view
Greene County Daily World, In - 9 hours ago
Two Greene County Daily World columnists recently offered their opinions about how beautiful this area can be during late September and most of October. ...


Gilded Age Fashions in a Bleak World
Washington Post, United States - 9 hours ago
They are proceeding under the theory that beauty, artistry and, thus, fashion will be perceived as acts of defiance in the face of assault. ...


BBC News

Bridgend teen hanged herself at beauty spot
WalesOnline, United Kingdom - 16 hours ago
A TEENAGER with a history of depression hanged herself at a beauty spot near her home, an inquest heard today. Jenna Anne Parry, 16, was discovered kneeling ...
Hanged teen death 'unintentional' BBC News
all 3 news articles

Beauty - Google News

home | site map
© 2006