Determining your skin type

A lot of magazines and skincare books will tell you that in order to determine your skin type you should wash your face with a nonmoisturizing soap and wait some amount of time...basically to see what happens. I've never heard anybody talk about doing this. Really it seems kind of silly. Maybe even ineffective. Dermatologists, aestheticians, and sales reps unanimously agree that you should never wash your face with bar soap. I tried this little experiment on myself, and my skin was tight and red for over a week. (True, this does show that my skin is sensitive, but I would have preferred something less torturous.)

I've developed my own technique for determining skin type for my clients that are in their teens, twenties, and thirties. (Women who tend to just be unhappy with their skin but are not usually dealing with specific issues related to aging or neglected skin.) In this age range, most women have normal/combination skin. This means that they will need to wash their faces twice daily with a gentle cleanser and moisturize with an oil free moisturizer.

Unless you are suffering from a skin condition like eczema or acne, I challenge you to try this routine for a week. I recommend using Purpose liquid cleanser (available at most drugstores) and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. Moisturize your lip and eye areas with appropriate products if needed. If possible, try to avoid wearing makeup during this time. If you do wear makeup, lean towards oil free products that are not designed to be long wearing and remove them at night with a product like Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes. Hold onto your receipts, but you probably won't need them.

I am not a dermatologist, but after working with a lot of women as a makeup artist, I have found that this bare bones routine works for most women--even those with sensitive skin. This routine only requires moderate tweaking if you find you have special needs, but we all need to occasionally step back and simplify our lives.

Even if you choose not to take this challenge, I would like to remind all of you that skincare doesn't have to be complicated. For years, I spent hundreds of dollars on creams, serums, and little value kits that did nothing more than make me wonder why I was so genetically cursed with bad skin. Looking back, I realize that I was suffocating my young face with products that were too harsh or too potent. I fell asleep so many nights with a full face of makeup because my routine was too time-consuming and sometimes downright painful. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Remember that your skin deserves to be treated like a functioning organ in your body. Focus on its health by protecting it with sunscreen and exfoliating it to stimulate cell turnover. And take care of yourself in the meantime. You'll like what you see in the mirror.