Women Skin Care & Beauty Blog

It is simple logic that in order to solve a problem, you must first know what you are dealing with. So, if you are having skin problems, the first step is to know what type of skin you have. Human skin can be of various types, all of which have their specific pros and cons. Also, the same skin problem may merit different courses of action for different skin types. If you think that you need to visit a dermatologist or beautician, simply to understand your skin type, you may be mistaken. This is because, determining your skin type is something you can do yourself, right at home!

Skin can be broadly classified as normal, oily, dry, sensitive and aging. Though there may be sub-categories within this group, based upon specific characteristics, it is enough for you to know your skin type within these five categories. Knowing this will help you use the right cosmetics so that you do not end up harming your skin unintentionally.

Identifying certain characteristics of your skin will help you understand your skin type. Here’s how:

You have oily skin if:

• Tissue paper sticks to your face even after washing it.
• You have frequent outbreaks of pimples.
• Anytime you feel your skin with your fingers, you pick greasiness.
• After coming back from work or an outdoor trip, your face is really dirty because dirt and dust particles stick to the oil secreted by your sebaceous glands.

You have dry skin if:

• Wiping your face with tissue after you have washed it, does not pick up anything at all.
• Your skin feels tight and dehydrated most of the time, even in summer.
• It appears dull, which is due to the build up of dead skin cells underneath the top layer of your skin.
• Fine lines and wrinkles start appearing at a relatively young age.

You have normal skin in case:

• You find oil only in your T-zone, which comprises of forehead and nose, upon wiping your face with a tissue.
• Your skin has consistent color and texture, irrespective of what season it is.
• You need moisturizers in winter, but in summer your skin doesn’t feel particularly dry.
• Wearing heavy make-up and then taking it off, is not an issue for you.

Sensitive skin is characterized by:

• Sudden changes from dryness to oiliness, corresponding to minor changes in lifestyle, diet, seasons and other variables.
• Tendency of the skin to accept very few cosmetics and being allergic to others and resist any changes or lapses in skin care routine.
• The nature of the skin to get tanned easily even upon limited exposure to sunlight.

And finally, your skin may be aging if:

• You are above forty or are approaching menopause.
• Wrinkles and fine lines have started appearing.
• The natural suppleness is missing and it has become thicker and heavier.

Though most people have normal skin type, there is no need to panic if your skin cannot be classified into this category. The right thing to do is to understand your skin and use products and methods which nurture it in the best possible way.

No matter how hard you try to avoid them, the signs of aging will show up sooner or later. And the problem is not just restricted to wrinkles and fine lines on your skin, but extends to physiological and psychological changes as well. Despite modern medicine advancing by leaps and bounds, there is still no ‘magic pill’ to prevent the aftermath of aging. Diet can obviously play a very important part in deciding how gracefully you age and whether your health remains intact throughout the aging process. But then is there anything such as an anti-aging diet?

Perhaps there is! Some foods and drinks contain powerful components called phyto-nutrients, which are believed to hold the key to long-life. These are actually anti-oxidants which destroy disease-causing free radicals in your body. You may not be aware but these ‘free radicals’ are oxygen molecules which can hasten the onset of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Other than antioxidants such as these, some other foods also enhance the rate at which you age by causing cellular inflammation. So, an ideal anti-aging diet should consist of foods which are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

Therefore such a diet can never include trans-fatty acids, sugars, starches and saturated fats. Ideally you should look at diets comprising of:

• Cold water fishes such as salmon which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This acid offers a multitude of health benefits.
• Avocado, which is a great source of monounsaturated fat, which is healthy and helps reduce bad cholesterol from your body. It is also a good source of vitamin E which prevents signs of aging from showing up on your skin in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. Being rich in potassium it also helps you keep blood pressure under check.
• Berries are a great source of antioxidants and phyto-nutrients. All black and blue berries help reduce the number of free radicals in the body.
• Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and sprouts which can significantly reduce the amount of toxins in your body. These are best eaten raw or very mildly-cooked so as to keep the important enzymes intact.
• Nuts, which are not only great sources of minerals but also help you control the levels of cholesterol in your body.
• Wholegrain foods, which provide soluble dietary fibers and also large amounts of phyto-nutrients.
• Yogurt which has probiotic elements. These help in introducing good bacteria to your intestines particularly when you have yogurt with active cultures.
• Whole meal pasta and rice which gives you complex carbs. This helps you stay energetic and beat lethargy, which is a vital sign of aging.
• Soya which helps stabilize estrogen levels after menopause. Unstable estrogen may hasten aging post menopause and fermented Soya products can help you prevent that.
• Lots and lots of water everyday. Provided you are drinking clean water, there is better way to flush out toxins from your body and keep your skin fresh and radiant.

It’s not necessary to have all of these as a part of your diet, but you should definitely try to include as many as possible. Remember that anti-aging diets are simple and effective and there is nothing miraculous about them!