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.

BBC News
Success of protected beauty spots
BBC News, UK - 11 hours ago
Beauty spots across the eastern region, protected as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), bring in £844m in tourism, a new report says. ...
Trail guides Devon 24
all 3 news articles

Celebrity Makeup Artist Matin Reveals Backstage Beauty Secrets ...
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
"For the Be EcoChic(TM) fashion show, I created a radiant 'look,' starting with healthy skin to bring out the natural beauty of the models and celebrities. ...

Hindu
More to life than beauty
Hindu, India - 3 hours ago
Though we identify her with herbal cosmetics and also with the creation of the beauty parlour culture in the furthest nooks of India, Shahnaz takes you by ...

No Beauty Pageant for Husker Offense
Nebraska StatePaper.com, NE - 41 minutes ago
by Specner Schubert Those are the words that came out of Bo Pelini's mouth after his Cornhuskers knocked off San Jose State 35-12 Saturday afternoon--and ...

Beauty: Lather special
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 6 hours ago
By Alan Perrott It's hard to care about shaving first thing in the morning. Bleary eyes, dog breath and rumblin' tum, there we are, leaning over a sink of ...

Sydney Morning Herald
Heir apparent to bronzed beauty
The Age, Australia - 8 hours ago
... the triple Melbourne Cup winner for whom the Hussler's race was named, was on the lawn near the 300-metre mark, a bronzed beauty, who, when unveiled, ...
Weekend Hussler Does it Again Virtual Form Guide
all 59 news articles

Sedges can add beauty to your garden Posted on: Saturday ...
Killeen Daily Herald, TX - 10 hours ago
Bog meadows dominated by sedges or grasses form the heart of Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve in west-central Ohio. The preserve is a remnant of Ohio after ...

Houston Beauty Business in Trouble for Unauthorized Withdrawals
KTAL, LA - 1 hour ago
(Houston) -- The Texas Attorney General has ordered a Houston weight loss and skin care business to stop making unauthorized withdrawals from customers' ...

Forecast for Spring: A Wide Range of Beauty?
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Sep 5, 2008
“I hope we’ve gotten to a point where a range of beauty is accepted, not just acceptable. Accepted. Embraced.” Ms. Reese, who spoke last year at fashion ...

Beauty rules
Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia - 8 hours ago
There is a lot to take in when it comes to the world of beauty. But there is even more coming out of your wallet. The fountain of youth does not come cheap. ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Plastic Surgery - A Risky Business