Friday, February 7, 2020
Teenage is like a rollercoaster ride. Balancing your studies and social life, your new-found freedom, dates, career, and gushing hormones… Too much to handle, right? And then comes another problem – skin care. You are still discovering what keeps your skin super happy and what makes it break out. Well, I may not make your life battles easy, but I can definitely help you ace your skin care regimen. Scroll down to find out how.
But before we proceed to the skin care tips, you need to identify your skin type and then develop a regimen accordingly. Read on to find out what type of skin you have.
Determine Your Skin Type
First things first – it is crucial to know your skin type. A routine that is suitable for oily skin will not work as effectively for dry skin. So, let’s determine your skin type.
Normal Skin
Normal skin usually has a soft texture and is smooth. It doesn’t have any blemishes and patches. The pores are tight, and the skin surface feels neither greasy nor dry. The water content and oil production are well balanced, and blood flow to the skin is good.
If you have normal skin, use a mild and non-alcohol cleanser to prevent over-drying.
Oily Skin
As the name suggests, oily skin looks shiny and has acne, pimple, blackheads, and whiteheads. The pores are open, and the skin has an excess of sebum on it. During teenage, the hormone levels are always fluctuating, which might make things worse for oily skinned teens. Experts believe that stress (be it exam stress or the stress before a date night) can cause your skin to break out. So, stay calm.
If you have oily skin, use soap and water to clean your face thrice a day. Carry cleansing pads with you and use products that are non-comedogenic
Dry Skin
Dry skin is flaky, not-so-smooth to touch, dull, and itchy. It has invisible pores, and the outer layer of the skin keeps shedding abnormally. Dry skin needs external moisturization to stay smooth
If you have dry skin, avoid washing it with soap. Instead, use a mild cleanser. Also, never take hot showers. Avoid excessive washing and scrubbing.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is a concoction of all the above skin type! You may have an extremely oily T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin), and the other parts of the face may be dry. You may have blackheads and open pores. The cheeks may appear rough and dry while the other parts are overflowing with sebum and natural oils.
If you have combination skin, use soap and water to clean your face. Use moisturizer only on the dry parts and avoid the oily parts.
Now that you know your skin type, let’s move on to the skin care tips.
7 Skin Care Tips For Teenage Girls
1. Check Your Diet
Acne and pimples are more hormone-related and less food or diet-related issues. But your skin needs vital nutrients to stay healthy. Stick to a healthy diet plan that is good for your skin and overall health. Also, keep track of what you eat to identify if you have intolerance to any food. Often, specific food items can cause skin issues, such as severe acne breakouts and eczema. In most of the cases, the culprits are dairy products. However, it’s good to do an allergy test to rule out other possibilities.
2. Don’t Forget The Hands
Let’s not forget the hands. Buy a good hand cream and massage it on your hands every morning. Just ensure that you do not use too much of the product because it will make your hands slippery.
3. Be Thrifty With Makeup
As long as you are cleansing your skin at the end of the day, a little bit of makeup is fine. Wash the makeup brushes (if you are using any) regularly. Avoid using foundation because it is too heavy for your delicate skin. Instead, use a tinted moisturizer. Pick a shade that’s closest to your skin tone. And how would you know that? Swatch it on the jawline (not the hand!) and pick the appropriate shade.
4. Stay Away From Scrubs
Even the pore strippers. Wondering how on earth you are going to get rid of the blackheads? The best way to get rid of them is to follow a cleansing routine religiously. Use a product that contains 2% salicylic acid. You can talk to a dermatologist for a recommendation. In case you are under 16, always do this under adult supervision.
5. Wash Your Face
That’s the first thing to do when you wake up in the morning. Why? Because you need to clear your skin of the oil and sweat that have accumulated on your skin all through the night. Do not use soap; use a mild cleanser. Do not rub aggressively as it can irritate the skin and increase oil secretion.
6. Powder On Your Face? (No! Please!)
If you have oily skin that gets glossy through the day, hiding the shine under layers of powder is not going to help. The powder will clog your pores and make your skin look patchy. The best way is to use a blotting paper or a tissue to absorb all the excess oil and shine.
7. Moisturize
Yes. Even the most problematic skin needs to be moisturized. Pick a light skin cream that’s suitable for your skin and addresses your skin issues (like acne or spots). Do not like the glossy finish? You can use matte finish moisturizers that are easily available on the market. If you are going out, you can use a tinted moisturizer.