By Eleanor Reader Knowing your correct skin type is the key to unlocking the secret to great skin. It is an imperative step toward getting the best results out of your skin care and make up. Applying the wrong products can even aggravate skin conditions, so follow our Skin Type Guide and try out our recommended skin diagnosis tools so you can classify your skin correctly and achieve a healthy, radiant complexion.
Rescu. spoke to Ella Bache’s skin expert, Amber Scott, about why knowing your correct skin type is so important.
RESCU: How important is it to know your correct skin type so you can get the best results from your skincare products?
Amber Scott: We have a mantra at Ella Bache that highlights the importance of understanding your skin type and condition before choosing your skincare, ‘Know your product but first know your skin’. All skincare products are created to address specific concerns on the skin. Understanding your skin type (oil flow) and skin conditions will ensure that you are always using the right products, with the right ingredients to achieve the best result on the skin. Using incorrect skincare for you skin type and concerns will not deliver results and may even aggravate other skin concerns.
RESCU: Are there any tricks for self diagnosing your skin type?
Amber Scott: The best tip I can give is that skin diagnosis is best left to the experts. The skin is a very complicated organ of the body that is constantly changing and what you think might be one skin concern is really another. For example, if the skin feels rough, tight and dry to touch, most people would think this means that the skin is dry (a lack of oil on the skin), where in actual fact the skin could be dehydrated (a lack of moisture on the skin). The treatment for both of these skin conditions is quite different and the wrong treatment could result in more skin problems.
Follow Amber’s Skin Type Guide To Classify Your Skin Type
Normal Skin – Normal skin will have a healthy, hydrated appearance. A normal skin should not experience oiliness or dryness throughout the day.
Oily Skin – Oily skins tend to have over productive oil glands, which mean’s they produce a lot of oil and release this oil onto the surface of the skin constantly throughout the day. Oily skin will look shiny on the surface. People with oily skin will generally describe their skin as greasy and feel the need to blot their skin with a tissue throughout the day to absorb excess oil from the surface of the skin. These skins can be prone to blackheads and breakouts due to excess oil build up in the pores.
Dry Skin – Dry skins have very little to no oil production which means their skin never feels oily. Dry skin tends to look and feel tight with no visible open pores. These skins can be prone to sensitivity as they lack the oils that naturally protect the skin from irritants.
Sensitive Skin – Sensitive skins will be prone to redness and will flush easily when exposed to an irritant. Fine, fragile skins can be prone to sensitivity and these skins will generally look quite thin and translucent.
Combination Skin – Combination skin can be many things. Generally this skin type refers to oily combination skin where the skin may be oily through the T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin) and then dry on their outer cheek area. A combination skin may experience oiliness and breakouts on their T-zone area however will never breakout on the outer cheek area.
Expert Skin Diagnosis
If you really want to get the best results from your skincare, you need to get your skin diagnosed by the experts. Try these quick and easy skin diagnosis tools.
Ella Bache TruView Skin Diagnosis
Ella Bache’s new skin diagnosis tool uses white light LED’s to see below the skin’s surface. It shows up the good, the bad and the ugly, including hyper pigmentation, capillary damage, uneven skin tone and breakouts, so they can recommend the best treatment possible. This skin diagnosis is quick, easy and comfortable, but best of all it is a complimentary service, so get your self to Ella Bache today and discover your skin concerns.
Ella Baché’s complimentary TruView Skin Diagnosis is available in all David Jones stores and selected Ella Baché salons nationally.
Elemis Skin Lab
At Myer city stores across Australia Elemis offers you the chance to see what really lies beneath your skin. Six images of your face are printed to uncover dehydration, evenness, UV spots, wrinkles, texture and bacteria. As you can imagine it can be very scary to see your skin stripped bare, but the in-depth analysis report and recommendations give you priceless information about your skin.
Available at MYER Melbourne City (03 9661 1111), Sydney City (02 9238 9439), Perth City (08 9265 5600), Chadstone (03 9567 6369) or Doncaster (03 8848 3167).
Dermalogica Face Mapping
Taking the guess work out of your skin concerns, Dermalogica’s high-tech Face Mapping analysis divides your face into fourteen zones and analyses every inch using touch and sight. After five to ten minutes you are given your prescription sheet, which details all your nasty skin concerns like congestion, breakouts, hydration and hyperpigmentation. It also keeps an accurate record of your skin, so when get a second analysis you will be able to see whether your products have had any effect or not.
This free analysis is offered at Dermalogica treatment centres, spas and salons nationwide.
