Understanding skin types & undertones

Skin is not just Skin. Well, it is - but you can examine and define it in much more detail aha.
Everyone has a skin type and different colour undertones to their skin - and knowing these will help you to buy the best products for your skin, and match the right shade of foundation!

Part 1: Skin Types
Combination Skin
This is the most common skin type; being oily in some places and dry in others. Often the T-zone (forehead and nose) gets oily and the cheeks may develop dry patches, especially in winter.

When it comes to makeup, common problems experienced with combination skin are an oily T-zone after a few hours, or a few dry patches showing up under foundation.
A foamy cleanser is ideal to use in the mornings for this skin type - I have this skin and use a lightly exfoliating face wash which is good. A light moisturiser should be used all over combination skin in the morning, with most of the focus on drier areas. Any face makeup should be set with a powder, and pressed powder used on the T-zone to prevent oilyness. Mineral makeup is a great option if you only want a light coverage, as it contains natural pigments which should not irritate either dry or oily patches of skin.


Oily Skin
Oily skin often feels greasy all over and gets shiny very quickly. It also is prone to spots all over and pores are often quite large and visible.

It's an easy mistake to choose a strong, exfoliating cleanser to use on oily skin to try and keep it under control but this can do more bad than good if used regularly - it strips away all the moisture from your face. For a daily cleanser, a foaming facial wash is reccomended. You still must use a moisturiser! But stick to lighter watery moisturisers. When it comes to any makeup or facial products steer clear of any oil-based products, choosing water based products instead. A mattifying primer or pore minimiser makes a good base for makeup, and powder foundations will absorb oil well. It's also a good idea to have oil blotting sheets with you at all times! (can be bought from Mac, the Body Shop etc) These can be used throughout the day to absorb excess oil.


Dry Skin
Dry skin feels tight after washing and flaky patches may appear (especially under foundations). Also prone to redness.

A gentle creamy cleanser is ideal for dry skin. A thick moisturiser should be used before applying makeup and also overnight to leave skin soft and nourished. Allow plenty of time for the moisturiser to fully absorb before apply further products, otherwise it's effects are lost! As for makeup, liquid foundations may be most suitable - you can mix these with moisturiser as well if needed. Stay away from mousse foundations (Dream matte mousse = avoid at ALL costs for dry skin! shows up dry patches like a bitch aha). Some powder foundations also tend to 'stick' to dry patches so it may be a good idea to avoid them.

Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin can be super-awkward at times, with it's unpredictable ways - but if you know how to handle it it makes life that little bit easier.

Products with fragrances or preservatives can often irritate sensitive skin. Search for fragrance-free products and those with more natural ingrediants so to lessen the chance of developing a rash. Also look for 'hypoallergenic' makeup, as this means it is developed to be less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Powder foundations are reccomended over liquids, as they tend to contain less preservatives - but if you're hooked on liquid foundation try to buy foundations with silicone in them as this is known for not irritating the skin. It is important to throw away makeup once it reaches the end of its life span (foundation: 6 months, mascara: 3-6 months, powders:1-2 years) as by this stage it often contains many bacteria which can irritate your skin.



Nowadays there are so many varieties of skincare and makeup out there, you may have to try a few products before you find your HG foundation/powder/whatever! Experimenting with lots of different products will be worth all the effort and money once you find what you're looking for, so don't settle for second best!
Also there are many skincare ranges and makeup products out there now dedicated to specific skin types so they may be worth a try - but don't ignore other products which don't include your skin type in the name because you could miss out.

Hope this post was useful :)
I will post Part 2 - Understanding Undertones within the next few days
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