Hi Adelady readers! My name is Stacey and I am so proud to be a part of the Adelady team and this great website, by Adelaide women, for Adelaide women.
I am your makeup and beauty contributor, and when racking my brain on what my first story should be I realised there were so many tips, techniques and great products that I wanted to share with you all! So where to begin? Well, I have decided to start at the beginning.
Before you even think of picking up a foundation brush or applying your favourite lipstick… Ladies, the basis of ANY great makeup starts with GREAT SKIN! I cannot stress enough how important looking after your skin is, and how big a role it plays in how your makeup will look and feel. I remember many times working with clients who could not understand why the most hydrating of foundations looked like sandpaper on their skins yet when asked about their skincare routines I would discover that they were just removing their makeup with soap and/or water!! I want to give you all a run down on how to analyse and understand your skin, and how to determine what the best products are for you, so when it comes to putting on your makeup not only do you have a flawless canvas to work with, but you may realise you don’t need to use as much makeup after all! Each of us has been blessed (or unfortunately not so blessed) with a skin type which is usually determined by genetics and general behaviour of our skin. Our skin type can change during puberty or menopause but generally remains the same. What does change however, is our skin condition which is the behaviour of our skin due to internal and external factors. Skin types/skin conditions are as follows.
SKIN TYPES – Dry, Normal/Combination, Oily.
SKIN CONDITIONS – Dehydrated, sensitive, redness/blotchy, irritated, flaky, pigmented, acne (including blackheads, whiteheads, pimples) allergic reactions.
Beautiful skin begins with a healthy lifestyle which includes eating good foods, drinking lots of water, exercising, not smoking, sun protection, and limiting our intake on caffeine and alcohol (sorry ladies but its true). The environment also affects our skin. I’m sure most of you have noticed a difference in your skin in the change of seasons, perhaps becoming dryer in winter with the cooler wind and slightly shiny in the summer heat? Or if you travel a lot for work your skin can often feel and look a lot more dull or dehydrated? Our skin changes all the time, so we need to look at our skincare in the same way. I was taught that while we may have an array of makeup products in our beauty cupboards at home, we should also have a selection of skincare, so when we wake up in the morning or go to bed at night we can determine what our skin needs by how it looks and feels and go from there. It is unlikely our skin is going to need the exact same products year in and year out. Makes sense right? So the following is a breakdown on the different types of skin and their conditions, what are the best types of products to use and a basic skincare routine for each.
DRY SKIN
– Tight feeling after washing
– Possible flaky or dry appearance
– Feels rough/looks dehydrated
– Small pores/fine lines appear faster
Limit consumption of alcohol and caffeine and drink LOTS of water! Richer cleansers, such as cream based, oil based or balms are going to be the best for you and a nice hydrating moisturiser. If you are using a more lightweight SPF moisturiser during the day then be sure to switch it up to a much more nourishing cream at night. Do not forget your eye cream both day and night as the eye area is the first place to show signs of dryness and dehydration. Please do not use your face cream around the eyes as this area is more sensitive and the skin is more delicate. If you must use a toner make sure it doesn’t contain alcohol as it will strip your skin of any moisture. Exfoliating twice a week to remove dead skin cells is vital in the appearance of your skin, to allow all those good cleansers and moisturisers to penetrate into your skin! Treat yourself to a nice hydrating mask once a week too if you can.
NORMAL/COMBINATION SKIN
– Feels comfortable
– Medium size pores
– Cheeks are driest area but not too much
– May have some shine throughout
T-zone Normal/combo skin types can cleanse with foam, gel or cream cleansers or even balm/oil based cleansers in some instances. If you are on the dryer side of combination I would recommend more the cream/balm/oil formulas and if you are feeling a little more oily/combination then use gel or foam cleansers. Moisturisers with antioxidants will help your skin and any lightweight lotions or creams to keep the skin hydrated. Don’t forget that eye cream day and night and to exfoliate twice a week also. Depending on how your skin looks or feels that week, treat yourself to a nice hydrating mask if you’re feeling a little dehydrated or a purifying mask if your T-zone is slightly more oily.
OILY SKIN
– Medium/large pores
– Shiny skin
– Prone to breakouts and congestion
Oily skin types need to monitor their skincare routine and maintain a healthy diet to prevent breakouts. Making sure you cleanse morning and night to remove dirt and keep pores open and free from congestion. A mild cleansing soap or gel cleanser is best to help dissolve oil buildup without stripping skin of natural moisture. A gentle toner can be used to remove remaining oil after cleansing, followed by a lightweight, oil free moisturiser, both day and night. Don’t forget that eye cream and of course exfoliating twice a week! A good purifying mask once a week will also help to decongest pores.
Ladies, I hope this has helped you understand your skin and determine what kind of products you should be using. Be sure to check out my next post as I’ll be sharing some of my must-have skincare products!!
Stacey xx
