Very often you can hear people complain about their problems with dry, oily or combination skin. How did they know what type belongs to their skin? If you ask them about it, in many cases, it turns out that they did not recognize. Their judgment on his skin - just a guess, based on their own observations and conclusions. In fact, it is very important to know what type of skin you really, otherwise there is a risk of lifetime care for your skin properly, and receive such care is not the best results. Maybe you are using a cleansing lotion for years with alcohol, eliminating excess fat from the skin, but in fact your skin is not oily? In the long run, these errors reflect badly on your appearance.

To determine the type of skin How to determine skin type: Observations Not necessarily to go to a dermatologist - it is sufficient to carry out a simple test at home.

Test with a mirror

This test is so named because it will help you easily determine your skin type, using only the Mirror. However, there are additional conditions that must be met in order to give the most accurate test results:

• You should not be in the room where the air conditioner is working, at least for half an hour before you begin the test. Air conditioners often make the skin and the air is dry, which could affect the test results.
• Do not wash the face of at least one hour before the test.
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and any activities that cause sweating, half an hour before the test.

The procedure

Snuggle person to clean the mirror. First you need to touch the mirror the nose, forehead and chin. After this, in turn, is pressed against the mirror, left and right cheek. So you can get accurate results, the mirror must touch all parts of the face, except, of course, the areas around the eyes.

Test results: Interpretation

• Oily skin. If the mirror were the traces of fat from both the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), and on the cheeks, then you have oily skin Oily skin: Natural and artificial care . Probably, you are often faced with problems such as the shine of the skin, enlarged pores and acne Acne: facial trouble .
• Dry skin. If the surface of the mirror is left greasy and touching glass face, you feel like lifts hair on your face, your skin is dry Dry skin: care and treatment . The hairs rise due to static electricity (oil produced by the sebaceous glands, could limit its impact). After washing, you often feel the tightness of the skin, perhaps even up to 30 years, you were fine wrinkles.
• Combination skin. This will leave the skin greasy marks on the mirror at the point where you pressed to his forehead, nose and chin and cheeks will not leave any traces. This, according to some experts, the most common type of skin. T-zone people with combination skin usually more fat than other areas of skin as there is located the most sebaceous glands, and they are most active.
• Sensitive skin. To determine the type of skin using this test difficult. Sensitive skin can be both dry and oily. Snuggle face in the mirror for a few minutes. If the skin turns red and it will be boring, most likely, it refers to the sensitive type. On their skin often appear redness, which can handle not all cosmetic products; Many of them, on the contrary, exacerbate the irritation.

Not many women are wondering about what the composition of their cosmetics, what it consists of the ingredients and how they can affect the skin. As a result, often it turns out that some of the wrong-chosen cosmetics bring some unpleasant problems.

Alpha-hydroxy acids

Alpha-hydroxy acids are used for centuries for skin rejuvenation. It is known that Cleopatra took milk baths (milk contains lactic acid). Today, alpha hydroxy acids include composition of various moisturizers, tonics, lotions, and other means for skin care. Alpha-hydroxy acid prepared sugars contained in milk and fruit. The most common alpha-hydroxy acids are glycolic acid and lactic acid, having the ability to penetrate deeply into the skin. Other popular alpha hydroxy are malic acid, derived from apples and pears, citric acid - of oranges and lemons, and acetic acid, which is the main source of the grapes.

Alpha-hydroxy acids are mainly as exfoliating agents. Under the influence of their cells the uppermost portion of the epidermis is peeled off making room for new cell growth. Alpha-hydroxy acids are also able to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. They reduce wrinkles, make the skin smoother and softer, and eliminate or lighten age spots. To achieve this, you need to use cosmetics with alpha hydroxy acids every day for several months. It is considered the most effective concentration of cosmetics with alpha-hydroxyacids of from 5% to 8%, and a pH of from 3 to 4.

At alpha hydroxy There are two main side effects: skin irritation and sensitivity to the sun. Symptoms of skin irritation are redness, burning, itching and sometimes pain; resulting in severe irritation of the skin may remain scars. The use of alpha-hydroxy acid in 50% causes an increased sensitivity to sunlight, which is an interesting dilemma. It is known that alpha hydroxyacids eliminate some effects of photoaging, but at the same time, they make the skin more susceptible to photoaging. For this reason, during the application of cosmetics with an alpha-hydroxy acids is necessary to use a sunscreen with a filter against alpha- and beta-ultraviolet rays.

Alpha-hydroxy acids in various concentrations are used in chemical peels. The concentration determines who can use some products for exfoliation. Means for peeling that sell in retail stores, contain less than 10% alpha-hydroxy acids. Professional beauticians used for chemical peeling agent to the concentration of alpha-hydroxy acid from 20% to 30%.

The results of the application of such peels are similar to the results of microdermabrasion - small wrinkles are smoothed, the skin becomes smoother tone. To maintain a good condition of the skin, the procedure should be held every three to six months.

Doctors can use products with concentrations of alpha-hydroxy acid from 50% to 70%. Such peeling removes wrinkles and superficial scars, and its effect lasts for two to five years. The higher the concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids, the more severe irritation of the skin is peeling, and the longer it takes to restore the skin. After peeling solution with a concentration of 50-70% is observed very strong redness, flaking and itching that persist from one to four weeks.

How to choose products with alpha hydroxy

It is best to use only one product with an alpha-gidrokislotoy in combination with other products, to reduce the possibility of skin irritation. A good choice is a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids (day or night). Cleansers with alpha-hydroxy acids, in contrast, are not the best choice, as they wash well before the acid time to absorb and act.

To date, there is no product that effectively combines alpha-hydroxy acids and sunscreens, as the latter are not stable at that pH, which is necessary for the normal operation of alpha hydroxy acids. Buy sunscreen separately; their SPF should be at least 15.

As we have said, the optimal concentration of alpha-hydroxy acid in cosmetics is 5-8%. Unfortunately, manufacturers are not required to specify the concentration on the packaging, so look at the ingredients list. Usually, when the alpha-hydroxy acids are indicated therein in the second or third place, their concentration is optimal.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is related to a group of beta-hydroxy acids (and is the only member of this group), is widely used in the treatment of mild to moderate forms of acne. It is a common ingredient in many OTC acne The remedy for acne: a responsible choice   and acne Acne: facial trouble   - Ointments, lotions, tonics. Salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent; They are particularly useful in the treatment of acne Acne Treatment - squeeze is not recommended It has been able to penetrate into the hair follicles (which are almost everywhere in the body, including the face where hair is almost not visible). From inside the follicles, salicylic acid causes exfoliation of dead skin cells, opens pores and follicles, and cleans them from contamination. Thus, the number of clogged pores and follicles decreases, which affects the state of fine leather.

Concentration of salicylic acid in OTC from 0.5% to 3%. Typically, such tools recommended for use once a day. Depending on your preference, you can use cleansing lotions, gels or ointments with salicylic acid, but it is not necessary to use two at a time. This can lead to severe dryness of skin, which is not conducive to rapid elimination of the acne and sometimes even have the opposite effect. Once the skin is normalized, scrubs or peels with salicylic acid can be used to maintain the achieved results.

Funds with salicylic acid should be applied to the entire face (and, if necessary, on the shoulders and décolleté). If you apply them only on the acne treatment will be ineffective.

As a rule, after the complete elimination of the use of salicylic acid acne and acne reappear.

Among the possible side effects of salicylic acid - burning, stinging and irritation. Sometimes there are strong dry skin, tightness and peeling. These side effects can be easily and efficiently monitored daily using wetting agents which do not contain fats. If this does not work, try using makeup salicylic acid a day. If you do not help, and it is necessary to renounce the use of salicylic acid, or to consult a dermatologist.

Applications salicylic acid simultaneously with other agents for treating acne, for example, retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, may enhance dryness, flaking and skin burning.

Pregnant and lactating women before using cosmetic products with salicylic acid should consult a doctor, especially if you intend to put salicylic acid on large areas of skin.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid - is a viscous, sticky substance which is a key component of connective tissue. In addition, it serves as a lubricant for the joints and helps to maintain the shape of the eyeball.

Today, hyaluronic acid is widely used as a filler in the treatment of wrinkles. Since it is produced in the body after injection of hyaluronic acid is not rejected by the immune system The immune system - how it works? . Injections almost immediately noticeable wrinkles are smoothed, and the effect lasts longer than with the other excipients due to the fact that hyaluronic acid binds a molecule of water. The results of the injection can be stored up to six months, or even longer. Do injections of hyaluronic acid may be a doctor.

The most common side effects of anti-aging treatments are bruising, pain, redness, itching and swelling at the injection site. To reduce the likelihood of side effects to the patient at least one week before the procedure is recommended to stop taking the supplements with vitamin E, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John's wort. Very rarely observed side effects such as infections, allergic reactions, tissue necrosis and acne.

On the shelves there are more cosmetics with hyaluronic acid. One of the characteristics of hyaluronic acid is that it picks up moisture from the air - as a result of the weight of one molecule of acid by water can be increased by 1000 times. This fact marketers love to use. In fact, when applied to the skin of hyaluronic acid molecules are too big to enable them to penetrate the skin. Cream with hyaluronic acid in the skin forms a barrier that creates a feeling of softness and hydration, but in reality does not help eliminate wrinkles, or at least to prevent the signs of aging. Soap with hyaluronic acid the more inefficient because when using it quickly washed off the skin - together with the active ingredients.