Daily use of most soaps and cleansers can greatly reduce your skin’s natural ability to repel the thousands of irritants and toxins that are commonly found in the home and work place. Once these irritants penetrate your outer layer of skin they can cause dry skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis, skin allergies and many other less desirable skin and health problems.

Dry skin and itchy skin are nature’s way of warning you that the protective elements of your outer layer of skin have been stripped away. When it comes to caring for your skin, vitamins and good nutrition can be just as beneficial as a good skin care treatment. Vitamins are important in keeping your skin looking and feeling healthy. They can also help prevent and treat any problem areas and skin disorders.

There are four basic skin types,each one is identified by unique characteristics, which we will help outline in this article.

Oily Skin
Oily skin is prone to developing blackheads and pimples as dirt clings to the oil and gets clogged in the pores, ultimately resulting in blackheads. Oily skin generally has a shiny appearance and a good cleansing product must be applied to clear out the pores.

Dry Skin
Dry skin requires a lot of moisturiser in order to obtain a healthy, smooth surface. Dry skin that is not moisturised can feel tight and sore. Dry skin flakes rather easily and due to its sensitivity, can often be red, itchy and irritated. Only specific products, geared towards dry skin should be used on this skin type as certain products can further irritate the skin.  Dry skin is also sensitive to the sun and is generally less prone to developing acne. Avoid using products, which contain alcohol or fragrance as this could further irritate the skin.

Normal Skin
This is the skin most people envy. A normal skin has a good balance between oily and dry and is generally healthy looking. With normal skin, you have a clear complexion and your pores are not generally visible.

Combination Skin
While normal and Combination Skins are often thought to be the same, these two skin types are very different. Combination skin is generally the skin that is classified as having a T Zone, where the skin is oily on the forehead, down towards the nose and chin, while other regions of the face are dry.