There is a whole lot more to proper skin care than just washing your face every morning. To really take care of your face properly, there are some different things you need to take into consideration when it comes to correct facial skincare. The most important being:

What Skin Type Am I?

The type of skin that you have plays a huge role in what products you should use and how you should treat your skin. As you have probably noticed, there are a lot of products in drugstores and other beauty shops that are marketed towards certain “skin types”. Don’t take this lightly; the type of product you use on your face is dependent upon whether you have normal, dry, sensitive, oily, or combination skin.

Oily skin is quite obvious. Your face feels greasy, there is a shine to it, and you often suffer from breakouts, acne, and other blemishes. Oily skin can also be quite problematic when it comes to using make up and other facial products which makes it all the more important to use the proper facial skincare products.

Dry skin is exactly that – it’s dry! Your skin often feels tight, often has a paper-thin quality to it, and it may even be slightly flakey in spots (such as in the corners of your nose). Dry skin requires a whole lot of special care too to ensure that you do not dry it out TOO much when using cleansing and toning products.

Combination skin is a tricky one as it is a combination of both oily and dry skin. If you have an oily nose, chin, and/or forehead but have very dry cheeks, there’s a good chance you have combination skin.

Sensitive skin is the type of skin that will break out into a rash should certain products come in contact with it. Take extra good care of your sensitive skin and use the appropriate products formulated for this skin type to prevent any further problems.

Lastly, normal skin is, well, normal skin. You may get a pimple or two here or there, but it’s a rare occasion. Your skin generally has the same texture, tone, and is evenly hydrated. It never feels uncomfortable, and it is generally not problematic.

So what do I Need for proper Facial Skincare?

The most important thing when it comes to facial skin care is to choose a good cleanser. You want one that is formulated for your skin type, so be sure to read the bottle, but you also want it to suit your needs. If you wear make up, make sure you buy a cleanser that can remove make up or purchase an eye makeup remover as well to get rid of all residue. If you suffer from acne often (such as if you are a teenager) then buy products that both suit your skin type, and that also promise to get rid of your acne.

Next comes the toner. Toner’s are a bit more liberal, as many are alike. Sensitive skin users, beware! Pay particular attention when it comes to what’s in the toner you’re using and test it out. If you have combination skin, it may be a good idea to use the toner only on the more oily parts of your face and avoid applying it to your dry skin.

Last comes the moisturizer. Some of you with oily skin may benefit simply from spreading your facial oils on your face and skipping a moisturizer all together. For everyone else, a good quality moisturizer is a must, especially for anyone with dry or sensitive skin. And no matter what your skin type, always try to choose a moisturizer with at least an SPF rating of 30 or above to really protect your face.