Know Your Skin Type

Sensitive Skin
Thin, delicate, fine pores, flushes easily, prone to broken capillaries, frequently allergic, can be rashy.

Dry Skin
Feels tight, especially after cleansing; fine wrinkles, flaking, red patches.

People with dry skin tends to lack in elasticity and has a tendency to wrinkle more. As we age, our skin oil production slows down naturally and most skins become drier.

What you need:

• a richer, hydrating cleanser which can be removed with water or cotton wool
• a nourishing daily moisturizer
• facial oil for night use
• sun protection for outdoor activities
• once a week hydrating mask

What you don't need:

• soap on your face
• alcohol-based toners which are too harsh for your skin, use rosewater to remove make-up traces or self-made toner such as green-tea toner

Combination / Normal Skin
Medium pores, smooth and even texture, good circulation, healthy colour, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks, may be oily in T-Zone.

Oily Skin
Shiny skin, enlarged pores, prone to blackheads and blemishes, some tightness.

Oily-skinned people tends to age more slowly and to combat the problem, try using gentler cleanser instead of using skin-stripping toners and cleaners.

What you need:

What you don't need:

• harsh, oil-stripping cleansers and toners
• oil-blotting products, just use facial tissue, place one layer over the skin and press

Aging or Sun-Damaged Skin
Feels tight, visible wrinkles, slack skin tone, especially around the cheeks and jawline, leathery texture, broken capillaries.

If you are suffering from acne and dry rough skin, try juicing ingredients such as carrots, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and leafy green vegetables.





What Type of Skin Do I Have?
To recognize your specific skin type, do the following test:

• Wash your face at night with your face wash and warm water.

• Do not apply any cream or lotion when you go to bed.

• The next morning, before washing your face, blot separate tissues across your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.

• If there is no oily residue, you have either normal skin or dry skin. If your skin is dry, it will feel flaky and stretched.

• If all the tissues have an oily patch, your skin is oily.

• If only the tissues used on the forehead, nose and chin are oily, then you have combination skin.

For acne skin problem, try using one lime and some honey, squeeze out the lime juice and mix with same amount of honey. Mix well and apply onto clean face and leave for 5 mins. Rinse off and pat dry.

To keep our skin smooth, eating a balance and healthy diet is important. We can slow down the aging process by increasing our intake of antioxdants in our diet such as Vitamin C and E and beta-carotene (yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, dark leafy vegetables). Find Vitamin C in citrus fruits, rosehips, red and green peppers, broccoli and bean sprouts. Vitamin E can be found in cold-pressed wheatgerm oil and cold-pressed safflower oil. Zine and selenium helps to fight sun damage to the skin. Zinc helps with wound-healing and supports the tissue-rebuilding actions of Vitamin A. Good sources of Zinc include seafood, egg yolk, nuts, legumes and grains.

We should also not forgetting about essential fatty acids which plays an important role as our body and skin need some fat to operate healthily. Increase the intake of essential fatty acids such as omega-3s and omega-6s and flax seeds and linseeds. Sign of flaky skin and hair, cracking nails are common signs of EFA deficiency. Consume beneficial fats and minimize harmful fats.

Don't throw away attractive cosmetics glass bottles or jars after using them as you can collect and reuse them to store self-made face and body treats you've made yourself.


Try DIY facial oil for oily skin for anti-aging purpose

Mix all the oils and massage well into the area of lymph glands which is down both sides of the neck, the sinus area and forehead. Pouring oil on troubled skin, in which oil production is already in overdrive might not sound logical but if you persist with daily treatment using this treatment oil for acne, you should see the benefits.

Your skin will believe it has produced enough oil and will slow down its oil production. When the skin is stripped away of its oil, the skin will rebalance itself by producing even more oil causing pimples and spots.

Place the leaves in a bowl, boil the mineral water and pour over the leaves and steep for 20mins. Add the apple juice, pour into a sterilized bottle and apply using a cotton pad.

DIY green-tea toner

Combine both ingredients and store in a bottle (use a spray top if it is to be used as a spritzer). Apply either with cotton pad or spritzing onto the face after cleansing.

Make your own oily skin mask by whisking 1 egg white with 1/4 tsp lemon juice or cider vinegar. Apply the whisked mixture to a well-cleaned face and wash off after 10 mins. Your skin will feel tight during masking but that's normal.

The best way to remove make-up is not with facial tissues or cotton wool. It is using muslin cloth. Simply apply your cleanser and massage it rhoroughly into your face and soak the cloth in hot water and use it like a flannel to remove every last traces of cleanser. Rinse the cloth and repeat 2 or 3 times then finish by running it under a cool tap and wiping that over your face.

Brightening mask for face and hands

Mash the avocado with the other ingredients until you have a smooth paste. Spread over the face, neck and hands and leave on for 20mins. Wash with warm water and pat dry. If you have very dehydrated skin, use only 1 tbsp of lemon juice and omit the tomato pulp and substitue with 1 tbsp of honey.

DIY honey and avocado mask for normal to dry skin

Blend the avocado, egg and mayonnaise in a blender and then add honey and remaining ingredients. You may also mix the ingredients beating by hand and adding the baking soda last. Apply to clean face for 20mins and rinse with warm water and pat dry.

DIY anti-wrinkle mask

Use one large carrot and grate the carrot. When it is ready, add 1 tbsp of olive or almond oil and process until combined using a food processor. Put the mixture in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. Apply around the eyes and cheeks and leave on for 30mins. Lie back with eyes closed and relax. Wipe away with warm water.