dry itchy skin

How to Take Care of Dry Skin

January 28, 2016

Dry skin is characterized by a feeling that your skin is one size too small for your face. Taking care of dry skin can be very challenging, and, sometimes it can be painful. Today, I am going to share an ideal routine for people with dry skin. 


The main cause of dry skin is the under-production of sebum by the sebaceous glands in the Dermis layer of the skin, which is the exact opposite to what happens with oily skin. Dry skin feels tight and itchy after washing and goes through premature aging with the early formation of lines and wrinkles It is very important to have a regular routine to maintain dry skin to provide it with nourishing care and make it soft, smooth and supple.

How to Take Care of Dry Skin

  • Use of soaps, detergents and toners aggravate dry skin, because they dry out the skin's natural moisture as they are harsh on the skin and increase in manifold the condition of the skin. The main problem with dry skin is under-production of a substance called sebum which is basically the skin's own moisturizer.
  • This skin type is affected by exposure to the hot sun, cold winds and central heating. These make the condition of the worse. It is important to use a cream-based sunscreen, even during winters, like the Lakme Sun Expert Fairness and UV Lotion available in the Indian market.
  • A gentle and nourishing approach is the best approach when dealing with dry skin.

Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

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  1. Cleanse your face
    It is vital to keep your skin clean at all costs to avoid breakouts, blackheads, etc. You need to use a cream-based cleanser so that it nourishes your face while taking off the dust, dirt and grime off your skin. You should ideally keep the cleanser on for a few moments and wipe it away with a moist cotton ball in gentle upward motions.
  2. Do not use Astringents
    People with dry skin must avoid astringents at all costs as they are super-drying and will make your condition worse. What you can do is use a mild skin freshener, but it must be avoided as well.
  3. Splash your face with water
    People with dry skin often complain about not feeling the water on their skin. A splash of water will help you feel refreshed and will remove excess cleanser.

  4. Moisturize
    Moisturization is key to having healthy, soft and supple skin. This is especially true for the people that have dry skin. A thick nourishing cream would be extremely beneficial for people that have dry skin on the face and will seal in the moisture.
A creamy and moisturizing exfoliating scrub can be used once a week to help make the skin softer and shed the dead skin cells. Always moisturize after scrubbing.

Sticking to your skincare routine every day will make your better, you have to keep in mind that you need to keep your skin clean and moisturized at all times.
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how to take care of oily skin

How to Take Care of Oily Skin

January 26, 2016

Oily skin is the bane of my life, and because of that I have struggled with acne, pimples and blackheads since adolescence to way into early adulthood.

 If you're like me then cheer up! Because in this post I will tell you how to take care and give you some basic tips for oily skin, the products you should use, etc. 

I hope you enjoy this post and find it helpful! 

As you may know, oily skin is characterized by open pores and oily surface making the skin susceptible to blackheads, pimples, acne, etc. I just hate getting a pimple every time some big event comes up!

 The general oiliness of the skin is caused by overproduction of sebum  by the oil glands in the Dermis layer of the skin.

This skin type is prone to acne, a distressing condition which has an onset in adolescence, something I'm (still!)  going through, myself.  But, oily skin has one great benefit. 

Hmm...What could that possibly be...? Let me tell you!


Because of the excess natural lubrication of the skin, you will look younger longer than your friends with dry skin whom you are probably envious of right now! See? everything isn't bad about having oily skin...


How to Take Care of Oily Skin

  • It is very important that you don't treat your oily skin rigorously and take drastic measure when you break out
  • Over-cleansing your oily skin may cause your skin to dry up and your oil glands will try to compensate by secreting more sebum, which will cause your face to get even more oily.
  • Now, you might be thinking, "What is the best approach to deal with oily skin?"
    The best skincare for oily skin is to use a range of gentle products which cleanse away oils, dirt and grime from your skin and unblock your pores without damaging your skin. 
  • Like I mentioned in my last post, the visible, top most layer of skin requires only water to stay soft and supple so, increasing your water intake will help you with oily skin.


Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

Here's a little infographic that'll help you with the 4 important steps you should be following to take care of your oily skin..

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STEP 1 : Clean, clean, clean!
  • Using a foaming facial wash as they are gentle and remove dirt, grime and oil off your face without ripping your skin off moisture. 
  • Do not use soaps on your skin. They are harsh and you'll break out. Trust me on this, I've tried it.. 
  • Use a non-oily makeup remover on a cotton ball and hold it over your skin for a few seconds so that the makeup is absorbed and gently wipe it away.
  • Do not wash your face more than twice a day.
STEP 2: Astringent is Your BFF!
  • An astringent contains alcohol and wipes away dirt and excess oil which the cleanser can miss. Use an astringent with a cotton ball and sweep it over your face.
  • Make sure that the astringent does not irritate your skin, however, stinging sensation is normal while using an astringent.
  • If an astringent does irritate your skin you can: (a) Dilute it with distilled water    (b) Switch to a gentler one
  • An astringent will get to all the leftover grime and dirt your cleanser misses, so you'll have none of that filth on your face, and you'll know for sure!
STEP 3 : Moisturizing My Oily Skin!? Are You Kidding Me!? 
  • You must be thinking I'm crazy for even suggesting you moisturize your oily skin! Well, you need to read my last post for that. 
  • The top most layer of your skin needs water to keep itself soft and supple, so, what a moisturizer does is give the skin that hydration it needs. So that you don't look like Edward Cullen.
STEP 4 : Press It All Clean!
  • Now, after you've let the skin absorb the moisturizer for a few minutes, you should use a tissue paper and press it on your face so that it can absorb excess oil and so that you can avoid the irritating shine. 
  • I would advice you to not use  an exfoliating scrub because it can aggravate your acne and irritate your skin. It might do more harm than good. If you still want to use a scrub, I recommend you use it once in two weeks. 

Skincare for oily skin can be a little bit tricky. The key is in being consistent with your skincare routine and not being disheartened. There is no short-cut way to get a nice, clear skin. I hope that I have helped you and guided you well. Do share your results with me.

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combination skin

Skincare Basics: Types of Skin

January 21, 2016

Hello lovelies!

I'm back with another post about skincare! Thank you for the love and support on my first post about the layers and the functioning of the skin.

 I worked very hard and researched into the topic to help you understand the structure and the functioning of the skin to understand how to take care of your skin. 


There are mainly four types of skin, namely dry skin, oily skin, combination skin and normal skin.

Types of Skin

Check out the infographic I made to know a little about each of the skin types. I will go into detail about all the skin types, later on in this blog post!

So keep reading...
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Following are the major types of skin:


  1. Dry Skin

  • Dry skin is usually found in people with blue eyes and blonde hair who have a fair complexion
  • It is characterized by a feeling that your skin is one size too small for your face/body.
  • This type of skin is extremely sensitive to the weather, central heating, diet, food and drink and needs constant monitoring.
  • The worst enemy for dry skin is a lack of moisture, since the Sebaceous glands do not produce an adequate amount of sebum to keep the skin moisturized. 
  • The problem areas for dry skin include the eyes, forehead, fine lines around the mouth and the neck.
  • It is important for a person with dry skin to protect it from the Sun since it can cause premature aging. 

   2. Oily Skin
  •  Oily skin is found in people with a darker complexion and with sallow-skinned persons.
  • Oily skin is caused by overactive Sebaceous glands since they produce a large amount of sebum. The excess production of sebum may also be caused by:
       (i) Use of harsh astringent
       (ii) Stuffy and airless environments
       (iii) An over rich diet
  • Oily skin calls for a firm but not harsh handling. You should deep cleanse your skin to thoroughly remove dirt and oil, but avoid strong cleansers and astringents. (Astringents with a high amount of alcohol in them must be avoided at all costs)
  • The main cause of concern for oily skin is open pores which cause blackheads and blemishes.
    Blackheads are a sign of badly cleansed skin. They are caused by a buildup of oil and dirt in the pores which lead to spots. The secret to avoiding blackheads is to keep the skin clean.
  • Oily skin is very tolerant and is not highly sensitive. It likes the sun and is comparatively ageless.
  • The best part? As you grow older, oily skin gets normal
 3. Combination Skin
  • This skin type is found in people with medium blonde hair and in dark brunettes with a variety of skin tones.
  • Combination skin is the most common type of skin and is a result of a poor skin care routine and general neglect of one's skin. It may also be a case of confusion or laziness.
  • Combination skin is basically of two types:
       (i) Dry and Normal
    The dry areas are usually the outer parts of the face, ie, the cheeks and the eyes and the normal area is the central panel, ie, the forehead, nose and chin (The T-zone).
      (ii) Dry and Greasy
    The dry areas are the outer parts of the face and the T-zone is greasy. 
  • The best approach you can use is to treat the skin as normal skin and use products meant for normal skin type. 
  • Toner should be used on the T-zone along with a light, watery-based moisturizer and the outer area should be moisturized with a heavier moisturizer. 
  • Combination Skin type responds very well to special treatments, and two different types of face packs should be used for the T-zone and the outer side of the face.
4. Normal Skin
  • This is the most coveted skin type.
  • Normal Skin is very tolerant in all situations and isn't irritated by products. It is also tolerant of the Sun.
  • You need to keep balance in the skin and use products made for normal skin type and should pay attention to the neck area.
  • Fresh air and a good atmosphere is key to keep your skin healthy.
The knowledge of your skin type can help you understand your skin better and will help you in the types of products and treatments you should use to keep your skin plump, healthy and glowing. 

Which type of skin do you have? Leave comments...
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dermis layer

Skincare Basics: Layers & Functioning of the Skin

January 19, 2016

Skin is the your body's largest organ which covers and protects every surface of our body. 

It is very important to know how your skin functions because it gives you insight about how you should care for your own skin and tend to its needs.

 You just can't ignore your skin for months and years and compensate for it with expensive treatments, you should take care of your skin regularly and inculcate it in your daily routine to have clear, soft and supple skin. 


Layers of Skin

The skin is composed of two main layers; mainly the Epidermis and the Dermis.


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Epidermis

  • The epidermis is the top most layer of skin and it protects the body from invasion and infection from the outside world and helps seal in the natural moisture of the skin. 
  • Several layers of living cells in this layer are covered by sheets of dead cells, which make up the visible part of our skin. 
  • The epidermis layer is constantly growing, with new cells living cells being created and dead top-most cells being shed continuously.
  • Low levels of skin cells, or the living skin cells are fed by the blood supply and the upper/ surface level of cells, or the dead cells a require only water to be plump and smooth.
  • The epidermis layer is responsible for the colour of your skin as it holds the skin's pigments.
  • The thickness of the epidermis layer depends upon the part of the body, epidermis is thicker on the ankles, elbows, etc. but is thinner around the eyes. 

Dermis

  • The dermis layer of the skin is located underneath the dermis layer and is composed entirely of living skin cells, unlike the epidermis. 
  • It consists of bundles of tough fibers which gives the skin its elasticity, firmness and strength
  • Blood vessels feed nutrients to the skin cells in the dermis layer. 
  • The epidermis can easily repair and restore itself, but the dermis layer can be damaged permanently upon injury. 
  • The dermis layer consists of the following specialized organs
                  (i) Sebaceous Glands

                        These tiny organs open into hair follicles on the surface of the skin and produce an
                        oily secretion called the sebum which is the skin's natural lubricant. 

                         These glands are located on the scalp, face, cheeks and the T-zone.

                 (ii) Sweat Glands 

                         There are millions of sweat glands located all over our body and their main function
                           is to regulate the temperature of the skin.

                 (iii) Hairs

                          Hairs grow out of the hair follicles and keep the body warm by trapping air    
                          underneath them.

Functions of Skin

The skin has the following functions:

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1. Thermostat
The skin acts as a thermostat by retaining heat via the hairs on the skin and by cooling down the skin by sweating.

2. Protection
The skin protects us from invasion and infection from the outside world.

3. Waste disposal
Certain wastes are expelled from the body 24 hours a day via the skin.

4. Sensation
It provides us with the sense of touch, which is important during non-verbal communications with people and the environment.

5. Healing
The skin heals and renews itself.

6. Barometer for emotions
Skin quickly shows signs of stress and embarrassment


The condition of your skin is an overall sign of your health. It reveals stress, a poor diet, lack of sleep, substance abuse and more. To take good care of your skin, the knowledge of its structure and functioning is very important to know exactly how to get the perfect skin.

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