What skin type are you?

Before you go ahead and spend any amount of money on skin care products you should know what type of skin care is best for your skin.  The best type of product for your skin - besides being natural and organic, that is :-) - depends on your skin type.

I have put together the typical characteristics of certain skin types to help you determine which products will work best for you.

Dry Skin

Does your skin often feel tight?  Is your skin often flakey?  Do you feel like slapping on loads of moisturiser the moment you have washed your face?  If so, then the likelihood is that you are suffering from dry skin.

People with dry skin suffer from fine lines and wrinkles more than other skin types due to dehydration and, because of this, you should be cleansing, toning and moisturising your face both day and night, making sure not to use an astringent toner.  

Using a night cream as well as a daily moisturiser is always a good idea as these often offer extra nourishment which skin benefits from greatly when we are sleeping.

Pura Natural's Pure Honey Skin Care Range

At Pura Natural's our dry skin care range is made from pure organic honey.  Honey is a humectant, which means it helps the skin to retain moisture.  This makes it ideal for any skin type but especially dry skin.  

Tanya says:  "Of all the face care products that Pura Naturals offers, the Honey Skin Care Range is my favourite.  Maybe this is because I suffer from dry skin too.  I love the richness of the face creams, especially the Honey Night Treatment and, even if I say so myself, I think the prices are pretty awesome too and believe me, with these creams, a little goes a long way!"

Click here to read a review on a Honey Night Treatment

Normal Skin

Its not easy to determine what "normal skin" actually means as skin types can change over time and our skin can also be affected by the changes in seasons. Nevertheless, if you don't suffer with a tightness of the skin after cleansing, or have any problem with oily skin and your skin is pretty blemish free when it comes to spots then, I think it is safe to say you fall into the category of normal skin.

Having normal skin, however, doesn't mean that you can get away without taking good care of your skin.  After all, you want it to stay that way don't you?  You still need to find a good skin care regime to keep your skin beautiful.  Washing, toning and cleansing morning and night will help keep your skin healthy, as would protecting your skin from the sun.  Even in the middle of winter our skin still benefits from protection against the sun and the harsh weather conditions.  Using a moisturising cream with an SPF is an ideal way of  doing this.

Pura Naturals' Collagen Retinol Moisturiser with SPF 15

Tanya says: "Our Collagen Retinol Moisturiser with SPF 15 is the perfect way to stay moisturised and protected during the harsh winter months, whilst also providing you with the anti-ageing benefits of marine collagen and retinol." 

Combination Skin

People who have combination skin generally suffer from an oily T-Zone (nose and forehead) and dry cheeks.  They can be prone to spots and "break-outs", especially on the nose.  

Due to their oily skin and break-outs, some people with combination skin will assume they actually have oily skin and will treat it as such, often resulting in dry, flaky skin around the cheek area.  Even if you are aware that you have combination skin, it's not always easy knowing what products to use.  

Tanya says: "Pura Naturals' "Bare Essentials" Skin Care range, created for sensitive skin, is also great for combination skin.  It will gently cleanse the skin whilst providing key nourishment benefits."

Sensitive Skin

Causes of sensitive skin may vary but usually those who suffer from sensitive skin find that they:

• react to most skin care products;
• suffer from extreme reactions to stress, light skin procedures, massage etc;
• have a tingling or tightening of the skin without any visible reason; or 
• suffer from constant redness, drying and irritation of the skin.

Sensitive skin can be difficult to combat, especially if you are unsure of the right products to use. However using sensitive skin care products can help alleviate some of these symptoms and allow you to still nourish and care for your skin, without irritation. Avoid using harsh soaps that remove natural skin oils and leave skin dry and flaky. Choose a gentle, fragrance-free soap for cleansing. If you prefer using soaps, use a natural olive-oil based soap. Olive oil acts as a natural moisturiser and does not cause irritation.  

Moisturising your skin with natural vegetable oils will help replenish the skin, making it softer and smoother.  Look for products containing almond oil, olive oil and jojoba oil.  Natural vegetable oils have more staying power than creams and are more effective at preventing water from evaporating from your skin.

Avoid using products with artificial fragrances and preservatives, which act as allergens and increase the sensitivity of the skin. Synthetic fragrances often contain harsh chemicals and are the most likely cause of skin irritations or contact allergies.

Tanya says:  "Our Bare Essentials skin care range is fragrance free, alcohol free and colourant free and contains ingredients such as avocaado oil, apricot oil and olive oil making them a gentle yet effective way to protecting your skin. 

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, your skin will be shiny, especially across the forehead, noise and chin, otherwise known as the "T-Zone". You may have enlarged pores and be prone to blackheads and breakouts of spots due to the overproduction of the sebaceous glands (the oil producing glands).

Fear not, for oily skin ages better than other skin types, especially dry skin, because the oils keep the skin plump and smooth looking, allowing fewer wrinkles to form. However, for some young women who have oily skin, they can find that their skin becomes more dry as they get older.

If you suffer from oily skin wash with a cleanser, specially formulated for oily skin just before you go to bed and use an oil-free moisturiser. Exfoliate twice a week with a gentle facial scrub and use an astringent toner if you tend to suffer from break-outs.

Tanya says: "Containing Witch Hazel (an astringent that tightens pores and removes excess oil) and Tomoto Leaf (to combat shine and oil production) and Tea Tree Oil our Pure Essentials range has been specially created for blemish-prone skin and works particuarly well on oily skin".