How do I know what type of skin I have?

Our skin is an active, layered organ that protects our body; its health status is determined by a continuous balance between the external environment and the internal one. Any detrimental event causes an immediate response of its different components, that work to restore the skin to a normal condition in the shortest possible time. As a matter of fact, skin reacts to outside stimuli and to any modifications that alter its normal characteristics; these changes may be temporary and easily repaired or, if sustained over time, they can cause skin differentiation, thus outlining one of the most commonly known skin types.

It is important to know your skin type in order to choose the most effective treatment, so you can take full advantage of its strengths.

When identifying your skin type, you have to remember that skin condition is influenced by:

- the seasons (in winter skin is more hydrated),

- time (during the day secretion of sebum and perspiration increase),

- any particular living conditions (such as psychological problems, diet, hormonal status).

It is therefore advisable to subject your skin to periodical checks in order to interpret the signals correctly.
Additionally, it is important to consider that you must not only determine your skin type, but also the state of your skin. For example, a sensitive skin may also be normal, oily, dry or combined.

To get started, the cotton pad test is an easy and quick method to get an idea of your skin type.

A cotton pad is run on facial skin when the face is dry: if the pad bears oily traces, it means that you are dealing with an oily or combined type of skin. On the contrary, if the pad is clear, you have normal or dry skin.

You can then proceed to more detailed observations, preparing your skin for a visual check by following these steps:

1. Thoroughly clean your face with cleansing milk;
2. Rinse to remove any residual lotion, as this might lead to a misclassification of your skin type;
3. Wait 15 minutes without applying any creams, lotions or tonics;

Now observe your skin and try identifying all of its key characteristics.


How do I know if I have oily or combination skin?

Oily skin is characterised by a diffuse layer of sebum that makes it greasy. Generally, in this type of skin, the pores dilate very easily and become receptacles for pimples and impurities such as blackheads. It is normally quite difficult to find suitable makeup products for this type of skin. Caring for combination skin can be tricky: on one hand this type of skin does need thorough cleaning, while on the other it is very delicate and needs all the care it can get. It is therefore important not to skimp on those products that can improve it.

Combination skin is characterised by very oily areas (the famous "T" area: forehead, nose and chin) alternated with dry and sensitive areas. To determine if this is your type of skin, it is sufficient to observe its appearance a few hours after applying makeup. In fact, combination skin tends to become glossy right in the "T" area, while the rest of the face remains more or less dry.

Oily skin:

    - blackheads, distributed all over your face
    - skin is slightly oily to the touch and leaves a greasy residue on your fingers
    - dilated pores
    - grayish color
    - characteristic odour
    - shiny appearance
    - pimples
    - whiteheads

Combination skin:

    - blackheads in the T- area (forehead, nose, chin)
    - skin on the cheeks feels tight, is dry and sometimes flakes off easily
    - often presents rosacea

1896 Cosmetics committed to creating a specific line for combination, oily and impure skin; these products guarantee an effective treatment by nourishing and purifying the epidermis whilst rebalancing excess sebum, without leaving the skin dry. A week of our 1896 combination skin treatments and you will notice the difference.


How do we know if our skin is dry, normal or sensitive?

Normal skin does not present any particular characteristics. It is a skin free of the excess sebum that characterises oily skin and is not prone to irritation, unlike dry or sensitive skin.

Dry skin can be easily recognised since it feels tight even in normal conditions (i.e. cleaned and dry face). It has a great need to be nurtured and protected as it lacks in sebum which, in small quantities, is essential to maintain elasticity.

Sensitive skin is prone to irritation. A simple cleansing is enough to make it go red and appear scalded. Like dry skin, the sensitive type needs to be hydrated and nourished, by using products that shield it against the aggression of atmospheric agents.

Normal skin:

    - few blackheads (comedones)
    - not withered
    - skin does not feel tight
    - average pore size
    - smooth, polished surface
    - no greasy areas
    - remains soft even after washing
    - rashes may occasionally occur
    - can be a sensitive skin

Dry skin (alipidic):

    - feels dry after washing
    - very subtle texture, with small, almost invisible pores
    - rare blackheads
    - infrequent rashes
    - strong feeling of tension and itching, to the point that you feel the urge to scratch your face
    - may appear dull, opaque and creased
    - small wrinkles are visible, especially around the eyes and around the mouth
    - usually a very sensitive skin which turns red in cold/hot conditions, upon eating particular types of food, or as a result
      of emotional distress

Dry skin (dehydrated):

    - blackheads on forehead, nose and chin ("T- area")
    - slight tension sensation all over your face
    - arid, wrinkled and discolored appearance
    - a bit rough
    - it flakes off easily
    - very sensitive, delicate and inelastic

Sensitive skin:

    - strong tension sensation
    - red spots all over your face, especially in areas of very dry skin
    - blotchy appearance
    - rough to the touch

For normal, dry and sensitive skin, 1896 created several ad hoc moisturising treatments and cleaners in its Women's line; this was done using special selected raw materials, such as mimosa wax, mare's milk, pineapple extract and so on. These elements contribute to give skin hydration, protect it from the weather and soothe irritation and dermatitis.

For any other requirements, ranging from mature skin to men skincare, and for the treatment of our whole body and hair, 1896 proposes specific treatments in our other lines: Anti-aging, Argan Oil, Body, Body Hygiene, Healthcare, Men. All of these have been created specifically to exploit the phytocomplexes synergy in order to restore skin firmness, elasticity and balance.