They say one of the most important steps to taking care of your skin is understanding your specific skin type and which products and treatments to use accordingly. But how can you take care of your skin correctly, if you don’t know your skin type?

You’re in luck because at Beauty at Ab Fab, your Maylands beauty specialist, we diagnose skin and can help you discover your skin type - we’ve also written a blog to help you understand.

Continue reading to start your skin type discovery…

First, let’s take a look at the four main skin types.

Dry Skin

You may have dry skin if:

It feels tight
You experience noticeable flaking or itching
It feels or looks dehydrated
You notice cracks or redness
Breakouts are rare

What causes dry skin? Dry skin is largely due to genetics, environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet, hormonal changes, and climate. Dehydration is also a leading cause of dry skin, so make sure you drink plenty of water!

The good news about dry skin? You usually experience fewer breakouts and pimples.

The bad news about dry skin? Dry skin often ages you faster as it’s more prone to wrinkles.

Normal / Combination Skin

You may have normal / combination skin if:

You have an oily t-zone
Your cheeks feel a little dry
Breakouts are rare

The good news about dry skin? This type is the least complicated of the four.

Oily Skin

You may have oily skin if:

It feels oily
Your skin looks greasy and shiny
You notice large, open pores
Pimples and blackheads are common

What causes oily skin? Oily skin can be due to genetics, age, enlarged pores, use of incorrect skin care products, or excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands (these produce natural oils called sebum.)

The good news about oily skin? It often looks younger and more supple, because it has more natural moisture and is less prone to wrinkle.

The bad news about oily skin? It’s more prone to breakouts.

Sensitive Skin

You may have sensitive skin if:

You’re prone to rashes
You have broken capillaries
Your skin is often dry and itchy
Certain products or fragrances cause your skin to react

What causes sensitive skin? There is no one cause for sensitive skin. Usually, it’s the symptom of another condition such as eczema, rosacea or allergic contact dermatitis.

The good news about sensitive skin? There are plenty of products designed for sensitive skin to help.

sensitive skin.jpeg — Sensitive Skin like silk…

How do you know which skin type you are?

Now that you’ve learned about the 4 main skin types, how do you know which one fits your skin?

This is where a skin diagnosis comes in, and (unless your reactions or skin problems are highly severe), you don’t necessarily need to see a Dermatologist.

Maylands Skin Analysis at Beauty at Ab Fab

At Beauty at Ab Fab, we diagnose our client’s skins with a Wood’s Lamp.

What’s a Wood’s Lamp? A Wood’s lamp examination is a procedure that uses transillumination (light) to detect bacterial or fungal skin infections. It also can detect skin pigment disorders such as vitiligo and other skin irregularities.

Normally, the light will look purple or violet and your skin will not fluoresce (glow) or show any spots under the Wood’s lamp. Your skin will change colour under the ultraviolet light, with different colours dependent on your skin concern.

What the different colours mean:

White = thick corneal layer (excess dryness)
White Spots = dead cells, abnormal skin maturation
Blue/White = normal healthy skin
Purple = thin skin, lacking moisture
Light Violet = dehydrated skin
Brown = sun damage
Pink/orange = oiliness
Bright fluorescent = hydrated skin
Yellow/orange = blackheads
Bright Yellow/Green = certain fungal infections
Bright “Coral Red” = certain bacterial infections

Following your in-depth skin analysis, we’ll be clear on your skin type and any skin problems, which will help you find the right products and help us choose the right treatments, for your skin.

Are you ready to discover your skin type, so you can begin taking care of your skin correctly?

Contact us to book an appointment for your Perth Wood’s Lamp Skin Diagnosis and find out which skin type you are.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… yes, it’s November already!

So, if you don’t want to leave it to the last minute to get your Christmas gifts, come into the salon and check out our range of Christmas Packs available or purchase a gift voucher online for that special someone in your life.

Maylands Beauty Salon

Which skin type are you?