1) Find out your skin type. There are four general skin types: dry, oily, normal, combination and sensitive.
DRY
If your skin is dry, you lack elasticity, you seldom break out (if at all), and your skin is sensitive to harsh sun, winds, and cold weather. The best option for you is to wash with a creamy cleanser and use a hypo-allergenic moisturizer. My favorite cleanser for dry skin is Humphrey's moisturizing cleansing milk:
My Favorite moisturizer for dry skin is Weleda Skin Food. It's pretty rich, but it smells amazing and can be used on rough spots like the elbows and knees in the winter. A little goes a long way:
However, if you find that too heavy, Pangea Organics' Italian Red Mandarin with Rose is really pleasant:
OILY
If your skin is oily then you are prone to breakouts and enlarged pores. You skin has a lot of elasticity, but it also has a lot of shine. My favorite cleanser for oily skin would be Humphrey's cleansing Gel which looks a lot like the cleansing milk, but is not as moisturizing and a little more invigorating. Oily skin is highly temperamental, you want to do what you can to not strip it completely of oil, despite what you may think. Oily skin also needs a toner. I recommend Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel. There's nothing quite as soothing as lavender and the witch hazel locks in the right kind of moisture while refining your pores:
If you want to use a moisturizer, I'd recommend Pangea's Moroccan Argan with Willow & Rosemary cream for blemish prone skin:
COMBINATION
Combination skin is a bit trickier because it is two different skin types on one face. Generally speaking, you are usually a 'combination-to' as in a combination-to-dry or combination-to-oily. It's best to follow the regime that your skin is most partial to. For example, if you are a combination-to-dry, you will have more luck with a dry skin regime, etc. Being someone that suffers with combination skin, I know how frustrating it is trying to find the right regime, especially as a teenager when I was a combination of oily and sensitive skin and it felt like I kept shooting myself in the nose to spite my face or whatever that expression is. My main rule (after many, many trial and errors...emphasis on errors) is that less is more and if it feels in any way like I'm becoming too aware of my skin, then I probably am doing something very wrong. For cleanser please determine which way your skin leans in terms of dry and oily and then use the corresponding cleanser. Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel is a godsend because it's a toner, but it's super moisturizing - more than the Lavender, but not as much as the Cucumber and not as gentle as the Aloe - for me, it's perfect. I can't imagine it not being perfect for any kind of combination skin:
As for a moisturizer, Pangea Organics Nigerian Ginger with Lavender & Thyme is great if your skin is more of a normal combination:
Normal
You lucky ducky, you can kind of go where the road takes you on this one. Just be sure that you are using sunscreen, moisturizing and taking care of those delicate areas around the eyes and mouth. We will get into those later...
Sensitive
For sensitive skin, I think that Humphrey's cleansing milk is a great option, it's very mild and full of amazing ingredients like jasmine and witch hazel. Thayer's Rose Petal Toner is my favorite, but Aloe and Cucumber are very soothing options as well, depending on how reactive your skin is. As for moisturizer, I would stick to something unscented and light if anything, and I honestly feel that the best option is a simple jojoba oil or argan oil as a finishing oil just to keep the skin dewy.
Extras
EYES and LIPS:
The areas around the eyes and mouth need special care and are often neglected. The skin is thinner around those areas and doesn't moisturize as well, either. I genuinely adore Pangea Organics' Turkish Rose and White Tea Eye Cream. It comes in this little tube and for a minute you're like, "Gimme a Break," but it lasts for forever and it is just excellent:
I am a bit of a minimalist, and I hope that it isn't deterring, but I have always been loyal to Burt's Bees and their lip products. They never let me down and I know that I am putting something good on my mouth that isn't going to slowly poison me over time (not to get intense, but have you read what is in your lipgloss lately?! Geez Louis!) :
BODY
body care might need to be a separate topic because there's a whole lot to say about that. I will recommend one like that I think you should consider as the sole line for your body care.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to exfoliate, moisturize, soak and nurture your whole body. Luckily, we have an entire line of handmade products dedicated to giving you just the tools to do so!
I just can't briefly sum up how awesome this line is, you are going to have to visit their website here to really see just how incredible they are. I will say that your skin will never feel so refreshed and healthy as when you use their products and you will definitely feel nurtured in a way that you haven't in a while...guaranteed. In addition to that one of the two founders of this company is a former Ashevillan!
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