You need to know your skin type before you do skin care.  Have you noticed that every person has a unique skin type.So lets begin with the different types of skins (off course in humans ):

Our skin is lubricated by oil glands i.e sebaceous glands that produce sebum. The proportion in which these glands are active or inactive decides the skin type.

• Dry Skin Type

Low or reduced activity of sebaceous glands lead to this type of skin. Its prominent by its dryness, dull appearance and sometimes slight white patches are noticeable.  Proper and regular hydration internally by drinking fresh water regularly and internally  using mists is required to maintain proper balance. Use of moisturizers (suggested by a proper dermatologist) can also help cope with the dryness.

• Normal skin type The best skin type or should we say, the most sought skin type is the normal skin. This skin type is blessed with a balanced or moderate secretion of oil by the sebum glands, thus producing a healthy, glowing and vibrant skin. But even this skin type has to be maintained by proper skin care and application of proper moisturizers etc.
• Oily or greasy skin typeExactly opposite to the dry skin type, sebaceous glands are highly active n this skin type. They produce oil quantities that are higher than required. This is quite harmful as the higher oil quantity produced attracts a lot of dust particles, causes abundance of black heads (on the nose) and leads to acne as well. This is the skin type that’s most prone to acne. Acne are caused due to sebum being trapped inside the skin,  leading to formation of pus filled comodones.  But this skin type maintains a youthful look over a longer period of time. Proper nurturing of this skin (like face massage and facials/face masks) provides a lot of benefits.
• Sensitive skin typeThis skin type can qualify as a skin condition, but we include it as a skin type to generalize. This type of skin can be any of the above three namely Dry, Oily or Normal. These are an easily recognizable type due to the aggravated sensitivity issue. Highly reactive to changing environmental conditions this skin type requires special care and treatment to maintain healthy condition. Any cosmetic fragrances or any synthetic oil ingredients may cause harm to such type of a skin. Whereas natural skin products are highly beneficial to this skin type.
• Combination skin typeA large number of people display this skin type. At any point in time they display characteristics common to 2 or more skin types. How? Well some of them have oily cheeks, but the forehead, nose  and other parts of their faces might be dry. Or vice versa.

Smooth, healthy, glowing skin! isn’t this what we all crave for. A healthy & balanced diet is the first step to achieving this goal. Healthy & balanced diet is quintessential for skin care. A diet rich in minerals ,vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates and that too in proper balanced proportions leads to a good health and great skin.  Next most important factor is cleanliness, how regularly you keep your skin clear of the bacteria and other germs. Washing your face regularly is recommended. Please do not scrub hard to lighten skin color, scrubbing too hard might lead to skin damage. Wash your face with warm water and mild soap to remove oil, dust & dirt particles, sweat and any other harmful matter.

We will be dealing with Tips for Healthy and Glowing Skin in our next chapter.