Want great skin? Use the right product!




y now, you should have identified your skin type.

It is just as important to make sure you are using the right skin products.

While buying a moisturizer or any other skin product, look at the ingredients mentioned on the packaging as well as the texture of the product.

Here are some pointers:

Is your skin sensitive?

Using the wrong products could inflame your skin. You need a product that will soothe and calm it.

When buying a product, check for the following ingredients which help soothe sensitive skin:

Cucumber

Liquorice

Avena Sativa

Canadian Willow Herb

Make sure you use fragrance-free products.

Is your skin excessively dry?

i. Use a product that is formulated to increase the water content in your skin. A humectant (an agent that attracts water) like Hyaluronic Acid, Lactic Acid, Gycerin, Glycereth-12 or Honey should be listed in the ingredients.

ii. Avoid products containing alcohol. It can cause excessive dryness.

The market is full of products specially formulated for dry skin. Choose from these keeping the above factors in mind.

Is your skin prone to acne?

i. Do not use products containing comedogenic agents (any substance which invites the formation of blackheads on the skin) like Cocoa Butter, Linseed Oil, Acetylated Lanolin, Butyl Stearate and, the worst of them all, Isopropyl Myristate.

ii. Products containing mineral oil may benefit some but may be detrimental to others.

iii. Go for a lotion or gel-based product.  

iv. Sometimes, your skin breaks into a pimple because it is allergic to something you are using.

In this case, do not use products containing C and D red colours (which colour/ tint the product) or products containing comedogenic agents.

v. Avoid products containing Lanolin (a common ingredient that can be detrimental to the skin) if you are allergic to it. You also need to look out for derivatives like Acetylated Lanolin and Ethoxylated Lanolin.

Look for natural alternatives like Caramel, Henna and Guanine instead.

Is your skin ageing prematurely?

The effect of free radicals generated by pollution, smoking and sunlight can manifest as wrinkles and crows' feet (lines surrounding the eyes).

Have no fear. The onset of these can be controlled by antioxidants like Green Tea, Vitamin C, Grapeseed extract and Echinacea. Make sure any of these ingredients are mentioned in the products you buy.

Products containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids (these fruit derivates have anti-ageing properties) may also be beneficial.

Do you have oily skin?

Avoid cream-based products. They are heavy and make the skin look oilier.

Instead, use gel or a lotion-based product. They are light and work well for oily skin.

The market is flooded with skin products specially formulated for oily skin, so opt for one of these.

Do you have combination skin?

If you have a mix of dry and oily skin, you need to moisturise the dry areas with a product for dry skin.

As for the oily areas -- also known as the T zone -- you can choose to leave them alone or you could use a separate product that has been specially formulated for oily skin.