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It is really very important for you to be able to identify your skin type. This is to enable you to look after your skin correctly. Also the selection of your cosmetics is, to a considerable extent, influenced by your skin type. Although no two skins are exactly similar most have characteristics which enable them to be grouped into one of the following types: Normal skin : This skin is smooth and velvety to touch and does not look puffy or shiny. The skin has a rosy color because the circulation of blood is good and the skin is well moisturized. The pores are fine and barely visible. This type of skin is something of a rarity. If you own this type of skin, you have a real fortune to exploit. However, though, this type of skin is not really problematic, it still needs sensible care and gentle treatment. Choose your skin care products carefully and always look for mild, well-balanced cosmetics. Dry skin: This skin is fine, delicate and dry with a tendency to scaling on the cheeks. Underneath, the skin lacks suppleness and therefore feels taut after washing. The pores are not visible as there is an insufficient amount of secretion from the sebaceous glands. Dry skin tends to age prematurely and is wrinkle-prone unless nurtured. Constant protection is very important and the products used must be gentle, rich and soothing. Always use a moisturizer during the day and a good cream at night. Oily skin: This skin is coarse, thick and shiny. The sebaceous glands being overactive, the pores are clearly visible. Oily skin is prone to comedones (white heads and black heads) and pimples and needs to be cleaned scrupulously. Only those cosmetics which have been formulated especially for oily skins should be used, otherwise there will be problems. Combination skin: Most of us have a combination skin. The middle of the face (patches on the forehead, the nose and the chin) is shiny with dilated ostia and a coarse texture. The rest of the face is either normal or dry. Sometimes, the difference between the two areas is great; if such is the case with your skin, then you would have to treat each part of the face accordingly - the dry areas as for dry skin and the central panel as for oily skin. pH of the skin, For decades, cosmetic manufacturers have done considerable research in order to discover and produce products whose pH is healthiest for the skin and the hair. The symbol pH is used in everyday language to represent the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. When a solution is neither alkaline nor acidic, it is called neutral. For example, the pH of pure water, a neutral substance, is 7. If the pH of a solution is less than 7, it is acidic; if the pH is greater than 7, it is alkaline. The pH of healthy normal skin is between 5.2 and 6; ie., it is slightly acidic. This acidic pH of the skin is due to the presence of acids in the sebum, sweat, and keratin. It is necessary to maintain the acidity of the skin. This is, probably, the reason why it is thought that curds and lemon juice when applied would do wonders for your skin. This is also the reason why ordinary soaps (which are alkaline) have, rather erroneously, got them a bad name. | 
