Good skin care is a matter of small healthy habits that can really make a big difference. Our skin is very resilient but after a while of treating it less than stellar, it needs a break and since it is the largest organ in our body that houses all of our vital organs, it’s only right that we treat it right, from the inside out.

You can rev up lackluster skin or keep it in top shape with just a few simple tweaks to your daily regimen with these helpful tips.

Drink Plenty of Water

60% of your skin is comprised of water, so it’s important that you stay hydrated, not only to flush out toxins from your body, but to keep your organs running efficiently, so that blood can circulate and help give your skin more of a glow. Water doesn’t have to be just plain either. By eating various fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon or cabbage, you’ll contribute to your body’s daily need of hydration and proper nutrition.

By drinking more water, your skin will also become more hydrated and your skincare will function better, from head-to-toe, thus protecting you from tears in the skin dryness, flakiness, and inflammation.

Don’t Skimp on Vitamin D

It should go without saying how important sunscreen is as it can prevent skin cancer and anti-aging. However, there’s something to be said about allowing a little sun on your skin so that you can absorb vitamin D, which helps to promote cellular growth, increase your skin’s metabolism, and it’s ability to repair itself, which essentially strengthens your skin.

However, if you plan on staying out all day or you are outside daily, try an SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin, especially if you burn easily within an hour of being in the sun. Protection is always a good idea and vitamin D is also useful for other functions, such as healthy bones and teeth, cardiovascular, and brain health.

Listen to Your Body

Is your skin trying to tell you something? Perhaps it always gets irritated by using a certain product. After all, no pain, no gain, right? Wrong, if you immediately sense something is off, such as a pesky, itchy rash, burning or other sensitivities, then it’s your body’s way of letting you know that it doesn’t like what you are putting on it.

The same could also be said for suddenly developing pimples or sudden dryness. Listen to your skin, maybe it needs something gentler, more hydrating, less moisturizing as this can save it from premature aging.

Also check on your skin from time-to-time for any unsightly moles that weren’t there before or a change in color and size of a mole, which could indicate skin cancer and other problematic skin concerns that weren’t there before.

Hydration and Moisturization aren’t the Same

So you’ve purchased a new lotion but you’re not so sure why your skin is always dry. Perhaps the lotion is too lightweight and you have dry skin. Or it could be that it lacks moisturization properties. Despite these two terms being used interchangeably in the cosmetics world, they are actually very different. While hydration is the act of applying water to the skin and adding plumpness, adding youthfullness, moisturizing contributes to protecting the skin as a barrier, so they both depend on each other to substantially nourish the skin.

Without hydration, moisturization isn’t doing much is your skin is already dry. Without moisturization, hydration leaves your pores swiftly, leaving you with dry skin. Therefore, these two need each other, so opt for water-based lotions and creams that also add moisture. For hydrating ingredients, think watery substances, such as...water, aloe vera, or seaweed. When it comes to moisture, keep butters and oils in mind, such as shea butter, argan oil, cocoa butters, ingredients designed to lock in ingredients.

Nourish Your Body

Healthy eating habits go a very long way in keeping your skin in shape. Consuming an abundantly of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and grains and nuts  will not only keep your body running efficiently, it will help stave off certain diseases and replenish your body with the things that it needs.

The best ingredients are often found in nature and if you want to also directly benefit your skin, try even using food as skin treatments. Try a yogurt mask, or apply bananas and avocado to the hair, olive oil as a moisturizer to treat your skin wonderfully inside and out.

One of the most important factors of clear, bright, and refreshed skin is knowing your skin type because once you’ve figured that out, then seeking out skincare solutions for any of your concerns will be made easier since cosmetics are often categorized and designed by the type of skin that you have. There are four main skin types, which are oily, dry, combination, and normal. Other types of skin, such as sensitive or demanding, are more symptoms than they are types, because they can occur in any of the main skin types, therefore you can have oily, dry, combination that displays signs of mild to severe sensitivity or premature aging.

Knowing the types of skin and their characteristics will help you in the long run, because as we age, our skin is also likely to change a bit as well, so it’s important to know what the skin types are so that you can adjust accordingly.

The Skin Types

Oily skin is often characterised by an overproduction of sebum. People with this skin type are often said to have thicker skin because oil skin is the least likely to show premature signs of aging and holds up well to outside factors that would otherwise make other skin types appear more weathered. However, oily skin is also likely to develop acne, blackheads, pimples, and other skin eruptions so using products that exfoliate, gently cleanse deep into the pores, with skin-balancing moisturizers are recommended.

Dry skin, on the other hand is skin that often feels tight, itchy, or sometimes irritated do to a limited amount sebum production in the skin. Those with dry skin are the most likely to show signs of aging because there is a lack of moisture and oil within and on the skin that keeps it protected. However, dry skin holds up well to makeup, is least likely to have pimples and acne, and attracts less dirt. But it does lack moisture and hydration, which often makes it feel uncomfortable, so those with dry skin would benefit from emollient products that are full of hydrating ingredients that lock in water.

Combination skin contains both oily and dry skin in certain parts of the face. Often, there is a T-zone that runs along the forehead, nose and chin, which are often oilier than the cheeks. Those with combination skin must play a balancing act to ensure that both skin types on their face are addressed without throwing their skin off balance. Gentle, natural ingredients, such as aloe, witch hazel, lactic acid, green tea, and jojoba are best for this skin type.

Normal skin types are often the luckiest because of its problem-free characteristics of small-pores, even skin, and limited blemishes. Normal skin can be treated with a gentle, yet effective cleanser for best results.

Sensitive or demanding skin are usually brought on by the use of the wrong product, chemicals, eating something that doesn’t agree with our complexion or environmental harms that can lead to redness, rashes, irritations, weathering, burning, and other uncomfortable skin conditions. These skin types must be treated with gentle care, utilizing calming, soothing ingredients.

How to Determine Your Skin Type

Now that you know what the skin types are, finding your skin type is pretty easy. Simply wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Do not apply toner or moisturizer, just leave your skin bare for at least 30 minutes. After the allotted time, if you notice that your skin can manage without a moisturizer and feels rather slick, then you likely have oily skin. If you notice that it feels tight when you smile or frown with some ashiness and flakes, then you likely have a dry skin type. If you notice that your face shines in the T-zone area, but feels parched and tight in the cheeks, then you likely have a combination skin type. If you notice nothing, and your skin is neither oily or dry, then you probably have normal skin. 

You may also use blotting tissues to determine your skin type. Simply blot your skin, in various parts of your face, with separate tissues. If the tissues are completely soaked with oil, then you have an oily skin type, if barely any oil shows up, then you are likely dry. If your cheeks barely produce any oil on the paper, while your t-zone does, then you are likely combination. If there is a normal amount, not soaked or dry, then you are probably normal.

Finding your skin type is easy once you figure out what to look for. Always keep your skin type in mind when searching for the best products to treat you skin.

Foundation comes in various consistencies, from whipped souffles to sticks. The differences in forms enables one to provide needed coverage that can range from natural and sheer to heavier and photo-ready. All foundations can also either be worn alone or topped with powder and other forms of cosmetics for a finished look that expresses yourself.

However, knowing the correct way to wearing foundation is the key when it comes to appearing naturally flawless, to looking unmatched. Foundation should glide on easily, look and feel good on your skin. It should make you look more lifted, highlighting your natural beauty. There are many factors to consider when matching your foundation. First, your skin type which helps keep your complexion balanced as you wear your makeup, your desired coverage, and your skin tone. It’s simply really so read further for tips on how to find your perfect shade.

Cool or Warm Undertone?

We all have tones and undertones in our skin. While we come in various shades and colors, from ebony to ivory,  our skin color goes even deeper than that, which is what makes up it’s undertone. Skin undertones are the colors that are found underneath the surface of the skin. Did you know that you can be a completely different color from someone and still have the same undertone? Therefore, the same colors will basically look good on you.

Maybe you’re very fair, or perhaps your a bit deeper or brown, so choosing shades to compliment or match these tones is ideal. Next, look at your skin in natural sunlight. Does it seem to have a bluish hue, do the veins in your inside wrist sway more blue? Does it appear more golden with greener veins? These will be your undertones. Those with bluish tones will look best in cool tones, colors such as navy blues, cool violets, cool reds, etc. Those with warm tones will look great in warm colors, such as yellow, warm reds, warm greens, colors that reflect what is found in the skin. Some people are even neutral, neither cool nor warm. Sometimes neutral tones may be olive tones. Once you’ve determined your skin’s tone and undertone, it’s time to find your foundation match. However, as the seasons change, your color may change, but your undertone will always be the same.

What’s Your Skin Type?

Next, you’ll want to determine your skin type to determine the best foundation for your skin. Like the product that you use to clean and wash your face, it’s equally important to obtain a foundation that matches the consistency of your skin type.

If your skin is oily, you won’t want to add more oil to your face, which will ultimately result in melted makeup. Instead, and oil-free formulation is ideal, so that it mattifies some of the extra oil while leaving a soft glow, rather than a greasy feel. Likewise, if your skin is dry, you won’t want oil-free foundation because your skin needs the extra hydration, so choose a base which contains hydrating or moisturizing ingredients so that your skin feels luscious and supple throughout the day. Some foundations that are formulated for dry skin even contain small light reflectors to provide a luminant look.

For combination skin, the choice is yours. If you’d like to be more dewy, a hydrating formula will add radiance. If you prefer to look more matte, then a mattifying foundation will wick away extra oil. 

If you have sensitive skin, stay away from foundation that has perfumes and that are too heavy. Mineral makeup is often recommended for this very reason as it is gentle and lightweight enough to provide buildable coverage without the potential irritation that could occur with a liquid.

What Finish Would You Like?

There are so many foundation finishes to choose from and they all provide various textures and finishes.

The most lightweight finishes are tinted moisturizers or sheer foundations. These offer the lightest coverage and typically will contain an SPF. They are basically tinted lotions, but may too heavy for oily skin types. On the other hand, standard liquid foundations offer a bit more coverage, are usually buildable, and provide a natural finish. Not too matte, not too dewy and are formulated for all skin types.

Powder foundations help to mattify the face, which works great for oily skin types while whipped foundation is smooth and whipped, making it ideal for dry skin. Lastly, stick foundations come in a stick form and are typically very thick, so if you have problematic skin, then it’s best to avoid them and use something more lightweight.

Test and Apply

Once you’ve found your ideal foundation with your skin tone, undertone, type in mind. Now it is time to test it out. If you are at a department store, a beauty expert can help you with this step.

1. Choose 3 colors that you feel are closest to your skin color.
2. Apply just one swipe of each foundation shade, side-by-side, from your jawline, down to your neck. You’ll want to draw color to your neck because your neck and face should be equally blended. If you have darker natural pigment on your neck than your face, then choose one you’d like to match and use that as your foundation.
3. Your foundation match should virtually disappear into your skin. If you can see it, then it is too dark, too light, too cool, or too warm. You’ll want to match as closely to your natural pigment as possible.
4. Once you’ve found your shade with the right consistency, beginning with a clean, moisturized face. After applying primer to your oily areas if you’re oily and dry areas if you’re dry to help the makeup to last longer, place a pea sized or a light amount of foundation to your hand and dot all over your face, or use a brush. Blend down into your neck, until the foundation melts completely into your skin. If you are using mineral foundation, sprinkle a bit out, stir with your brush, tap the excess, and blend in circular, swirling motions, starting at your jaw, up to your cheeks, over your nose, now to your neck, etc. All methods can be built on for added coverage.
5. Once you are finished, either use a setting powder, or leave as is.

Oily skin is often indication by an overproduction of sebaceous glands that cause excess oil to secrete from the skin. While many people with oily skin are often frustrated by the amount of greasiness and slickness on their face, there are actually some compelling upsides,  such as having a natural protective barrier that keeps your looking more youthful longer, having more protection from the sun, or even requiring less skin care products.

Though you may think that oily skin is something that is a teenager’s problem, this skin type is also often found in adulthood and can sometimes cause topical concerns, such as blackheads and acne. While oily skin is often genetic, there are many factors that can cause one to have a slicker appearance than desired so here are some reasons you may have oily skin and how to balance it out.

Genetics

The more sebaceous glands that one has in their skin, the more likely they will have an oily complexion. Genetics play the biggest role in skin type and is often handed down from parents. So, if your mother or father had oily skin, then chances are, you may also. The downside of this fact are there is essentially nothing you can do to change your skin type. However, if having oily skin is becoming a problem for you, there are many solutions to alleviating the severity of the oiliness, such as looking at your environment, stress levels, and what you are eating, etc.

Unhealthy Eating

As the saying goes, you are what you eat, so consuming a diet of unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and dairy can all trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more oil because many processed foods will cause hormones to spike. Dairy foods are often high on the glycemic index and causes hormones to spike, therefore leading to an increase in oily skin and blemishes. Instead, eat the rainbow of fresh produce, nuts, and healthy fats that are found in fish, as well as drinking plenty of water to flush out toxins and keep the skin as balanced and clean as possible.

Poor Skin Hygiene

Sleeping in makeup and washing your face sporadically will put you on the fast track to uneven, blotchy, oilier skin. Even worse, bacteria, dirt, and debris can also creep into large pores and become a breeding ground for acne and blackheads. For this reason, it is important to wash your skin morning and night to prevent any potential problems in the future. It is also important to wash your skin with products that are beneficial for your skin type. A cleanser and moisturizer that contains gentle ingredients is the best way to go as to clear away excess oil without over-drying your skin.

Medication

If you are using an over-the-counter drug, then this may be affecting your skin. Whether you may be taking oral contraceptives or hormonal-balancing medicine, sometimes these can inadvertently create an unbalanced flora that leads to acne. Multivitamins can also impact your complexion, especially if said vitamin contains a potent amount of B12 so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about issues that arise and ways you can alleviate skin symptoms.

Stress

Stress is one of the biggest factors for illnesses that are affecting Americans everyday. While some stress is normal, too much stress can be dangerous. As your body’s stress levels increase, oil production is also increased, along with potential acne, with then also makes things more stressful. For this reason, it is important to practice self-care methods, such as exercise, meditation, yoga, or other calming rituals to keep your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in top shape.

The Wrong Products

When you have oily skin and are using cleansers and moisturizers that are actually meant for someone with dry skin, this could lead to potentially more oily skin. Products that are designed for dry skin tends to be more emollient, thicker, and hydrating to make up for the lack of oil and moisture within the skin. Therefore, if your skin is already oily and you are topping it with heavy, oily products, clogged pores and blemishes are likely to occur. Instead, utilize products intended for oily skin so that your complexion remains the most balanced. Oil-free products that gently cleanse are ideal as they wick away excess oil and dirt, while keeping your skin appropriately hydrated and moisturized.

The Environment

If you live in a humid, warm climate, your skin is likely to become more oily as the sebaceous glands are more stimulated in this type of climate. Utilizing an exfoliant, such as our Bio-Fruit Gel Exfoliator is very important after cleansing, to dislodge dead skin, oil, and dirt. Your skincare should also be lighter, yet still hydrating, so utilizing a cleanser and moisture that contains hyaluronic or an alpha-hydroxy acid will help to improve the look and feel of the skin, overall.

Though oily skin is thicker, it still needs a tender loving care to keep it in shape. Keep these tips in mind so that your skin stays balanced and fresh.

Foundations are pigmented skin creams, liquids, powders, or sticks that can be applied to the skin to give your complexion a more even appearance. Foundations also come in an array of consistencies to meet your coverage needs, from light to rich and creamy and are best known for their blemish-correcting capabilities. Despite their ability to correct an array of physical skin concerns, many foundations on the market today offer so much more.

Whether your skin is oily or dry, there is a foundation that can help add moisture to your complexion or wick away excess oil, as well as in between. Here are some of Janssen Cosmetics best foundations and primers that will lend a bright, even finish.

Perfect Radiance Makeup

Perfect Radiance Makeup is a foundation that is ideal for adding extra protection during the day, and gives your skin a smooth, natural appearance with the help of hyaluronic acid, and protects your complexion from the sun’s potentially skin-damaging rays with a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB filter. Perfect Radiance is also creamy, but also glides easily over the skin for a natural, radiance finish that lasts all day long.

Perfect Cover Cream

If you have unsightly blemishes, such as scarring or simply would like more coverage, Perfect Cover Cream is for you. Perfect Cover Cream comes in 6 different colors that are blendable so that you may find your perfect shade.  With easy blendability and a lightweight finish, Perfect Cover Cream lasts all day long and stays in place without causing blackheads or clogging pores. Perfect Cover Cream may also be applied on clean, moisturized skin with a damp sponge or blended with fingers for best results.