Let's face it!

Knowing your skin type is crucial for your daily skin routine, and facials are indispensable part of any skin regimen. Skin types fall into four major categories - normal, dry, oily and combination. There are also exaggerated versions of these major skin types, like dehydrated skin, sensitive skin, problem skin with pimples, rash or acne, ageing skin or hydrated skin.

A facial, at least once in three months, is mandatory to replenish and rejuvenate your skin. Let's take a look at some skin regimens for different skin types:

Normal skin

People with normal skin are lucky, because their skin is balanced, neither oily nor dry. It has a soft velvety texture and colour glows under its translucent surface. But, a normal skin also needs daily care if it has to last.

A classic facial includes cleansing, exfoliation (removing dead cells with scrubs), extraction of blackheads, massage, mask, toning and protection (use of protective coverage). A Galvanic gadget may also be used. If it is a combination skin, a high frequency gadget may also be used to create a germicidal environment.

Dry skin

If you have a dry skin, you fall in the majority category. Your skin lacks both oil and moisture. It looks fine textured, transparent, patchy and fragile. Tiny expression lines develop early. Dry skins flake and chap easily.

For dry skin, the facial should involve the aspects of cleansing, deep cleansing and protection. After thorough cleansing, a facial massage is given, which improves the functions of the skin and also strengthens its supportive tissues. This increases the skin's resilience and elasticity, keeping it firm, soft and smooth. Special massage techniques are used for special areas, like the delicate region around the eyes. The massage stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, thus helping the elimination of toxins.

Oily skin

In an oily skin, the sebaceous (oil-producing) glands are overactive. They produce more oil than the skin needs, which oozes out, giving the skin a greasy look. The excess oil enlarges the pores, giving the skin a coarse texture. Oily skins are prone to blackheads, pimples and acne.

For oily skin, facial massage with cream is not given. Deep pore cleansing methods are provided along with exfoliation. Blackheads are extracted. The masks and other procedures help to remove oiliness, shrink the pores and make the skin smooth and translucent.

Combination skin

For combination skins and related conditions, therapies to purify the skin are provided. The skin is cleansed with a cleansing milk. The dry areas are treated with a light massage, while blackheads may be extracted from oily areas. Toning and skin compress are essential parts and so are mask and protection.

All areas of the face and neck are treated, according to specific needs. For example, the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate, requiring a light touch, following specific direction and movement of the fingers. Different strokes, movements, directions and pressure are applied to different areas.