Suds or Duds: What kind of soap is right for your skin type?

By Amy L. Tucker Fragrances, exfoliates, cute packaging, and catchy names: they’re all out there. When you buy soap, do you really know which one is best for your skin? Bombarded with so many options, what do you do? Many people use either the “trial and error” method, which can be highly detrimental to your skin, or the infamous “brand name” recognition technique. While this is fine and dandy for most folks, do you really know what is in that bar of soap that makes it “right” for your skin type? Of course not! It just works and that’s it. Your body needs certain nutrients to sustain a healthy existence; your skin needs a similar nutritional balance as well. People with oily skin types require different “nutrients” than people with dryer skin. Many over-the-counter soaps are chock- full of preservatives and sulfates. While this is great for a long-lasting bar of soap, these ingredients are not very good for your skin’s nourishment. Certain soaps over-dry your skin, some leave a waxy residue behind and others affect your skin on a deeper level, causing blemishes and irritations. To help maintain a natural balance, you must first determine what kind of skin you have. Age, stress levels, geographic location and seasonal changes contribute to your “skin type”. In other words, adolescent women are still going through hormonal changes and their skin has not stabilized, whereas more mature women tend to retain less natural moisture. Obviously, living in Alaska will affect your skin in ways, such as wind burn and chapping, that you would not consider living in Georgia. People located in more humid climates will require different “nutrients” than those living in dryer climates. Once you have figured out, “Ok, I have this type of skin and it is influenced by my environment in these ways.” you can think about what nutriment to feed your skin. Examine these hypothetical illustrations:

Pubescent Penny is a 16-year-old high school student from San Antonio. As a young woman undergoing many physical changes, her hormones have not found their equilibrium, and she will be more prone to breakouts than someone twice her age. Admired by her peers and active in her studies, her stress levels remain moderate. Living in such a humid climate helps maintain a healthy moisture balance, but her pubescent hormones are helping with that already. Summer seasons are very hot and muggy, while winters are chilly but do not normally drop far below freezing. Remedy: An olive oil base with lavender fragrance and flower exfoliate. With the assistance of the humid atmosphere, olive oil will help maintain her skin’s natural oil levels by creating a “breathable” layer without retaining excess moisture. Lavender is a natural anti- inflammatory and disinfectant, helping to keep excess oils from causing unnecessary breakouts.

Studying Sarah is a 32-year-old graduate student living in Denver. Though still youthful, her body’s hormones have endured through puberty. She has little worry of irregular breakouts due to hormonal balancing, but her intense course load causes higher than normal stress factors. Her environment is cold and crisp most of the year with very little humidity, and the high altitude reduces oxygen, aiding dryness. Remedy : A honey base with a citrus fragrances and orange peel exfoliate. Honey is a natural moisturizer and “sealant” which helps to battle cold, dry climates that will leave skin parched. Citrus fragrances are rejuvenating and uplifting, while orange peel calms irritated skin and helps reduce stressful feelings.

Grandma Gertrude is a 63-year-old retiree living in Phoenix. Having survived menopause, her body’s hormonal balance has remained steady over the past several years. Very active with her family and within her community, she maintains high energy levels while her stress levels remain relatively low. The weather in her area is hot and dry during summer and cooler, yet still dry, during winter. Remedy: A shea butter base with a floral fragrance, such as gardenia or rose. An arid, sunny climate will deprive the skin of its natural moisture; lack of humidity, compounded with a higher heat index, will advance dryness. Shea butter is a thick, creamy base that moisturizes skin while beneficial in combating wrinkles and sun damage. Floral fragrances are comforting scents, whose bouquets tend to be appreciated most by mature women. Though there are various reasons our skin is “the way it is”, hormonal balance, geographical region, and climate are definite factors to take into consideration. Your skin type will change over time, but if you stay keenly aware and “in-tune” with your body, you can maintain a beautiful sense of balance that will have heads turning for years to come!