By Aaisha Zafar Islam

Image source: freeimages

One of the most obvious, tell-tale signs that you are a mom has to be your skin. Every day, as a mother we are so worried about the well-being of those we love and care for, that it does not leave any time for ourselves. Taking care of our skin and following a proper skincare regimen takes a backseat.

So stay tuned as we have a very informative series of articles lined up for all moms. We start with the basics and then delve deeper into taking proper care of ourselves.

Understanding Skin

Skin is the largest organ in a human body, consisting of multiple dermal layers, it guards all that is inside us. That would include muscles, and all other organs like heart, lungs and liver.

While it may seem very basic, if we look deeper, we get to understand how protective this outer layer is for us and our well-being as we live and age. Allah has created us such that our skins protect our system from outside aggressors, it has sensations to detect heat and cold, maintains optimal body temperature and helps us in getting rid of toxins through sweating. Most importantly, all the tones, and complexions we see around us differentiate us from one another and make us unique.

Know your skin type

The best way to gauge your skin type is to see how it feels first thing in the morning and then immediately after you have washed your face. Look for signs of tightness, redness, or oiliness.

Normal Skin

The perfect kind of skin, this type will have just the right balance of moisture, sebum and elasticity. You can’t see any pores on your skin, nor does it get greasy as the day goes on. The shine it does have would be of health and vitality, not excess sebum. It will also not feel tight or flakey after you have cleansed your face in the morning.

It is soft, smooth and supple, a skin in its prime. If you maintain what Allah has gifted you with, you will look great at any age.

Dry Skin

Dry skin looks dull and lifeless in the morning. Once you have washed your face, your skin will feel taut, ‘stretched out’ and sometimes even itchy. This skin type will have next to no visible pores, however it is extremely sensitive to other signs of ageing, fine lines and wrinkles show up early on dry skin types.

This skin type can also have a rough, flakey texture due to dead skin cells accumulating on the surface.

You can start off with a normal or oily skin type and get dry skin as you age. It means that your skin has lost its in-built ability to maintain moisture and lipids balance in its outermost layers.

Combination Skin

The most common skin type, combination skin is marked by an oil-prone T-zone (forehead and nose) and dry or normal skin over rest of the face. You may wake up with a shiny nose area but dry elsewhere on the face.

Quite often you will find that your make up wears off quicker around your nose area and you may get flakey skin elsewhere.

Sensitive Skin

As the name suggests, sensitive skin is easily irritated. It may also show rosacea, i.e. redness on the skin. You will know if you have sensitive skin if usual make up causes itchiness or redness flares up on your face. Anything can trigger a sensitive skin, most often the fragrance in cosmetics and skincare items is the main culprit.

Oily Skin

Human bodies produce oil or sebum to main elasticity and moisture in the skin’s surface, however some skins have over-active sebum glands that cause the excess oil to make a face appear ‘greasy’.

Oily skin is most often prone to acne and blemishes as well. Large and visible pores are also a hallmark of oily skin.

Oil also attracts dust and grime, leading to pimples and the occasional acne. This also leads to enlarged pores and those pesky blackheads.

Dehydrated skin

This is a skin condition as opposed to a skin type. What does that mean? It simply means that your skin is going through a phase. Dehydrated skin is most common during fall and winter when harsh winds and indoor heating suck away at the moisture from the skin’s surface. Most often topical hydrating treatments are enough to deal with this condition.

As seasons change all skin types can get dehydrated, even oily skin types! It is important to look and listen to your skin and change your skincare routine accordingly.

A product that may have worked for you in your youth will not be as good as your live your life as a busy mom.

Keep watching this space for more on skincare basics, how to treat with more common skin ailments and putting together a great skincare routine.

About the author:

Aaisha Zafar Islam is the executive editor at MuslimMoms.ca and an incurable product junkie.

Do you know your skin type? How do you put together your skincare routine? Any tips and secrets you like to share with other Muslim Moms? Connect with us on our forums.