Beauty 101.(skin care)

Beauty 101

Cheat Sheet

* Conduct the skin-type test when you're not wearing any makeup and have an hour to spare. * Skip your regular morning cleanser, and rinse your face with ten splashes of tepid water. * Pat the face gently with a towel until it's damp but

not dripping -- and allow it to air-dry. Wait 30 minutes without applying moisturizer or makeup. * Stand in front of a mirror and squint your eyes, furrow your brow, and smile widely. * If your face feels tight and itchy or your reflection looks flaky and ashy, you have dry skin. * If, in addition to this tightness, you frequently suffer irritation from skin-care products or get a rash from detergents (say, under your rings or on your face when using certain cleansers), you have sensitive skin. * If skin isn't tight, wait another 30 minutes, then take a single ply of tissue, place it over your entire face, and gently press fingers on your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Remove the tissue, and study it. If there are greasy patches from your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks, you have oily skin. If oily patches only form down the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and your cheeks appear well-hydrated or dry, you have combination skin. On reverse: Cotton washcloth by Lauren Ralph Lauren.

Beauty 101

Essentials

OILY: To remove sebum and dirt, choose a cleanser with salicylic acid, such as Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser or Clean & Clear Oil-Free Foaming Facial Cleanser (photographed on reverse). Fight shine with an oil-free lotion, such as Biore Shine Control Moisturizer, followed by a serum that contains aluminum silica, such as Smashbox Anti-Shine Anti-Brilliance,