Normal Skin

If your skin feels smooth most of the time and is essentially free of blemishes and dry spots, congratulations, you have normal skin. The type of skin that most of us would love to have. But even normal skin can become dull or mottled depending on changes in the seasons (oilier in warm weather, dry in colder climates).

There are a few things that you can do to maintain your dewy, clear complexion. Always choose a foundation for normal skin and apply a layer of moisturizer underneath for dry, winter conditions or whenever you enter a parched environment. Keep a pressed powder compact available for humid days and oilier moments, and remember to apply paba-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen before you head outdoors. When looking for natural skin care products, choose cleansers, toners, and moisturizers that contain chamomile, fennel, lemon balm, parsley or rosemary to keep your skin feeling and smelling fresh as a flower!

Oily Skin

Shiny, uneven skin tone; blemishes that seem to appear from nowhere the night before a job interview or party; skin that feels great when you take off for work in the morning but feels greasy by lunch; these are all too familiar scenarios for those of us with oily skin. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that you can follow to control oily skin.

Cleanse your face and neck with a gentle, oil-free facial wash. After your face is dry, apply a toner. Many natural toners for oily skin will contain chamomile, fennel, lemon balm, parsley, rosemary, peppermint or sage. Make sure that all of your makeup, especially your foundation, and sunscreen are water-based. There is no truer friend to oily skin than powder that is oil free and preferably free of fragrance. The occasional blemish can be camouflaged with a non-comedogenic concealer stick that is lightly applied. Remember, too much concealer can actually bring attention to areas that you're trying to cover.

Dry Skin

As we age even the oiliest of skin naturally becomes dryer. Already dry skin is prone to blotchy and itchy patches. You may notice that your skin seems more sensitive to your favorite skin care products and cleansers. Even the foods we eat and our mood changes can cause dryness or the occasional rash.

The best defense against dry, scaly skin is moisturizer. If you're looking for natural moisturizers, herbal additives like elderflower, linden flowers and marigolds are great. You will want to avoid products that contain alcohol, which will make your skin even dryer and may cause additional irritation. Quick tip: save a step in the morning and buy foundation that moisturizes while evening out your skin tone. If you shop around, you can even find triple-duty moisturizing foundations with sun block.

Combination Skin

Is there anything more troublesome than oily or dry skin? Absolutely: those of us with combination skin know both extremes, all within the few square inches of our face. The forehead, cheeks, nose and chin comprise the T-zone, which is almost always oily. The rest of the face is dry, dry, dry. The weather, our moods, sleeping habits, body chemistry and cosmetics can affect the skin's delicate balance. Flexibility in your skin care regimen is the best way to work with combination skin.

Your best bet is to experiment with different foundations and use sampler packs (ask for them at department store counters) to help you find makeup that works well with your skin. Choose an oil-managing powder for the shiny spots on your face and use a balancing moisturizer for combination skin that will moisturize the dry areas and control oiliness in the T-zone. Lastly, don't forget to apply paba-free, non-comedogenic sun block before you leave the house. You may not see the difference now, but you will in 20 years!