Skin is traditionally divided into four groups: oily, dry, mixed and sensitive. Within them there are subgroups that vary depending on the intensity of the problem (very dry or very oily, for instance) or a combination of several of them (dry and sensitive, for example).

Oily skin has open pores, blackheads, spots and looks shiny. Its advantages include a resistance to inclement weather and the appearance of wrinkles, to which it is less sensitive than other kinds of skin. But the downfall is that in appearance it is not smooth or soft, plus it has imperfections. Although all kinds of skin need good hygiene, in the case of oily skin this should be taken as an obligatory daily chore. You can use any specific soap or milk product in the morning and at night, then rinse with lukewarm water. The cleansing should be done with normal intensity and avoiding doing it too often because the skin has cellular rhythms that must be respected. Once a week it is a good idea to apply and exfoliant� to remove dead cells and a facial mask to carry out a deep cleaning. Clay tends to work well. Just put it on your face, leave it there for 10 minutes and remove with lukewarm water. Steam baths with lavender, rosemary and mint also help clean pores and eliminate blackheads. It is important not to touch your blemishes and to go to a skin care centre now and then to have a professional remove them under proper hygienic conditions. Although at first glance this may not seem to be the case, this kind of skin needs moisturizing. The fact that it has too much fat does not necessarily mean it has enough water. This must be supplied with through creams free of oil.

Dry skin presents another series of problems. The main ones are that they suffer premature aging and do not tolerate cold or heat well. Dry skins look tight, not very bright and dull, as if it lacked life. It is all caused by faulty secretion from cutaneous glands and dehydration of the most superficial layers of the epidermis. Any treatment designed to provide moisture is a help. Thus it is important to stop using strong soaps and opt instead for cleansing milks gels with natural oils and neutral pH. Apply no products with alcohol, but yes a good moisturizing with creams that help keep the skin's acid covering and its hydrolipid balance. It is a good idea to use nutritive creams that lubricate the external layers of the skin and help put off ageing.� They are more effective when used at night, a time when the skin best absorbs any treatment better. A homemade facial mask made from avocado and eggwhite can return luminosity to this kind of skin.

Sensitive skin is fine, smooth and transparent but it is delicate. It reacts poorly to excessive cold, heat or sun. And you must be careful with whatever cosmetic products you use. The skin sheds quickly, drys and turns red. This makes it necessary to protect it from external agents and try to maintain a good level of moisture. Allergic reactions and redness are signs that the outer layers of the epidermis have lost water. This kind of skin should be pampered when cleaned, using mild cleansing milks and tonifiers without alcohol. You can also use humidifying products that refresh and calm the skin. Moisturizing and nutritive creams must have been tested dermatologically and be hypoallergenic, with no perfumes. It is a good idea to use sunscreen so that the action of the sun does not hurt it or provoke an allergic reaction. If sleeping with a cosmetic mask on is bad for any kind of skin, it is even more important to avoid this treatment in cases of sensitive skin. In fact, not just creams must be adapted to sensitive skin. This must be matched by makeup, powders, correctors, eye shadow. A facial mask with honey, almond oil and oatmeal can be relaxing.

Finally, mixed skin is that which has oily areas, the so-called T zone that goes from the forehead to the nose and down to the chin, and dry areas that correspond to the cheeks, around the mouth and the neck.� As these parts have different characteristics and needs, the best thing to do is treat each with just the right products. You can also use a mix of products, such as cleansing milk for dry skin and a tonifier for oily skin, and do a weekly exfoliation paying special attention to places where there are most blackheads and blemishes. This area can be treated with mud packs, and for the whole face a mask that has relaxing properties. As for nutrition and hydration, there are creams specifically for these kinds of skin, which are quite common among women. A facial mask made from yogurt and oat meal will help control dry and oily areas, giving them the balance they need and relaxing them.