The Skin Type Solution

Posted on by

Over time, daily life have a tendancy to have a severe affect on facial skin. For many, the answer is a facial skin peel. Alas, there are some dissimilar types of facial skin peels.

The Different Types of Skin Peels

A skin peel is a chemical procedure whereby a layer of damaged skin is got rid of from the face by chemical reaction and substituted by a newer, more salubrious layer. The chemical peel procedure works by applying a solution to the skin that chemically kills the outermost, damaged layer of the epidermis. This layer of dead skin then sloughs off the facial area over a prescribed time revealing more salubrious skin below. There are a number of dissimilar chemical peels that may be used to get the result.

Croton oil peels are the most aggressive peels used by most medical professionals. These peels are very potent and may be employed for the remotion of wrinkles, skin blotches and so on. In fact, these peels are so aggressive they have been reported to in truth remove cancerous legions in the skin. The downside is the peel may cause massive lightening of your skin. They likewise may be painful and the peeling procedure is very dramatic. Make sure you to a complete degree consult with a medical professional before making this choice.

Trichloracetic Acid peels, better known as TCA, are a standard chemical peel for a queer reason. TCA peels tend to work without causing any discoloration when the new layer of skin is revealed. The routine works by applying the acid solution to your face for a proscribed amount of time of time determined by your medical professional. Sedation may be required. The peel sets and then is removed. Over the next three to 10 days, the outer layer of skin will die off and peel away to disclose more salubrious skin. It is crucial that you perceive that the routine is dramatic. Your facial skin will look horrid until it peels off, so you will need to take a week off from work and stay out the public eye.

The simples and most basic of peels is the AHA peel. A type of hydroxy acid, this peel is will give your skin a tune up, but does not treat the underlying issues that caused the skin problems. It is strictly cosmetic, but will develop more salubrious looking skin on a temporary basis. The vantage of the peel is there is no need for anesthesia and you may get back to life immediately.

Determining whether you need a skin peel is something you ought to do in consultation with a dermatologist. Peels may improve your skin, but you need to understand both the routine and the reasonable results you may expect. Not all peels do the same thing.


The Skin Type Solution

REVISED AND UPDATED

FORGET EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN—AND LEARN THE TRUTH.
 
Take the simple questionnaire inside this book and within minutes discover which of the sixteen distinguishable skin types describes your skin, which ingredients to avoid, the skin care brands that are right for you, and your new time- and money-saving regimen. In this revised edition of her classic bestseller, world-renowned Miami Beach dermatologist and researcher Dr. Leslie Baumann helps you shop for the optimal skin care products. She provides elaborated lists of commended productions suitable to each skin type and budget. Inside you’ll find
 
• your personal skin type profile detailing precisely what will work—and what won’t—for your distinguishable complexion
• the most recent merchandise for healthy, radiant skin—cleansers, moisturizers, toners, sun blocks, foundations, and more
• tips on preventing skin aging and “problem” skin
• critical data on the new world of prescription products, facials, chemical peels, Retin-A, Botox, and Restylane injections

Now you may look like a million bucks without spending a fortune. This book is almost as good as having Dr. Baumann give you a personal consultation!

ReviewWithout question, the best book I’ve read on skin care.”—Paula Begoun, author of Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without MeAbout the AuthorLeslie Baumann, M.D., founded the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute in 1997, the primary university-run exploration center consecrated to cosmetic dermatology and skin care. Her revolutionary skin typing scheme has been adopted worldwide. She is also the author of the bestselling textbook Cosmetic Dermatology and is a regular contributor to Yahoo! Health.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Chapter One

Why Skin Typing?

Introduction

How a lot of times have you gone to a cosmetic counter and expended $50 to $150 on productions you never again use? Has a saleswoman or cosmetologist sold you a line that “did wonders for me,” but does not one thing for you? Have you invented an allergy or irritation to a product without knowing them cause? Why does your best friend swear by a facial care product that makes your skin look and feel terrible? Should you or shouldn’t you use soap? Why do you hate the feel of sunscreen, though you know you ought to use it? Is a chemical face peel right for you? Should you consider using Retin-A? If you owned a Subaru Forester, you wouldn’t follow the maintenance procedures for a Volkswagen Golf. So if you take place to have dry, sensible skin, why on world would you use a moisturizer, cleanser, and cosmetic procedure
more suitable to an individual with oily, immune skin?

The reason? You don’t know what type of skin you have; therefore, you don’t recognise how to care for your skin. Until the publication of The Skin Type Solution, the Baumann Skin Typing System was not widely known or available. While a great deal of persons have a ordinary understanding of their skin, most have relied on normally known but imprecise, unscientific definitions that fall short of providing a unfeigned and finish picture.

My a great deal of years as a dermatologist, researcher, and professor of dermatology have convinced me that no one ever needs to have a “bad skin day.”

Knowing your Skin Type is the missing, necessary step to finding your way to beneficial merchandise and treatments–and finelooking skin. But if you’re like the typical first-time patient at my bustling University of Miami clinic, I’ll bet you:

·Don’t know your Skin Type
·Don’t know that it’s necessary to base skin care conclusions on your Skin Type
·Use the wrong productions for your Skin Type
·Spend much more than you ought to on those products
·Use the wrong procedures for your Skin Type
·Fail to take vantage of procedures that would gain your Skin Type

When it comes to using skin care productions and services, most people have been in the Dark Ages, wandering through a maze of product misinformation and overzealous marketing, lucky to stumble on anything that works. To the right way care for your skin and prevent aging, you need a treatment model that describes and captures the very real and scientifically verifiable distinctions in skin physiology.

Skin Typing does just that.

Plus, you need a concrete program quintessentially and on an individual basis tailored to the distinctive traits of your Skin Type. The Skin Type Solution provides all of that critical selective information and guidance.

Once you’ve ran into your Skin Type (through answering a questionnaire in Chapter Three), you may go straight to the chapter on your Skin Type and find everything you need right there. There is a science to skin care, and once you recognise your Skin Type, it all gets a lot easier.

I’ve expended the last ten years defining and clinically testing my Skin Type solutions on thousands of people who are in need of medical care at my University of Miami clinic to ascertain that my scientific criteria will work for everyone, of each skin color, ethnicity, age, and sex. And it does.

Perhaps you’ve already benefited from understanding your psychological type, your learning style, or your Ayurvedic type. If so, you’ll be grateful for how critical it is to get a handle on your Skin Type. This understanding lets you take control of your skin.

My Special Expertise

The guidance and gems I’ll give you won’t appear anyplace else. I launched, and presently direct, the University of Miami Cosmetic Center, the introductory university-run cosmetic exploration center in the United States, where I treat thousands of persons who requires medical care each year. In addition to being an MD, I am a professor at the University of Miami and the chief of the Division of Cosmetic Dermatology, making me the initial cosmetic dermatologist in the United States committed to the field of cosmetic dermatology who is likewise a full-time university faculty member, instructing and conducting research.

This unexampled combining affords me a distinctive position. My academic responsibilities keep me right on the cutting edge of research, while my clinical work has been a proving ground for refining the recommendations that arise from my findings.

My clients–who range from gorgeous fashion models to topflight professionals, to fellow physicians, to all kinds of men and women concerned with regards to aging–have reaped the gains of my distinctive understanding of the role of Skin Type in skin care.

As a scientist who is likewise a woman who loves to experiment with beauty and skin care merchandise and routines, I’m tireless in seeking out and researching all beauty choices because I use them myself. What’s more, as a person who wants to look my best all my life, I may put myself in your shoes and figure out how to best serve your skin care needs.

Defining a New Typology

Up until now, the field of dermatology lacked a rational model that humans could learn to follow and utilize for themselves. Prior to Skin Typing, the preexisting mode of analyzing skin divergences dated back to the early 1900s, when cosmetic giant Helena Rubenstein introductory disunited skin into four categories: normal, combination, dry, and sensitive. While that was revolutionary for it is time, today we may utilise more precise scientific criteria to the range of skin differences.

Before Skin Typing, even dermatologists felt frustrated, since we all want to understand skin better and offer our people who are in need of medical care tailor-made solutions. But until now, the revolutionary classification of the sixteen Skin Types was not there to help.

Here’s just one example of the kind of confusedness that runs rampant, even amidst professionals. I not long ago was on the advisory board of a major company with two prominent dermatologists. One was an “R” (someone with resistant, nonreactive skin) and the other one was an “S” (someone with sensible skin). Right there in front of the company president, the two had a big argument, with the “R” dermatologist claiming that there was no divergence in skin care merchandise and that it was all syndication hype. She could use anything on her facial skin, she told us, even Ivory soap, without a problem. The “S” skin dermatologist was shocked. Almost everything made her skin turn red and sting, she retorted. These two skin pros did not perceive that their opposing points of view stemmed from their opposite Skin Types. I saw very without doubt or question that something was missing and wanted to simplify skin care, once and for all.

As a clinician, I’d seen the harm caused by following an unsuitable skin care routine. As a caring doctor, I’d heard the feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized and confusedness of people attempting to make good skin care selections while barraged by a plethora of merchandise and overwhelmed by conflicting and oftentimes misleading merchandising claims. Because each person had queer skin care needs, I noticed that the same merchandise did not work for everyone, so I tailored individualized skin care regimes for my clients. Over time a clear, consistent, and replicable typology emerged. The sixteen Skin Types are the keys to a finish diagnostic and treatment program that covers each substantial skin element and that really works.

My scheme measures four components in skin: oiliness vs. dryness, resistance vs. sensitivity, pigmentation vs. non-pigmentation, and tightness vs. wrinkling. Determining where you fall in each of the four categories serves as the foundation for typing your skin. Your Skin Type is more than the sum of the four dissimilar factors. Their interplay and expression are distinctive for each type. After seeing in a literal sense thousands of people who are in need of medical care and refining the Baumann Skin Type Questionnaire over the last ten years, I may see to it you that Skin Typing captures each Skin Type’s distinguishable calibers and shows you how to work with your type’s intensities and weaknesses.

Once you perceive your Skin Type, proper skin care isn’t elaborated or costly. You won’t need to use a shelfful of products. Honing in on what your skin needs will actually simplify your beauty routine, making it having little impact to follow and more economical. Following the counsel I’ll extend in your Skin Type’s chapter will end “bad skin days” because it will end bad skin care decisions.

How to Use This Book

In reading the opening chapter of this book, you’ll acquaint yourself with the underlying principles of Skin Typing. In Chapter Two, you’ll learn my modern vocabulary to support you comprehend the dissimilar elements that I take into account when determining your Skin Type. In Chapter Three, you’ll take the Baumann Skin Type Questionnaire. Once you tabulate your results, you will recognise precisely which one of the sixteen types describes your skin. You may then turn directly to that chapter for a finish profile that will provide you with everything you need to take charge of your skin and give it the best possible care. The bottom line is that by reading your chapter, you will get to recognise your skin. This will provide the foundation for following my subsequent advice.

Each chapter holds Daily Skin Care Regimens quintessentially designed to address your Skin Type’s problem areas. To follow your type’s regimen, you will need to use the kinds of productions I recommend. I’ll provide a list of suggestions for each type of product, as well as extra suggestions to use when you have specific skin problems.

If you presently use productions that you find effective, you may likewise carry on to use them, if you wish. However, if you determine to do that, I advise you to consult the lists of ingredients that define which ones are favorabl…

Most helpful customer reviews

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful.
5Excellent information!
By Leanne
I purchased this book after reading a review about it in a magazine, and I’m extremely pleased with it!

Before buying the book, I was worried that the questionnaire that Dr. Baumann provides wouldn’t be as easy as it was to follow since, in the past, I’ve often found that questionnaires sometimes don’t reveal your categories as clearly as they could. In this case, however, her questionnaire was simple and accurate, and I learned a great deal about my skin.

What I also like is that Dr. Baumann provides you with information in case you fall into a borderline area in one of the four categories. For instance, I fall between the Wrinkled and Tight skintypes in one category, but the book suggested that if this is the case, that I follow the Wrinked guidelines to prevent the formation of future wrinkles. She offers similar suggestions throughout, so that you know when and how to use the products she recommends.

I also like how Dr. Baumann provides products in a variety of price ranges, many of which can be found at a local drugstore. The only downside is that some of the prices were a bit more expensive than her price rating system seems to suggest. For example, each of the products is rated from $-$$$ in terms of its cost. Two of my recommended eye creams were in the $$ price range, when one, in fact, costs $55 and the other $68. It seems like these should have been placed in the $$$ range, and these aren’t the only examples of this nature.

Overall, though, it’s been an excellent purchase! Considering how much many of us spend on beauty and facial products, the book is a very good investment. Personally, I know that it will help me avoid making costly mistakes in the future. Instead of continuing to spend money on products that don’t work for my skin type, I now feel like I will be a more confident shopper.

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful.
4A good place to start for the skin care novice
By Amazon customer
In my teens and twenties I never paid much attention to my skin, partly because I didn’t have any major problems and partly because I wasn’t very interested in beauty, fashion magazines and the like. I’d wash my face in the shower and draw a couple lines under my eyes in the morning and that was the extent of my skin care and make-up routine. But, at 34 I noticed a lesion on my face that turned out to be skin cancer. It was nothing serious and was taken care very easily, but it made me start looking at my skin more closely, and, much to my dismay, I realized that I was beginning to show the signs of ageing; for the first time I noticed that I had crowsfeet, smile lines and age spots. I decided I probably should start taking a little better care of my skin, but I didn’t really know “what” I should be doing. Since it’s nearly impossible to get a dermatologist to spend any serious time with you, I decided to buy a book instead. I bought this one and I think it was a good choice.

The book helps you assess the type of skin you have and determine what products and procedures are best for you. It also impresses upon you the importance of sunscreen. For many skin types, like mine, Dr. Baumann suggests a Retinoid product that you have to get through a dermatologist. This seems to have been good advice as I have read several articles in other sources (NYTimes and Consumer Reports) that say that Retinoids are the ony products which have been scientifically proven to reduce the signs of ageing. So, for the recommendation of suncreen and retinoids, I’m very thankful to the author.

As far as some of the other product recommendations are concerned, I have taken them with a grain of salt. If I choose to use them, I buy the cheapest ones or look for another product that has the same active ingredient. Is she endorsing certain products for financial gain? Possibly. But, she does give you enough information so that you can seek out cheaper alternatives. One thing is for sure, this book did not save me any money. A tube of Avene (the Retinoid) alone is costing me $50/month and if you buy all the other “stuff” (special cleansers, eye cream, antioxidant moisterizers, etc.) you could “easily” find yourself spending over a $100/month on your face.

The author is also a big proponent of Botox. She herself has been using Botox since she was 29. I personally perfer to stay away from needles and injections. Not only is it extremely costly and something that you need to do on a regular basis, but for me it seems like it’s taking the anti-ageing program a bit too far. We all are going to age, so a certain amount of acceptance (resignation?) seems in order. I want to keep my skin in the best condition possible, but I also want to be able to accept my ageing body and face (with it’s smile lines and crows feet). While I can “totally” sympathize with women (and men) who have these procedures, it is my hope that I can acquire a healthy attitude about ageing and spend all the money I would have invested in Botox on something more fulfulling, like wonderful vacations. But, perhaps this is easy to say while I’m still in my thirties. Maybe I’ll feel differently in my sixties.

At any rate, I think this is a very informative book and it has helped me make some well-informed, positive changes that hopefully are paying off.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful.
5A must buy book
By M. Edwards
I have had problem skin my entire life – acne, sensitivity. I have been sold every product under the sun wuth a promise it would help and never did. I finally took Accutane which cleared up my skin but made it even more confusing to buy products. I finally have the answer.
I read the book and took the quiz only to find out not only do I have sensitive skin but I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin. I threw out more than half my skin care products and bought several on Dr. Baumann’s recommended list for my skin (dry, sensitive, wrinkled, non-pigmented). My skin has never been this clear – no spots, no itchiness, no flaking, nothing but clear soft skin. I even feel comfortable going without makeup now. Even after the Accutane my nose still had a lot of clogged pores and even they seem to be clearing up now.
Despite what others have said Dr. Baumann is very upfront that she tests for several companies – in fact she tests for so many that she is truly impartial – many of the products she would test would be from competing companies. Common sense tells you this. I also liked the dietary recommendations for my skin type – I have incorporated a few and have seen a difference.

This book is a must have for anyone – it demystifies the skin care industry and helps you figure out what to use and what not to use. It gives options and information you cna use for a lifetime.

See all 111 customer reviews…

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Image

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Photo

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Pic

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Pic

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Photo

The Skin Type Solution

The Skin Type Solution Pic

Similar Products To The Skin Type Solution
The Skin Type Solution
The Skin Type Solution: A Revolutionary Guide to Your Best Skin Ever
Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice, Second Edition
Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System All Skin Types System Starter Kit
Mary Kay Night Solution (All Skin Types)
Razer Goliathus Omega S – Control

15 thoughts on “The Skin Type Solution”

  1. Great guide!
    Rating:4 out of 5 stars
    This guide is comprehensive and has a lot of the answers to my skin-type questions. Very informative and concise!

  2. Very helpful information
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    After 60 yrs. of living and thousands of $$$$ spent on skincare products, I finally know what type of skin I have! There is a very easy quiz at the start of the book which will tell you what skin type you are (there are 16 types!) and what products work best for that skin type. I can now go to the drug or department stores and buy what I need to keep my skin from breaking out or wrinkling. Dr. Baumann lists many products in each category that you can choose from – they range from the economical to the expensive – and she also lists the stores and/or websites where you can purchase them. She also recommends a daily routine for AM/PM. I highly recommend this book for the younger generations so you don’t waste a lot of time & money on skincare that will do nothing for you.

  3. Great Resource, Could Use Updating
    Rating:4 out of 5 stars
    A co-worker recommended this book to me after we discussed skin issues. I’ve found the advice useful, and the writing interesting. The book looks huge and overwhelming at first, but realize that while you can read the whole thing, you truly only need to read the first few chapters and then the ones specific to your skin type.

    The only caveat is that the recommended products need to be updated. I’m just getting started trying to follow her recommendations, but some of the products I’ve looked up have been discontinued or replaced by another product. While it’s nice to have this quick reference, however, Baumann does include a list of ingredients to use and to avoid per skin type. This can be used to research any products you’re interested in, whether it’s on her recommendation list or not. So, updates or no, I’d rather have the book than not at all.

  4. Great Advise Book
    Rating:4 out of 5 stars
    I have so much enjoyed reading this book. It is very

    informative and i have bought some of my skincare

    products based on the recommendation of this

    author.

  6. One of the best GIFTS you can give yourself/your women friends!
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    I’m 58 and have, like most other women my age, spent oodles of dollars over decades on various skincare products with no understanding as to whether they were good or bad for my skin.

    After reading this book, I will never spend another penny on a product or procedure that won’t benefit my particular skin type.

    Dr. B. has taken the confusion out of what products I should buy and apply, what procedures I need and what protections and precautions I should take to have the best skin ever.

    My skin is dry, non-pigmented, reactive and wrinkled.

    I now know exactly what skincare regime I should be following to protect my skin from further wrinkles and to eliminate some of the wrinkles that I have.

    I also now have an idea about how to start up with applying Retin-A or retinoyl products to avoid irritation.

    Dr. B doesn’t push plastic surgery (and I am thankful for that) but she gives insight into how Botox and fillers can be used effectively to eliminate deep lines and wrinkles.

    One of the best two tips she gives is that Thermage can be used to help with puffiness under the eyes and sagging skin AND that facials (which I used to have about once a month) do not benefit the skin in the long run.

    She doesn’t “push” any particular products. She gives low price, medium price and high price choices for varous skincare products.

    And she gives you a choice of a non-prescription AND a prescription skin care regime for each particular type of skin.

    This is a terrific book!

  7. Useful Book
    Rating:3 out of 5 stars
    A good book. While the book appears rather fat a lot of the book is taken up with the test and is then mostly divided into sections for each skin type. So there was less information to get from the book than I’d hoped. I did however find the information there was useful and relevant if not as detailed as I had hoped.

    I liked whenever she suggested products they were in a range of price points. So many books like this recommend a “cheaper product” that starts at something like $50.00 this book does recommend a good range from drugstore all the way up to high end, so there are choices for every budget. Or for those of us just wanting to try out a skin care routine before investing big bucks. Often there were recommendations for the lower priced items too which was a nice surprise.

    A good book if your current skin care routine doesn’t seem to be working, you are sure to get some ideas from this that will help.

  8. Excellent lifestyle and product recommendations!
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    I got this book from the library and I am so impressed with it, I am buying it. I have a problem skin type that has several issues. I am under the care of a doctor for it, but find this book to be an excellent resource. And many of the product recommendations are things my doctor has prescribed, so I know this book gives good advice. Dermatologists are very busy these days and just don’t have the time to sit with patients and walk them through every possible lifestyle change that could help with their conditions. Even if you decide not to buy any of the products, you can still benefit from the lifestyle recommendations. For example, Dr. B. recommends people with my skin type do everything possible to keep the skin from becoming overheated. She’s right! I was having trouble with breakouts after months of no problems despite following my treatments to the letter. But after reading the book, I realized the water I was washing with was too hot, I was scrubbing too much and I had the heat up too high. I have changed these things and I am seeing an improvment. I truly believe if I continue to follow the recommendations in this book I will be able to maintain the clear skin my prescriptions are intended to help me get.

  10. Healthy Skin is So Important!
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    I bought this book as part of my New Year’s resolution to take better care of my skin. It is a great primer in identifying your skin type so you can determine what products are best for you.

    So far so good!

  11. Stop blindly trying products, wasting money, and upsetting your skin!
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    If you’re like me, you think your skin will calm down if you can just figure out the right things to buy. But it’s not your fault! This book provided a well-rounded explanation of why my skin behaves the way it does under particular conditions, and i feel certain it will be as useful for others. I was surprised to discover that my skin is actually sensitive (and all this time i described it as simply bitchy.) Especially helpful was the list of “safe” products in every price range, and even ingredients to look for (or avoid). Dr Baumann can #1 Help get your skin under control #2 Teach you how to care for your skin type #3 Give you clues about how your skin will age, and how to address those issues #4 Take you through season changes and flare-ups. I can’t really comment on the website, blog, etc as i haven’t ussed them. So maybe you actually LIKE the challenge of creating a regimen and arsenal for your skin care needs, and you hope that you’ll eventually stumble blindly upon the correct products and plan for your skin? Then by all means continue your quest and don’t bother with this book.

  12. Extremely embarassing to the skin care industry
    Rating:1 out of 5 stars
    I have so much issues with this book I don’t even know where to begin. Considering the skin care world basically evolves every 6 months at least (new research, techniques, and studies), the list of references was atrocious – it contained more sources from the early 90′s and 80′s than from 2005 (1 year before published). My biggest issue (besides from the highly obvious tone of endorsing HORRIBLE products for the skin) is her DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO POP A ZIT!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? All that “pus” = your WHITE BLOOD CELLS that are helping to FIGHT the p.acne bacteria. WHY would you want to extract that? Popping a zit also ruptures your hair follicle (what a pore really is) – hence why you tend to break out in the same place multiple times. I would have liked to see her explain the difference between “sensitive” and “sensitized” skin (BIG difference). Instead, she fuels to the fire of everyone thinking their skin is “sensitive” – here’s a tip – put down the Starbucks/cigarette/sugar/proactive and start drinking some water. Your “sensitive” skin will magically disappear. If you are curious about your skin PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to a Skin Therapist (Esthetician) before you consult this book. Any dermatologist who can recommend Neutrogena for acne and still sleep at night is not worth your time or money.

  13. Read Carefully & Use Wisely
    Rating:4 out of 5 stars
    ****This book has its flaws, but…: ****

    1.) It could be better organized: there is info in the text that the good doctor does not include in the gray boxes of ingredients to try or avoid, but overall Dr. Baumann does a lot to demystify the cosmetics counter.

    2.) People who are borderline on any of the four criteria or have “combination” skin will have to do some detective work and read more than one skin type. I found valuable advice in the chapter for Dry, Sensitive, Non-pigmented types, even though I have some mild pigmentation issues, so I will just make sure any products I use do not create additional pigmentation. This is where the gray boxes, however flawed, will be of help when I go to buy new products.

    3.) From other reviewers, I’ve learned Dr. Baumann works for some of the cosmetics companies whose products she recommends. A conflict of interest? Yes, but there are always the ingredient lists in the gray boxes that you can use to make informed choices if you don’t want to use her picks. I know I will be because even her mid-priced choices are too rich for my blood.

    4.) Dr. Baumann’s pushes retinoids, prescription products, and fancy procedures (like Botox) more than I care for, but some people may be interested in them, so the topics will help interested parties make the best choice for their faces. Baumann also offers nutritional and lifestyle advice for each type as a natural way to stay radiant, which is a plus.

    *****Therefore, to get the most out of this book:******

    1.) Take your time with the questionnaire and answer carefully to truly find out what type you are.I am using this book for the second time now. The first time, I rushed through the questionaire in about 15 minutes, just guessing on the questions in which Dr, Baumann tells you to do something–like wash your face but don’t apply moisturizer, make-up, or anything else–and THEN answer the question. I assumed my skin was oily, answered as if it was, and severely regretted it for about a month afterwards because I bought a bunch of products recommended for Oily Sensitive types and ended up with a chemical burn all over my face. Not fun!

    This time, I am taking my time, doing as Dr. Baumann asks, and THEN answering the questions correctly, and it looks like I am actually going to score as a Dry Sensitive. Surprise, surprise! No wonder I fried my face the first time. I am now looking forward to trying products recommended for my true type.

    2.) Read not just the chapter for your type but also chapters for similar types, too.

    3.) Photocopy your ingredient list and bring them with you when making purchases. I will this time!

    4.) Incorporate some of the nutritional advice and do/buy only what feels right for you. A happy, healthy face is always a beautiful face!

  14. The Skin Type Solution
    Rating:5 out of 5 stars
    I enjoyed the book and really appreciated the names of actual products to use and their approximate prices. The skin test was a great help too. I am just starting to use the products recommended and have seen some good results. Hope it continues.

  15. With caveat, really needs updating
    Rating:3 out of 5 stars
    This is a wonderful book, the first (and best) of its kind I read which demystified this gazillion dollar industry. The author provides straightforward insight into which product components really work and how, what to look for at the overwhelming (often misleading) cosmetics counter, and how to most-effectively use the products. I love that she includes both drugstore and boutique lines, too. She also seems truly objective, which is so rare in books of this sort, which are almost always written by authors with their own product lines. When reading those authors, I never feel completely comfortable I’m getting the straight scoop, and question how the writer’s self interest in promoting their own product might be sneaking in to what they say. And let’s not forget ego & competition, and how doctors frequently have such HUGE egos that they aren’t as open minded as they could be. Dr. Laura comes across as above all that. It’s like sitting down with a girlfriend you trust, who just really knows her stuff and wants to help you. I’m willing to spend $$$ on great product, but don’t have money to ‘burn’ with companies having nothing to deliver but glossy, misleading advertising. I love finding great product. (Like Prevage, MD, which feels amazing, and gives my face a slight “glowiness” I either can cover or not cover with foundation. I pay the high $$ because it has science behind it, and Laura gave it an “A.”) Back to the book, the constantly-evolving skincare industry, new products, new research necessitates an updated edition. An updated, expanded edition (and maybe incorporating more info on antioxidants supplements like acai,mangosteen, etc.) because we NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW(!) how to look & feel beautiful, healthy, and youthful. When I read articles on research, new products, and new skincare procedures, I find myself wondering what Laura would say about them. Her website and blog have scant update info, and the newsletters on her site don’t really look all that great. I’m sure that the author’s many obligations don’t leave time (or incentive) to sit around blogging on her website, which I completely understand. But it’s now been 3 years since the book was published, and probably 4 years since she submitted it for editing. Then consider how long it took to perform her research, test all the product, and actually write the book. Wow – ancient info!! Since the info is (at least) 4 years old now, I find myself looking elsewhere for info but never find books I trust as being objective or reliable. And Paula Begoun, the self-declared ‘cosmetics cop,’ is SO negative on practically everything (amazingly, she actually liked something – this book – and gave it a thumbs up), that she’s at the other extreme of the “authors I don’t trust.” Plus she seems very averse to the luxury lines, which seem to have a higher level of “feel good” to them. And what’s wrong with a product feeling luxurious on my skin? Isn’t that a big part of what we’re looking for? If anyone has a recommendation for trustworthy, updated skincare information (specifically advanced, cutting edge products), I’d really love to know …. Thanks!

Leave a Reply