Skin Care Excerpt: 'You: Being Beautiful'

Eczema: If your -skin's looking as if you just did the hubba--hubba in a bed of mashed strawberries, it might be a case of the common skin condition eczema. This is a type of allergic reaction, and -it's easily treated with inexpensive skin moisturizers. -It's especially common during the winter, when the dry air causes little breaks in the skin, letting in chemicals that rake over your skin, particularly your hands. Treat your skin like an athlete working out in the heat—keep it hydrated. After your daily shower (don't dry yourself first), immediately apply Vaseline or cream (Eucerin, Keri, Nivea) so the moisture is locked in—and the rash--irritating dryness is kept out. If you have stubborn eczema, you might use a moisturizer with lactic acid or a steroid or a prescription drug called tacrolimus. If all else fails, have an allergist get to the bottom of your problem—in many cases the culprit is the metal nickel or one of the preservatives or fragrances in skin care products.

YOU Test

What's Your Type?

All that time in front of the mirror, in the shower, and at the nude beach has likely given you some pretty good insight into what type of skin you have. But -there's more to skin intelligence than just knowing whether -you're happier exposing it or concealing it. Take this test to determine your skin type.

1. Does your skin look dull or flake like a snow globe?

2. Does your skin look like a bathroom floor with a shiny, slippery texture?

3. Does your skin feel itchy and taut like sausage casing?

4. Do you have pores that are enlarged like craters, or clogged pores, or acne?

5. Does your skin react to cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetics, fragrances, and artificial colors?

6. Does your skin appear consistently moist, vibrant, and plumper than a squishy cantaloupe?

7. Does your forehead, nose, or chin appear oilier than a fast--food kitchen, while the skin around your cheeks, eyes, and mouth is normal or dry?

If you answered yes to 1 or 3, you have DRY skin.

If you answered yes to 2 or 4, you have OILY skin.

If you answered yes to 5, you have SENSITIVE skin.

If you answered yes to 6, you have NORMAL skin.

If you answered yes to 7, you have COMBINATION skin.