How to Easily Identify Your Skin Type

Skin types are a thing. You can’t really ignore this about yourself because it has all to do with how your skin looks and feels on a day-to-day basis.

If you’ve never thought about your skin type before, here’s what you need to know: there are five primary types of skin. Different skin types exist because of genetics, climate and even age.

Each type has its own set of needs when it comes to products. Figuring out what skin type you have can help you narrow down all the options so you can find what works best for YOU.

Skin type 1: Normal skin

This is the most common skin type and easy to identify. Normal skin is not prone to breakouts, flakiness or feeling greasy. Normal skin is the perfect balance of dry and oily skin; people with normal skin have a smooth and elastic skin texture. 

Skin type 2: Oily skin

Oily skin noticeably has a glossy shine and large pores in areas like the nose and chin. It’s characterized by excessive sebum production, which leads to further clogging of pores. This can result in blackheads, acne and other skin issues.

It’s worth noting that not all people who have oily skin have the same issues.

Skin type 3: Dry skin

Dry skin is the type that produces less sebum compared to normal skin. This quality makes dry skin appear dull, rough and even flaky. It also feels tighter compared to other the skin types.

Skin type 4: Combination skin

Just like you hear it, combination skin is a blend of oily and dry skin. It is typically characterized by oily skin in some areas of your skin and dry skin in other areas.

Oil prone areas include areas of the T-Zone( forehead, nose and chin). The dry areas persist in the cheeks, along the jaw and hairline.

Skin type 5: Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is skin that’s generally more prone to inflammation. It’s possible to have normal sensitive skin, oily sensitive or dry sensitive skin.

Regardless of which one you have, your skin generally reacts to fragrances, dyes and chemicals present in products that come into contact with your skin. Your skin may tingle, sting, swell, redden, or even itch once this happens. 

How to determine your skin type

The easiest way to determine your skin type is to observe how your skin behaves after cleansing it. This simple test can be done at home, and all you need is a cleanser. 

Basically, cleanse your skin and pat it dry, and then leave it bare for about half an hour. After this time has elapsed, note the appearance of your face. 

If your skin feels tight and is scaly or flaky, you most likely have dry skin. 

If your skin feels hydrated and comfortable, you have normal skin.

If your skin appears glossy throughout, you definitely have oily skin

If only your forehead, nose and chin appear oily, you probably have combination skin.

How to care for your specific skin type

1. Care for normal skin

Normal skin doesn’t have any issues or concerns, so you don’t have to go all out with your skincare routine. However, it’s important to make it a point to stay healthy and  hydrated.

You can follow a basic skin regimen where you cleanse, tone and moisturize.

2. Care for dry skin

Dry skin needs all the moisture it can get so it’s important to moisturize your skin every after a shower to keep it soft and hydrated.

You can also care for dry skin by avoiding over-showering. While this may sound unsanitary, showering more than twice a day contributes to dry skin as the skin is effectively stripped of its moisture in the process.

People with dry skin should drink a lot of water to keep hydrated, and wear gloves while using cleaning agents like detergent.

3. Care for combination skin

Due to its nature, maintaining two separate skincare routines may be necessary for someone with combination skin.

Since the T-Zone has larger oily pores, you may want to use an oil-free lightweight moisturizer for that area of your face and perhaps a denser one for the rest of your face that’s prone to dryness. 

4. Care for oily skin

While oily skin may seem like the real enemy, it can in fact be managed. A simple step is to moisturize your skin often to prevent it from overproducing sebum. Opt for a lightweight moisturizer that is advised for oily skin.

Avoid constantly touching your face as oily skin is prone to blemishes and breakouts. Doing things like popping pimples only results in further infection.

Be sure to wash your face twice a day to unclog your pores of dirt and bacteria that could have accumulated during the course of the day. Take care not to over wash as this strips the skin of its moisture, instead making it more oil prone.

As far as makeup goes, if you have oily skin, it’s best that you use non-comedogenic products that won’t clog your pores.

5. Care for sensitive skin

When it comes to sensitive skin, use gentle products for your skin. Opt for products with natural soothing ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter and green tea extract.

Since sensitive skin is prone to inflammation, it’s important to conduct a patch test before you use any product on your skin. A patch test is used to test if your skin may react negatively to a product. It may take a little time, but a patch test can  prevent a skincare disaster. Don’t use any product on your face before you test it on your hand.

While this test is better conducted by a dermatologist, you can do a simpler version of it at home. Simply apply some of the product to your hand for instance, wait about 24 hours. If your skin doesn’t react, you can go ahead and put it on your face.

Skin care tips for every type

• Keep yourself adequately hydrated.
• Moisturize your skin regularly.
• Don’t sleep with makeup on. Make sure to wipe it off before you go to sleep.
• Avoid over exfoliating your skin. Any exfoliating you do shouldn’t last over one minute. Anything beyond 60 seconds can damage your skin.
• Eat a healthy diet. Focus more on consuming fruits and green leafy vegetables rather than sugary and junk foods.
• Practice good hygiene and avoid bad habits like picking at pimples.
• Keep yourself protected from direct sunlight by wearing sunscreen, hats or sunglasses.

If you were clueless about your skin type, we hope you found this article useful. As the gem you are, you also need to know how best you can take care of your skin type so you can always sport a glowing look. Let us know your progress in the comments below!