No matter what skin type you have, it’s crucial that you use a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunblock daily. But because not all skin types are the same (there are five main types), the ingredients you need in these products may vary. We’re here to help you figure out your skin type so you can choose the formulas that best address your skin’s specific needs.
Skin Types
Dry Skin
Dry skin can feel like your face is tight. You also may notice some flaking. Dry skin is commonly caused by environmental factors, hormonal changes, and genetics. Dehydration is also a common cause of dry skin, so be sure that you drink enough water. It’s important to exfoliate daily with products featuring ingredients that promote skin cell turnover. However, you also want to be sure you use products that won’t remove natural oils. The best moisturizers for dry skin contain hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and marine actives like algae.
Oily Skin
A gentle physical exfoliator that does not use abrasives is a useful product for balancing the tone and texture of oily skin. Gently scrub in circular motions for best results. Salicylic acid products are great for oily skin, because they help to keep your pores clean while exfoliating the surface.
Combination Skin
People with combination skin often experience dry skin on the cheeks and oily skin on the T-zone and chin. It’s important to find a moisturizer that doesn’t weigh too much but will retain moisture where it’s needed the most. Gentle daily exfoliation is also important to keep combination skin in check. Those with moderate to severe acne breakouts should consider using an antibacterial exfoliator, which will speed healing and prevent blemishes in the future.
Sensitive Skin
Unfortunately, sensitive skin is the most difficult skin type to deal with. It’s important to figure out what ingredients cause irritation and inflammation. To make this process easier, introduce only one product to your routine at a time. Patch testing on your forearm is another excellent way to minimize reactions. Look at labels that identify formulas as non-irritating and free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, TEA (triethanolamine), and DEA (diethanolamine), as these ingredients can result in itchiness and redness.
Normal Skin
If you fall into the “normal” skin category, consider yourself lucky! People with normal skin tend to have balanced hydration levels, few or no blemishes, and a lack of sensitivity.
Methods to Help You Determine Your Skin Type
The “Watch and Wait” Method
This test is super-easy. All you do is observe your skin after cleansing. First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Then, pat your face dry and wait 30 minutes.
- If your skin appears shiny all over, you most likely have oily skin.
- If your skin feels tight or you see flakiness, you most likely have dry skin.
- If you see oil only in your T-zone, you most likely have combination skin.
- If your skin feels hydrated and comfortable, you most likely have normal skin.
The Blotting Sheet Method
If you’re not a fan of the “watch and wait” method, you can try the blotting sheet method. Blotting sheets absorb oil when they touch skin and can easily help tell you what skin type you have. First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry and wait 30 minutes. Now, press blotting sheets onto various areas of your face and hold them up to the light to see if there are any oil markings.
- If the sheets soak up a lot of oil from most or all areas of the face, you likely have oily skin.
- If the blotting sheets absorb little to no oil, then you most likely have dry skin.
- If the blotting sheets show a small amount of oil from your T-zone, you most likely have combination skin.
- If you only see minimal oil from every area of your face, you most likely have normal skin.