Skin Typing 101: How to Identify Your Skin Type
When I started dibbling and dabbling into skin care and makeup, I would reach for whatever product was advertised to me. It really didn’t matter what ingredients the product contained, or what skin type the product was geared towards. I’ve spent tons of money over the years picking up products that would never work for my skin type, just to be disappointed in the end. There are millions of products on the market, and there’s a reason for that. Not every product will work for you, and that’s not because they’re all bad products, but because different skin types have different needs. Skin care products are not one-size-fits-all.
In order to find out what products will likely work best for your skin, you first need to figure out what skin type you have. Don’t worry, this process is pretty easy and simple. You can even kick back and have a glass of wine while you figure out your skin type.
Let’s get to it!
4 Main Skin Types
Dry Skin: Dry skin produces a decreased amount of sebum and can result in little to no visible pores, tightness, dull appearance, and flaky patches. Dry skin is more prone to sensitivity.
Oily Skin: Oily skin produces an increased amount of sebum, resulting in shine and visibly large pores. Oily skin is more prone to acne/breakouts.
Combination Skin: Combination skin is the most common skin type. It includes areas that are oily and dry. The T-Zone is most commonly the oily part of the skin, while the cheeks are typically dry/normal.
Normal Skin: Normal skin sits in the middle of oily and dry. It includes skin that is neither noticeably oily nor noticeably dry.
Identify your skin type using the bare-faced method
The quickest and easiest way to identify your main skin type is by using the bare-faced method. To do this, you’ll need to wash your face with a gentle cleanser, and either gently pat dry or allow your skin to air dry. Do not apply products after washing your face; leave your skin bare for about 20-30 minutes. After this time has passed, take a look in the mirror and examine your skin.
Findings after examination
Dry and/or tight: Did you notice that your skin feels dry or tight? Did you feel tightness when smiling or raising your eyebrows? If so, than you likely have dry skin.
Shiny/oily: Did you see noticeable shine peaking through on your forehead, nose, and cheeks? If so, than you likely have oily skin.
Combination of shine and tightness: Did you experience oilyness in some areas (I.E. forehead), but dryness/tightness in other areas (I.E. cheeks), than you likely have combination skin
Little to no shine or tightness: Did you experience little to no shine or tightness to your skin? Than you likely have normal skin.
Ideal products you should be using for your skin type
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, you want to be very careful with the products you choose, You want to reach for gentle, fragrance-free cleansers. Avoid using too much product, and avoid cleansing your skin for too long. You want to cleanse your skin for 60-seconds tops. Overly cleansing the skin can strip the skin of its oils, and dry it out even further.
For moisturizers, you want to reach for products that are thick in formula. Oils and balm-like moisturizers are great for dry skin, because they form a barrier to protect the skin and help combat flakiness and tightness. Feel free to transition to a lighter moisturizer during the summer, but definitely stick to a thick formula during the winter.
If you have dry skin, I would also recommend using a gentle lactic acid exfoliator once a week to remove flakes and dry patches.
Oily Skin
The main objective to balance oily skin is to reach for products that will remove excess oil from the skin without over-drying. You should look for products that have light and thin formulas to avoid clogging your pores. AHAs (salicylic acid and glycolic acid) are effective ingredients that help control oil production.
To avoid drying out the skin, use two different cleansers morning and night. Use a gentle cleanser in the morning, and a salicylic acid or glycolic cleanser at night. This will help balance oily skin without drying it out.
Reach for moisturizers that have thin, or gel-like consistencies and contain hyaluronic acid, as this is an effective ingredient that helps boost hydration without clogging pores or increasing oil production.
Normal Skin
If you have normal skin, congratulations! How does it feel to be God’s favorite? (I’m kidding..kind of 😅) Normal skin can actually be a bit tricky because it may take a bit of trial and error to determine which products your skin likes. A helpful tip to follow is; if your skin is on the normal/oily spectrum, try products geared towards oily skin, and if your skin is on the normal/dry spectrum, try products geared towards dry skin.
Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, you may need to use a mix of products for the dry and oily areas.