Know Your Skin Type
How to Determine Your Skin Type
The simplest method: wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and wait 30 minutes without applying any products. Then examine your skin:
- Shiny all over: Oily skin
- Tight, flaky, or rough: Dry skin
- Oily T-zone, dry/normal cheeks: Combination skin
- Comfortable, balanced, no issues: Normal skin
- Red, stinging, or irritated: Sensitive skin
- Breakouts present regardless of oiliness: Acne-prone (can overlap with any type)
Oily skin produces excess sebum, leading to shine, enlarged pores, and a higher tendency for breakouts. The good news: oily skin tends to age more slowly because the natural oil keeps it hydrated and supple.
View guide →
Dry skin produces less sebum than needed to maintain the moisture barrier. It often feels tight, may flake or crack, and can look dull without proper hydration and barrier support.
View guide →
Combination skin has both oily and dry zones — typically an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with drier cheeks. It is the most common skin type and requires a balanced approach.
View guide →
Sensitive skin reacts easily to products, environmental changes, and stress. It may sting, burn, flush, or develop rashes more readily than other skin types. The focus is on barrier repair and minimal, gentle formulations.
View guide →
Normal skin is well-balanced — not too oily, not too dry. It has small pores, an even tone, and rarely breaks out. The goal is maintenance and prevention.
View guide →
Acne-prone skin is susceptible to frequent breakouts — blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, or cystic acne. The key is controlling sebum, unclogging pores, fighting bacteria, and reducing inflammation without damaging the barrier.
View guide →
Mature skin shows visible signs of aging — fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, uneven tone, and thinning. The focus is on stimulating collagen, retaining moisture, and protecting against further damage.
View guide →
Skin type is not permanent
Your skin type can change with age, hormones, seasons, climate, and product use. Oily skin in your 20s may become combination or dry in your 40s as sebum production naturally declines. Many people also have multiple concerns simultaneously — oily AND sensitive, or dry AND acne-prone. Reassess periodically and adjust your routine accordingly.