How to Know Your Skin Type: In 3 Simple Steps

We do not always know our skin type and yet it is vital in order to choose treatments adapted to our needs; either dry, oily, mixed, etc.

In this article, we'll share with you some tips on how to know your skin type and the different types of skin.

Disclaimer

The information in this article has been shared for informational purposes only, and is not considered a substitute for medical advice nor should it be considered as a treatment recommendation by https://www.clinicadvisor.com

Accordingly, before taking any action based on this information, we encourage you to consult a medical professional to obtain the right medical care.

What are the different types of skin?

There are 4 main types of skin:

Dry skin: If your skin is dry, you have low sebum production, which causes tightness, discomfort, redness, and flakiness. Your skin is dull, rough to the touch, has more prominent wrinkles and fine lines, and appears finer with tightened or almost invisible pores.
Normal skin: If your skin is smooth, soft, and does not feel too oily or dry, has few imperfections, and your complexion is even, you feel no discomfort or tightness, then you have normal skin.
Combination skin: If your skin is a combination, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is oily while the skin on the cheeks, temples, and jawbones is normal, has visible and enlarged pores, and may have imperfections in the midline of the face.
Oily skin: If your skin is oily, it tends to shine all over the face, has a thicker texture, uneven skin tone, is prone to blackheads and blemishes, and has dilated pores, which indicates that you have oily skin.

Some Common Skin Conditions

However, in addition to these four skin families, you may have to deal with skin conditions that can change depending on the season, age, sun exposure, or even hormonal fluctuations.

These skin conditions can concern all skin types and can be combined with each other:

Dehydrated skin: Dehydration can affect all skin types, even in combination to oily skin. It is due to a lack of water present in the skin, unlike dry skin lacking fat. It causes a feeling of temporary tightness on localized areas without necessarily flaking, presents fine wrinkles, and a lack of radiance of the complexion.
Sensitive skin: The skin is considered sensitive when it marks and heats up quickly. Indeed, it reacts disproportionately to external aggressions, stress, and emotions. People with sensitive skin have a feeling of discomfort, the skin feels tight, has persistent redness, and skin irritations are frequent.
Mature skin: With age, the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid gradually decreases, causing sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, pigment spots, loss of elasticity, firmness, volume, and radiance skin, bags under the eyes, and dehydration.
Acne skin: Contrary to popular belief, acne does not only affect people with oily skin or teenagers. Indeed, regardless of skin type, many women suffer from hormonal acne in adulthood.

How do you know what your skin type is?

Determining your skin type is crucial for maintaining healthy and radiant skin. You can customize your skincare routine according to the specific needs of your skin.

To identify your skin type, follow these simple steps:

Cleanse

First, cleanse your skin thoroughly by removing all makeup, impurities, and excess sebum using a makeup remover and a gentle cleanser.

Rinse Your Face

After that rinse your face with lukewarm water and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Then wait for an hour to allow your sebaceous glands to become active again.

During this time, refrain from touching your face or applying any products that may distort your assessment.

Now examine your skin

One hour after washing your face, determine what you feel, and what you observe and ask yourself the following questions:

Does my skin glow?
Are my pores rather fine or dilated?
Is my skin relaxed or is it tight?
To the touch, my skin is rather rough, oily, or soft.
Do I have blemishes or blackheads?
Is my skin rather smooth, shiny, or dull?

Here’s a table to help you visualize the examination of your skin:

Skin Type /Characteristics	Dry Skin	Normal Skin	Combination Skin	Oily Skin
Appearance	Dull complexion and flaking	Smooth and fresh	Oily T-zone and dry cheeks	Shiny all over the face
Touch	Rough	Soft	Irregular skin texture	Greasy
Pores	Little invisible	Little visible	Dilated on the T-zone	Dilated all over the face
Blemished, Blackheads	No	No	Yes	Yes
Shine	No	No	On the T-zone	All over the face

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 types of skin types?

There are four main types of skin which are normal skin, dry skin, combination skin, and oily skin.

Which skin type is the best?

The best skin type is normal skin because it's well-hydrated, soft with fewer skin problems, and does not appear too shiny or too dry. It's known as the rarest skin type among dermatologists and skincare experts.

How do you know if you have oily skin?

You can simply know if you have oily skin by just observing your face. If your face appears shiny all the time, has regular breakouts, and is prone to blemishes, blackheads, and dilated pores then this indicates that you have an oily skin type.

What is the rarest skin type?

According to dermatologists, the rarest skin type is normal skin, also known as balanced skin. Normal skin tends not to be too oily or too dry.

How can I check my skin type at home?

You can simply check your skin type at home using the ''watch and wait'' method. Simply cleanse your face from all impurities using a gentle cleanser. Then gently pat it dry with a towel and wait for an hour to observe how your skin appears and feels. If it looks shiny all over the face, you have oily skin. If only the T-zone is shiny while the rest of the face is dry then you have combination skin. If it feels tight and flaky, you have dry skin. And if it feels well-hydrated not too oily nor too dry, you have normal skin.

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