How Do I Know What Skin Type I Have?

Learn more about how best to tackle skincare concerns by learning more about your skin type. Here, we'll explain the difference between oily, dry, combination, and normal skin & how best to treat them. 

OILY SKIN

Oily skin is characterised by the overproduction of oil which creates a shiny look on the skin, and skin that can feel greasy to touch. If you have oily skin, you may suffer from increased blemishes on the skin including blackheads, pimples, whiteheads, and more. People with oily skin can find that their skin struggles to hold makeup and that areas around the cheeks and nose often exhibit enlarged pores. If this describes your skin, tailoring a skincare routine and costmetics without excess oil and moisture is key. Regularly using chemical face masks with ingredients such as retinol, salicylic acid, and natural clays can help slow overproduction of oil in the skin while still retaining the skin’s natural glow and reducing the appearance of large pores. For targeting blemishes caused by oily skin, ingredients such as tea tree oil, witch hazel, and grapeseed oil are great for gently removing blemishes without damaging the skin.

DRY SKIN

On the other end of the spectrum is dry skin, which is characterised by tight, dry patches of skin as well as flaky and irritated skin that typically occurs all over the face. Similar to oily skin, people with dry skin can find it difficult for makeup to stay on the face and pores can look quite enlarged. Dry skin is often found in people with sensitive skin, and can be aggravated by a number of factors ranging from hot or cold weather to certain chemicals, medication, and external conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. When trying to tackle dry skin, opting for natural cosmetics filled with hydrating ingredients such as almond oil, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin is a must. Gentle exfoliators such as lactic acid can also be a great way of removing tough, flaky skin and reducing the appearance of dry patches.

COMBINATION SKIN

As the name suggests, combination skin occurs when the skin has both oily and dry patches. This can happen at any age and is usually characterised by dry cheeks and chin and an oily t-zone. Combination skin can be frustrating to deal with as it requires more products to treat than a skin type that is the same all over. To help treat combination skin and reduce the appearance of excess oil or flakiness, tailoring your skincare to suit both parts can help. For example, focus on using drying ingredients such as tea tree or retinol on oily or blemish-prone parts of your face while using sensitive skin-focused, gentle ingredients elsewhere on your face. While this can seem time-consuming at first, you will soon get into a rhythm and your skin should even out in time.

NORMAL SKIN

Normal skin is described as skin that is neither oily nor dry, and generally looks quite clear with normal-sized pores and texture. Despite seeming like the ideal skin type, people with normal skin should still look after their skin with appropriate products to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and excess texture down the line. Organising a simple skincare routine such as a gentle cleanser, toner, moisturiser, and serum combined with regular face masks and exfoliation is a fantastic way of ensuring your skin stays blemish-free, youthful, glowy, and healthy as you age.