When it comes to shopping for skincare and makeup, knowing your skin type can go a long way to picking the best products for you! However, it’s not always easy to figure out your skin type, which is why we’ve developed one of the best skin type quizzes out there. Answering the question of how to know my skin type is easy with our skin analysis!

How Many Skin Types Are There?

There are four commonly referred to skin types: Normal, Oily, Dry, and Combination. The main factor differentiating these skin types is how much oil your skin produces.

On one end of the spectrum is oily skin. This skin type overproduces sebum, the skin’s natural oil. The next down the line is combination skin, with moderate oil production. 

Normal skin is the middle of the road - not too much oil, but not too little, either. Dry skin is on the other side of the spectrum. It produces hardly any sebum, which is why dry skin can feel so, well, dry.

I know what you’re thinking. Aren’t there more skin types than that? What about sensitive skin? 

Is Sensitive Skin a Skin Type?

The truth is, you can have skin that is sensitive but also have any of the four above-mentioned skin types. That’s because sensitive skin is more of a condition that skin can be in, regardless of how much oil your skin produces.

Many people confuse sensitive skin with acne-prone skin. Sensitive skin becomes red easily, can sting during skincare application, and can even form rashes after product application.

Breaking out after using certain products doesn’t mean that your skin is sensitive - it simply means that the product wasn’t right for you!

However, knowing that your skin is sensitive and easily irritated can still help you make the right choices when shopping for your skin. Skincare for sensitive skin is formulated with soothing ingredients such as Centella Asiatica to reduce redness and support healthy skin. 

Is Dehydrated Skin a Skin Type?

This is another skin condition that’s often mistaken for a true skin type. However, there’s a critical difference between dryness and dehydration. Dry skin lacks oil. Dehydrated skin lacks water.

While it sounds contradictory, it’s completely possible to have oily and dehydrated skin. It’s more common than you think!

Dehydrated skin happens when you’re not using enough hydrating skincare ingredients, such as Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Panthenol. The benefit of these skincare ingredients is that they attract water to your skin, reducing signs of dehydration.

Is Mature Skin a Skin Type?

Using the phrase mature skin is a way to refer to the most common concerns for those aged 50 and above: dryness and skin ageing. 

As we get older, two things happen; our skin loses its ability to hold onto hydration as easily. Secondly, our natural collagen levels drop, causing wrinkling and loss of firmness in the skin. Mature skin is a code word for skincare that suits these two concerns at once, but it’s possible to still have oily skin in older age!

How to Know My Skin Type

The easiest way to find out your skin type is to pay attention to certain things that your skin does, especially right after cleansing. There are two methods you can do at home to figure out your skin type. These simple at-home tests are easy to do, and they’re a great way to make sure that your skincare quiz results are accurate. 

The Blotting Sheet Method

The blotting sheet test is a simple way to determine your skin type. It’s ideal to do at the end of the day after your skin has had a whole day of simply being itself. You’ll want two or three sheets of blotting paper. With the first sheet, use it to blot your nose and t-zone. Then with the other sheet, blot your cheeks. 

If both blotting sheets are completely dry, you likely have dry skin. 

If the blotting sheets have a small amount of oil, you likely have normal skin. 

You likely have oily skin if both blotting sheets have absorbed quite a lot of oil. 

If the sheet you used on your t-zone absorbed oil yet revealed not much oil on your cheeks, you have combination skin. 

The Face-Washing Method

This method to find your skin type is best done in the morning. All you need to do is wash your face with your preferred cleanser and pay attention to how your skin feels about 25 minutes after washing. You mustn’t apply any other skincare products to your skin - we want to see how your skin acts without the influence of skincare. 

After 25 minutes in, how does your skin feel? If it’s feeling tight and dry, you probably have dry skin. 

If your skin doesn’t feel any worse for wear, great - you have normal skin. 

If you notice that your skin is already shiny and oily all over, your skin type is oily. However, if only oil is on your t-zone and nose, you have combination skin.  

Now that you know what is - and isn’t - a skin type, plus the best ways to find out your skin type, we hope that we’ve helped you get your beauty affairs in order!

Products Mentioned:

• Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist
• Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser 
• Murad Clarifying Mask
• Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel
• Lancome Advanced Génifique Serum
• Estée Lauder Nutritious Super-Pomegranate Radiant Energy Milky Lotion
• Minenssey Nutritious Skin Treatment Mask