How to determine your skin type, so you can care for YOUR skin
Do you know your skin type? Because using skin care products targeted to your skin type can help keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
But it can be harder than you’d expect to identify your skin type, and many people get it wrong.
Your skin type can also change as you age. It’s common for skin to become drier with age as the skin’s natural moisturizing barrier breaks down. So even if you’ve always had oily skin, you may find yourself with dryer areas as you get older. Climate, diet, and other changes can also affect your skin type.
The four most commonly recognized skin types are normal, dry, oily, and combination. There is some debate over whether sensitive skin is an actual skin type, but we have included it here as well.
We created this little guide to help empower you to know how to best care for your particular type of skin.
The 5 Skin Types
1. Normal skin
Normal skin refers to well-balanced skin that is neither too oily nor too dry. Oil production and other factors that affect the health of the skin are within normal ranges.
Normal skin appears clear and healthy. It is more likely to occur in younger people but can occur in people of any age!
2. Oily skin
Skin naturally secretes oil, or sebum, to keep itself moisturized.
People with oily skin experience heightened oil production. They may have visible pores, and their skin may have a glossy shine. Typically, the bigger the pores, the more active the oil glands, and the more sebum they will secrete. People with oily skin may experience frequent breakouts.
If you have oily skin, you may be tempted to skip using a moisturizer; however, oily skin can still experience dryness. Use a moisturizer with botanical hyaluronic acid which helps the skin hold onto water without creating an oily film on the surface.
3. Dry skin
Dry skin produces less oil than normal skin. Due to this, dry skin can look dull. It may also feel rough, tight, or itchy. Dry skin lacks the normal oil that help it retain moisture and protect against environmental factors. As a result, it may be prone to redness or irritation.
All skin gets drier as it ages, and women are more prone to dry skin than men.
If you have dry skin, avoid products that contain drying or irritating ingredients, such as salicylic acid or fragrances. Instead, use a moisturizer specifically made for dry skin (preferably with botanical hyaluronic acid). You may need to change your skincare routine as the seasons change. Dry skin can feel especially dry in the winter.
4. Combination skin
Combination skin, which is the most common skin type, is characterized by a mix of oily and dry skin in different parts of the face. People with combination skin usually have oily skin in the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin. The skin on the cheeks and around the mouth and eyes may be drier. They may also be prone to breakouts in the T-zone.
Combination skin can also be dry in the winter and oily in the summer. You may need to use different products during different seasons or even during different times of the month. If your T-zone is oily, you may want to use products designed for oily skin in those areas, and use different products on the rest of your face.
5. Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is prone to redness and irritation. People with sensitive skin may also experience other skin concerns.
Sensitive skin isn’t always recognized as a true skin type. In many cases, sensitive skin is dry skin that has become irritated through over-washing, harsh cleansers, or other skin irritants.
Exposure to an irritant, such as a fragrance or dye, can eventually result in a skin allergy. Using the right products, however, can keep sensitive skin under control. If you have sensitive skin, avoid harsh chemicals in all of your beauty products. This includes shampoo and conditioner as well as skincare.
How to Determine Your Skin Type
Examine your bare skin
One way to determine your skin type is to examine your bare skin. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry. Don’t apply any skincare products.
Wait about 30 minutes and examine your skin in the mirror. Do you have shiny skin? Your skin is probably oily. If your skin feels tight and appears flaky, it is probably dry. If you see a mix of shiny skin and flakiness, you probably have combination skin.
Blot your skin
You can also test your skin type by using blotting sheets, which are available in many drug stores or supermarkets in the beauty section.
Press a clean blotting sheet to your face, and hold it up to the light to see how much oil was absorbed. Try the blotting sheets on different areas of your face, including your cheeks and T-zone.
The more oil you see, the more likely you have oily skin. If there is little to no visible oil, you likely have dry skin. If you have some oil on your T-zone but nowhere else, you likely have combination skin.
If you don’t have any blotting sheets, non-waxy brown paper napkins (like the kind you get from Starbucks) work well, also.
Best skincare products for your skin type?
At EarthsCure, we believe natural, healthy, and non-toxic ingredients are vital for healthy looking skin.
We help pare women with products tailored to their skin type.
Try our skincare quiz to see which products are best for you
And remember, EarthsCure is made in USA, paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and gentle enough for anyone’s skin.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love,
The EarthsCure Family
