What’s Your Skin Type and Best Practices For Each
There are 5 traditional skin types:
- Oily
- Dry
- Combination
- Normal
- Sensitive
We’ll tackle each one and determine:
- Skin type characteristics
- How to test if it’s your skin type
- What product works best
- Oily Skin Type
Oily Skin Type Characteristics
What defines Oily skin type? Here are the usual characteristics:
- Oily skin produces too much sebum, making your skin appear shiny
- Due to excess moisture, less wrinkles appear
- But more prone to large pores
- Acne breakouts are common
- Blackheads and whiteheads easily appear
How to Test if You’re the Oily Skin Type
Wash your face clean and wait for 30 minutes. Then grab an oil blotting paper and press it to your face. Examine the paper under clear light. Did it absorb a considerable amount of oil from all areas of your face?
If your answer is “yes,” then you most probably have the Oily Skin type.
What Product Works Best
Since Oily Skin is already producing excess sebum, using oil-based products will clog your pores even further. Increasing cases of acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. So stay away from heavy moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.
These types of products work best for Oily Skin types:
- Oil-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Lightweight
- Gel-type or Water-based moisturizer
- Foaming (for your cleanser)
Why does a foaming cleanser work best for Oily Skin types? Because it’s a lightweight, deep-cleanser that does not clog your pores.
- Dry Skin Type
Dry Skin Type Characteristics
What are the features of Dry Skin? Check these out:
- Produces the least amount of oil among the skin types
- Hence why it’s also the least hydrated
- Causing the skin to become rough
- And you often feel skin tightness
- With more apparent wrinkles and fine lines
How to Test if You’re the Dry Skin Type
Wash your face clean and wait for 30 minutes. Then grab an oil blotting paper and press it to your face. Check the paper under clear light. Did it absorb only a small amount of oil? Or none at all?
Then, you most likely have dry skin.
What Product Works Best
Skincare products with the following characteristics work best for the Dry Skin type:
- Ointments
- Creams
- Ceramide-containing moisturizers
- Fragrance-free
- Alcohol-free
- Non-comedogenic
In addition, it’s best for Dry Skin types to avoid long, hot showers. And to moisturize multiple times a day.
- Combination Skin Type
Combination Skin Type Characteristics
A combination skin type has the following characteristics:
- Some facial areas are normal or dry, with others being oily
- It’s common for the T-zone to be oily
- But for the cheeks to be normal or dry
How to Test if You’re the Combination Skin Type
Wash your face clean and wait for 30 minutes. Then grab an oil blotting paper and press it to your face. Examine the paper under clear light. Did it absorb a considerable amount of oil in some areas but not in others?
If so, it probably means you have the Combination Skin Type.
What Product Works Best
What skincare products work best for the Combination Skin type? Here are some:
- Alcohol-free
- Serums with hyaluronic acid
- One creamy moisturizer for the dry part
- Water-based, or Gel-type moisturizer for the oily area
- Oil-free for cosmetics
- Normal Skin Type
Normal Skin Type Characteristics
Normal skin types have the least problematic skin. Here are the defining features of normal skin types:
- Balanced
- Neither too much oil nor too little
- Hence, pores are small
- Texture is smooth
- And breakouts don’t often happen
How to Test if You’re the Normal Skin Type
Wash your face clean and wait for 30 minutes. Then grab an oil blotting paper and press it to your face. Check the paper under clear light. Is there minimal oil from all face areas?
If you answer “yes,” then you most likely have the Normal Skin Type.
What Product Works Best
- You can choose any type of cleanser (cream, gel, foaming, etc.) according to your personal preference
- The same goes for your moisturizer
- Non-comedogenic
- Always choose the gentle product
- Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Even if the Normal Skin type is the least problematic, it still takes proper care to bring it to its best.
- Sensitive Skin Type
Sensitive Skin Type Characteristics
- Easily reddens
- Burns
- Itches
- Cracks
- Swells in response to stress/triggers
It’s worth noting that you can have dry sensitive, combination sensitive, and so forth.
How to Test if You’re the Sensitive Skin Type
You’ll know if you have a sensitive skin type when you:
- Have skin allergies
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- And other skin conditions that make your skin prone to inflammation
What Product Works Best
- Fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Gentle
- Alcohol-free
- Sulfate-free
- Hypoallergenic
Sometimes, even when a product has all these features, it may still not work for you. Why? Because there are specific ingredients that irritate your skin. So it’s best to figure out what they are so you can avoid them altogether.
There you have it! We at Serenity Skin believe that skincare is unique for each individual. Need personalized coaching to bring your skin to its fullest potential? We’re happy to serve!
