Knowing your skin type is critical for choosing products and developing a skincare regimen that keeps your skin healthy and glowing. Don’t know your skin type? Keep reading for our guide to different skin types and how to find your skin type.
How to Find Your Skin Type
To find your skin type, start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Pat your skin gently with a soft towel to remove excess moisture. Then leave skin bare for two hours. Do not apply toners, serums, moisturizers, or any other product to the skin. We also recommend staying inside during this time period to avoid sun damage.
After two hours, examine your skin. Take note of how your face looks and feels, then match your observations to one of the skin types below:
- Slight shine on forehead and nose with smooth texture = normal skin
- Glossy shine all over with slick texture and enlarged pores = oily skin
- Skin feels tight and parched with rough texture = dry skin
The Different Skin Types: Explained
Normal Skin Type
Normal skin is perfectly in balance. Normal skin has a soft, velvety texture that’s neither too dry nor too oily. If you have normal skin, keep up your current skin routine! This means your skin care routine is effective and working correctly. But if you do want to experiment with a new product, try one of the best face masks for normal skin types.
Oily Skin Type
Oily skin overproduces sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Oily skin is more prone to breakouts and enlarged or clogged pores. On the plus side, oily skin is more resistant to development of fine lines and wrinkles like forehead wrinkles. It may seem counterintuitive, but oily skin still requires hydration. If you have oily skin, try using a lightweight moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.
Dry Skin Type
Dry skin produces less sebum than normal skin, which can lead to a compromised skin barrier. We recommend using Perfect Balancing Toner after cleansing to hydrate the skin and restore its natural protective barrier. Those with dry skin should also use an ultra-hydrating moisturizer. Here’s our pick for the best face moisturizer for dry skin.
Remember: your skin type can change over time depending on internal and external factors like weather, hormones, pollution, and age. Test your skin type periodically to make sure you’re using the right products for your face.
