Hello lovelies!
To improve your life in every way, you must have a good deal of self-knowledge. And this is even true for your skin type. Why?
Because misunderstanding your skin type can have harsh consequences for your skin and your appearance. Indeed, using the wrong beauty routine can send rude signals to your skin, going adverse results.
Consequently, you must take the necessary time to learn how to figure out your skin type. This will result in the choice of a routine that will give you a healthy, radiant, and youthful skin.
Of course, every skin is unique. However, you have a few common grounds that will help you determine what is good for your skin.
In this article, you will find simple techniques that will help you identify your skin type.
What is skin typing?
According to Dr. Christina Chung, a reputed dermatologist, skin typing is the way you understand how your skin exists naturally at a certain point in time. Everyone has a sort of unique genetic programming to produce certain levels of oil.
Besides genetics, other factors can influence your skin type. For instance, age, certain medications, and climatic/environmental conditions can sustainably affect your skin type.
How can you assess your skin type?
There are two main methods to determine your skin type: the bare-faced method and the blotting sheet method.
The Bare-Faced Method
Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser without applying any other product. Then, wait for 30 minutes to see how your skin reacts. Several results are likely to happen.
Does your skin feel tight? Then, your skin is certainly dry. If your face shines on the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), you are likely to have a combination skin. However, if your skin is prone to shine like a beacon, then you have an oily skin.
The Blotting Sheet Method
With this method, you’ll be able to differentiate between oily and dry skin very fast. Pat a blotting paper on different areas of your face. Afterwards, hold the sheet to the daylight to determine how much oil is visible.
If the sheet shows little to no oil, then your skin is dry. For a combination skin, the blotting sheet will reveal oil on the forehead, nose, and chin areas. Finally, if the blotting paper is full of oil, then your skin is oily.
What are the different skin types?
Skin Type #1: Dry Skin
Is your skin dry? Then, it has a dull appearance, is very tight, and experience flaking. However, dry skin is not only due to genetics. other factors can influence the skin’s dryness, such as lifestyle, diet, hormonal changes, and environment.
Here is how you can identify dry skin:
- flaky, tight, and rough skin
- uneven texture
- visible lines
- sometimes itching
- less elasticity
Dry skin needs more moisture inside out. Therefore, this means that drinking water is non negotiable. Also, dry skin needs to be hydrated with heavier emollients and humectants. Among them, you have squalene, marine actives, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
Skin Type #2: Oily Skin
Oily skin shows excess oil, leaving the pores clogged and congested. Also, oily skin is prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation. This is a condition that leaves dark spots on the skin after a breakout has healed.
Here is how you can identify oily skin:
- greasy appearance
- open pores
- prone to regular breakouts
- presence of blackheads and other blemishes
Nevertheless, there’s good news with oily skin. Indeed, it looks younger and more supple than the other skin types. This is due to the fact that oily skin naturally has more moisture and is less prone to wrinkles.
Oily skin needs cleansing with a foaming solution, regular exfoliation, and light moisturizers.
Skin Type #3: Combination Skin
With combination skin, you cumulate issues of both oily and dry skin. Indeed, combination skin has dryness on the cheeks. But it tends to have oilier T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
Here is how you can identify combination skin:
- oily T-zone and dry cheeks
- breakouts occurring only on the T-zone
- sensitive cheeks
- large and open pores
- shiny skin
Taking care of combination is quite challenging as it requires constant balance between the cheeks and the T-zone. Consequently, it is important to find a moisturizer that is not too heavy but sufficiently substantial to retain moisture where it is more needed. For this reason, gel-like textures are more appropriate for this skin type.
Also, regular exfoliation is important to balance the T-zone and the cheeks.
Skin Type #4: Sensitive Skin
People with sensitive skin can have oily, dry, or combination skin type. However, it’s a skin that is easily irritated and is more reactive than any other skin type. Since this skin is fragile, it allows microorganisms and irritants to easily enter the skin. Consequently, this leads to infections and allergic reactions.
This is how you can identify sensitive skin:
- itchy and tight skin
- uneven texture on some body parts
- skin becoming oily in summer and dry in winter
- easily reacts to skincare products
- becomes red after a hot bath
- itchy after wearing tight clothes
- easily flushes after eating spicy foods
Taking care of sensitive skin can be quite challenging. Indeed, it takes much time and effort to identify the ingredients causing irritation and inflammation. But there are some good practices to implement to manage sensitive skin more easily:
- introduce only one formula or product at a time
- always patch test a new formula in your inner forearm to control potential reactions on the face
- read all the labels and identify those with non-irritating and non-sensitizing ingredients
- in particular, always use products free of parabens, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, urea, DEA, or TEA
Skin Type #5:Normal skin
Also called eudermic skin, this skin type is well-balanced. Indeed, it is neither too oily nor too dry; and it has balanced pH levels and sebum production.
Here is how to identify normal skin:
- fine pores
- smooth texture
- no sensitivity
- no blemishes and/or breakouts
- radiant complexion
With this skin type, you are blessed! All you need is to stay healthy, hydrated inside out, and follow a basic skincare routine.
Conclusion: how to identify your skin type?
To identify your skin type, you can use the bare-faced or the blotting sheet methods. Whatever method you choose, you must build the right skincare routine once you have the answer. Also, don’t forget to check in your skin type regularly to make necessary adjustments in your routine. This is how you will keep a healthy, hydrated, and radiant skin in the long run.
Well, that’s it for today? What do you think about methods to identify your skin type? Have you tried some of them yourself? Let me know in the comments below!
Take care!
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This is a great article outlining what skin typing is and how you can identify your own skin type. Reading through the five different skin types I was able to identify that I have the third, combination skin. For this skin type you suggest using a gel-like texture, could you recommend any moisturizes with this characteristic? You also mention exfoliation, do you have any specific recommendations for an exfoliator for people with combination skin?
Haha Ebony! I do have recommendations but I keep it for a more detailed article on combination skin. Don’t forget to subscribe if you want to get more updates: https://beautybyelodie.com/
This article is a treasure trove of information for anyone looking to improve their skincare routine. It’s a reminder that taking the time to understand your skin is a crucial step towards achieving your best self. I have dry skin, and everything you said about it rings true to me, plus dandruff is also a concern for me, so I will try your suggestions (and especially will try to stay hydrated!). Thank you for sharing this insightful guide!
You’re welcome Hari!
Thank you, Elodie for providing the most effective and simple ways to determine the skin’s types! That was an interesting read. I believe I have a combination skin type but I will try the blotting sheet method to really identify which skin type I have. I wish I had a normal skin type!! Do you have tips for a perfect skincare routine?
Hello thanks for your comment! Tes, I did publish tips for a perfect skincare routine. Check out my ultimate guide to skincare: https://beautybyelodie.com/the… and 5 habits of people with great skin: https://beautybyelodie.com/5-h…
Hope you’ll enjoy!
Cheers,
Elodie
This was an interesting article and on trying the blotting test I think I have dry skin, although I was always under the impression that it was a combination. I think it has definitely changed to dry now that I am older.
If one does have a combination skin, what products are best to use? Would one have to buy products for both oily and dry skin and use the ones for oily skin only on the T-Panel?
No, you have specific products for combination skin, but I’ll talk about beauty regimen by skin in other posts…Stay tuned! And don’t forget to subscribe to get more updates! https://beautybyelodie.com/
This is very educational.
I tried to imagine my skin type based on your description. I think I have combination skin. The oily areas really show when it is warm outside. I have to retouch and put on face powder when I have to face somebody in the middle or later in the day.
The role of moisturizers cannot be underestimated, and of course keeping our skin clean, especially removing make-up before going to bed.
And healthy lifestyle plus nutritious food.
Marita
Exactly!
Thank you for this information on how to identify my skin type. Personally, I identified my skin type many years ago and continue to treat my skin as dry. However, until I read your article, I didn’t think about the effect of hormones etc on my skin and that it may have changed over time.
I like the idea of trying the bare-faced method for identifying my skin type, so I will be using that and checking that my skin-care routine matches my skin type.
Thank you
Elaine
You’re welcome Elaine!
Hey Elodie,
Great article, you’ve provided so much detail and information.
It’s wonderful how our understanding of different skin types has evolved.
With the diverse communities we have, it’s really important that articles like yours are written, as ‘one size does not fit all’ in regard to different skin types and therefore how we care for our skin.
As your article points out the differences are not merely genetic, but many other factors are influential too and its great how you have listed the key factors for each skin type.
Really useful and informative article.
Thank you for taking the time to produce this detailed and informative piece.
Cherie :o)
Thanks Cherie! I really appreciate!
I really like the site I will recommend it to my wife you’re looking to figure out your skin type, this website is a must-visit. They break it down super easily, offering two methods you can try at home: the Bare-Faced Method and the Blotting Sheet Method. Plus, they go into a lot of detail about different skin types like dry, oily, and even sensitive skin, telling you what you can expect and how to take care of it. Trust me, it’s super easy to follow and the site even has some great visuals to help you out. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into skincare!
Thanks Jay!