WHAT IS MY SKIN TYPE? A GUIDE TO SKIN TYPES

To attain radiance and health in skin, it’s important to know your unique skincare needs. By understanding whether your skin type is oily, dry, or combination, you can select the most effective products and routine for long-term vitality.

Different types of skin exhibit separate features and behaviours – and require targeted skincare ingredients to maintain healthy pH levels. Skin symptoms like flakiness or shininess are aggravated separately by external stressors like oil flow, sweat, weather and pollution.

Those with dry skin types may be prone to tightness and roughly textured skin, while those with oily skin may experience regular shininess across the T-zone. If you’re wondering ‘what type of skin do I have?’, a simple skin type test can determine your skin’s needs. To achieve and maintain even-toned brightness and glow, read on. 

The five skin types & how to treat them

The epidermis (outermost layer of skin) acts as the protective barrier – keeping moisture in and bacteria, pollution and UV damage out. When the skin barrier is compromised, an imbalance of moisture and barrier health can follow. To return balance to skin, moisture levels need to be regulated using a targeted and unique approach.

Your skin type will fall into one of five categories: oily, dry, normal, combination and sensitive. Each has a number of common characteristics that can help identify which skin type you possess. For how to know your skin type, read our guide below.

Oily skin type

·       Looks like: shiny, blemish-prone, enlarged pores

·       Feels like: oily, uneven texture, clogged pores

Oily skin produces an excess amount of sebum – our natural oil. Sebum mixes with lipids (fat molecules) to create a protective coating across the surface of the skin. When too much sebum is present it can cause the skin to look shiny and feel greasy, particularly across the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Oily skin characteristics can also include enlarged pores, blemishes and breakouts.

Routine for oily skin

To combat oily skin, look for products that provide a mattifying effect. Applied before foundation, Touche Eclat Blur Perfector r reduces the appearance of pores and regulates oil for a consistent matte finish. To purify skin and reduce breakouts, Top Secrets Foaming Cleanser clears pores and excess oil.

Dry skin type

·       Looks like: dull, flaky

·       Feels like: rough, dry, unevenly textured, tight

Those with dry skin types may experience dull textures that can become flaky, scaly or rough. Dry skin also tends to feel tight and enhance the appearance of fine lines. Characteristics of dry skin can also include irritation and sensitivity as well.

Routine for dry skin

Dry skin benefits from intense rehydration. By applying targeted moisturising products like Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Essence-in-Lotion, skin instantly looks and feels more comfortable. To combat dullness, implement brightening products to your routine. Pure Shots Light Up Serum uses illuminating Vitamin C to combat the dull complexion that often accompanies dry skin.

Normal skin type

·       Looks like: few imperfections, balanced

·       Feels like: evenly textured, neither dry nor oily

Normal skin types tend to be the most balanced: they are not particularly oily, nor are they overly dry. Normal skin types also tend to have fewer breakouts, blemishes, flakiness, greasiness or tightness, whilst pores tend to be small.

Routine for normal skin

Support skin’s health with proactive routine steps. Anti-ageing serums like Or Rouge L'Huile Anti-Aging Face Oil provide dramatic skin resurfacing and sublime uniformity to the skin.

Combination skin type

·       Looks like: shiny in some areas and dull in others

·       Feels like: oily across certain areas and rough across others

Combination skin types can be a little trickier to identify, since they have characteristics of both oily and dry skin. This means that oil tends to appear on the T-Zone, while the cheeks and other areas of the skin can be normal or dry.

Routine for combination skin

Combination skin types may benefit from a mixture of products so that they can target problem areas. Skincare sets are a clever way to do this, as they allow you to focus on specific concerns as they arise.

Sensitive skin type

·       Looks like: red, sensitive, flaky

·       Feels like: irritated, itchy, oily or rough

Those with sensitive skin can exhibit both oily and dry characteristics. Sensitive skin is reactive – with irritants triggering symptoms like redness, itching and dryness. Irritants can include specific ingredients in skincare, dyes, fragrances, and environmental conditions.

Routine for sensitive skin

By learning which ingredients trigger your skin you can reduce sensitivity and implement positive products. Only opt for sensitive skincare that has been developed without irritating ingredients.

At home skin type tests

Still wondering ‘what is my skin type?’. Our simplified tests will ensure you can identify your skin’s needs.

1.     Wash test

Wash your face with a gentle cleaner and pat dry. Wait 30 minutes and see how your skin develops. If it appears shiny, you most likely have an oily skin type. But, if shine appears only in the T-Zone, you probably have combination skin. If after washing your skin feels tight, you have dry skin. If skin feels fresh and hydrated, your skin type is normal.

2.     Blot test

After cleansing, press blotting papers to different areas of the face and examine. If sheets appear shiny, you likely have oily skin. People with dry skin should have very little oil present, while combination skin types may only pick up oil on the T-Zone.

Now that you understand how to tell what skin type you have, browse our range of targeted skincare products.