Understanding your skin type is important because different skin types have different needs and require different skincare products.
Once you determine your skin type, you'll better understand which substances and products would work best for you and which ones to avoid.
Each of the five main types of skin—oily, normal, combination, dry, and sensitive—has its own benefits and drawbacks. While it's true that everyone could benefit from using a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, the best formulations for these products can differ significantly depending on the individual's skin type. Understanding your skin type will help you choose the right skincare products and develop a regimen that's just right for you.
In this article, you'll discover two easy ways to determine your skin type at home. As a bonus, you'll learn about the different skin types and get tips on taking care of your own. Continue reading to find out how to identify your skin type.
What Are the Five Most Common Skin Types?
As we've already said, there are five basic types of skin. We'll summarize each one below.
Oily Skin: Oily skin is a type of skin in which the sebaceous glands make too much oil (called sebum). This can lead to shiny, greasy-looking skin, clogged pores, and an increased risk of acne.
Dry Skin: Dry skin, which is also called xerosis, is a common condition that happens when the skin can't keep its natural moisture. This can lead to itching, cracking, and flaking of the skin, as well as an overall feeling of tightness and discomfort. Mature skin is frequently dry.
Combination Skin: A combination skin is a type of skin that is characterized by having both oily and dry areas. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is oily, while the cheeks are dry.
Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is a term used to describe skin that is easily irritated by cosmetics, soaps, and other skincare products, as well as environmental factors like sun, wind, and cold weather. People with sensitive skin may also be more prone to redness, itching, and rashes.
Normal Skin: While we'd argue that all skin is normal, in skincare, normal skin is well-balanced and healthy. Also, normal skin is not perfect, as many "normal skin" types can be more or less oily, sensitive, dull, or have pigmentation issues.
Can Your Skin Type Change?
Yes, your skin type can change over time. Several factors can cause your skin type to change, including hormonal fluctuations, environmental factors, and changes in your diet and lifestyle.
The oiliness or dryness of your skin may vary as a result of hormonal shifts like those experienced during pregnancy or menopause. Environmental factors, such as exposure to the sun or pollution, can also affect your skin type.
Changes in your diet and lifestyle can also affect your skin type. Also, as you get older, your skin will change. It may get drier, thinner, or less flexible, and you may get wrinkles and age spots.
How To Determine Your Skin Type
Your knowledge of skin types can help you take the first steps toward identifying your own. We'll go over two simple methods for determining your skin type at home.
The Bare-Faced Method
Examining your bare skin is a simple way to determine your skin type.
Consider using a moderately foamy cleanser, such as Proxima Cleanser, which is suitable for all skin types. After washing your face, blot it dry with a clean towel, and don't use any more skincare products.
After 25–30 minutes, evaluate the state of your skin visually and tactilely.
✔ The feeling of tight, dry, and painful skin is a sign of dry skin, while a lot of shine is a sign of oily skin.
✔ You have combination skin if your complexion has both oily and dry spots.
✔ If you don't experience any irritation, your skin is probably normal, so you should count your blessings.
The Blotting Sheet Method
Pressing a clean piece of blotting paper against your face is another easy at-home method for identifying your skin type.
The amount of oil absorbed can be seen by holding the sheet up to a light.
The more oil that shows up on the paper, the oilier your skin is.
In a similar vein, dry skin might be indicated by the absence of oil.
Finally, a combination or normal skin type is indicated if the blotting sheet displays minimal oil from the T-zone alone.
Blotting your skin too soon after cleansing will skew the results, so it's better to run this test in the afternoon or evening for the most accurate results.
How To Care For Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is only half the battle; the other half is understanding your skin's main care requirements.
We'll fill you in on the specifics so you can create a skincare regimen that works for your skin type.
Your Skin Type: Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, it is essential to keep it clean and use skincare products specifically formulated for oily skin. This can help reduce the amount of oil on the skin's surface, minimize the appearance of large pores, and reduce the risk of acne.
We also suggest incorporating a detoxifying mask, such as our Purifying Mask, once a week. This intense masque uses mineral-rich clay from Montana to extract impurities, grime, and excess sebum from the skin. With daily usage, you'll notice your skin getting clearer, calmer, less oily, and free of blemishes.
Your Skin Type: Dry Skin
Even though dryness and dehydration are two different conditions, dry skin is less able to retain water due to its lack of oil. Skin's natural moisture barrier isn't as efficient as it needs to be if it doesn't have enough water to do its job. As a result, the skin is susceptible to a wide range of issues, from mild irritation to overt indications of premature aging. Therefore, the best way to treat dry skin is to use items that strengthen the skin's moisture barrier.
The skin's moisture barrier can be repaired with the use of moisturizers. The Deep Moisturizing Cream is a great moisturizing cream that will fight the effects of dry skin and make your skin feel hydrated and healthy. This cream is perfect for those with dry skin types, but it is also suitable for anyone whose face has been damaged by the sun or by harsh weather conditions.
Your Skin Type: Combination Skin
This type of skin can be more challenging to care for because it requires a balance of moisturizing the dry areas while controlling oil production in the oily areas.
A typical skincare routine for combination skin is using a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and oil, followed by a toner to balance the skin's pH. A light moisturizer like the pure pomegranate face cream can be applied to the dry areas of the face, while a mattifying product or an oil-free moisturizer can be used on the oily areas to control shine.
Your Skin Type: Sensitive Skin
It can be hard to take care of sensitive skin because it's not always easy to figure out what irritates it. Some people with sensitive skin find that they have to be very careful about the products they use and may need to avoid certain ingredients or fragrances.
Our Calming Toner for Sensitive Skin is an excellent option for sensitive skin types. It's made to keep your skin smooth and hydrated while reducing redness and irritation.
It contains willow bark extract, which has antiseptic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties and is known for promoting healthy skin cell turnover. The natural ingredients are safe for daily use and won't strip your skin of its natural oils.
Your Skin Type: Normal Skin
Last but not least is normal skin—the easiest skin type to care for. Since those with normal skin don't have any major concerns, your priorities should be maintaining your skin's natural balance. Your routine should include, at a minimum, a gentle cleanser, a lightweight moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays.
We recommend moisturizing your face daily with Hyaluronic + Antioxidant Hydrating Daily Moisturizer.
This great product has amino acids, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, rosehip seed oil, botanical antioxidants, lipid factors, organic solvents to deliver active ingredients deep into the cell structure, and bioavailable materials that can actually penetrate and absorb into the cellular wall to be distributed and used.
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