When it comes to having clear, healthy skin, it starts with knowing your skin type. This essential information helps you understand better what your skin needs, leading to informed choices on the best skincare routine to follow and the best products to use. 

So how do you find out your skin type? 

Quick and easy tests

There are two simple methods you can use. 

First is by washing your face with a gentle cleanser, patting it dry, and waiting for 30 minutes before examining your skin in the mirror. Note the areas where it appears oily and shiny and those where it looks tight, flaky, or scaly. 

The second involves pressing blotting sheets on various parts of your face and checking the amount of oil they’ve absorbed. Pay attention to the areas that yielded the most amount of oil. 

Based on your observations after doing either method, you can reach a quick conclusion regarding your skin type.

Oily skin 

A shiny, greasy appearance and a blotting sheet that has become transparent with oil indicate having oily skin. This skin type calls for regular exfoliation and the use of a gentle, non-comedogenic facial wash to help balance oil production. 

Dry skin

A tight and scaly complexion and a blotting sheet that has absorbed little to no oil both indicate having dry skin. Dry skin needs hydrating products that aren’t formulated with alcohol since it dries out the skin. 

Normal skin

A well-balanced complexion that’s neither too oily nor too dry is classified as normal skin. The classic routine of cleanse, tone, moisturize, and protect works well to help maintain its health. 

Combination skin

When certain parts of the face produce more oil than others — such as the T-zone — it indicates having combination skin. This calls for skincare formulations that work with all skin types so that the skin secretes neither an excessive nor insufficient amount of oil. 

Sensitive skin

A skin type that has indicators other than the amount of oil it secretes is sensitive skin, which appears dry and red as if irritated and can feel tight and itchy. Some people can have both oily and sensitive skin while others can have both dry and sensitive skin. 

In either case, having sensitive skin means avoiding certain skincare ingredients that trigger inflammation, such as fragrances and dyes. Pollutants can also cause irritation. Gentle formulas and regular dermatological care can do a lot to protect sensitive skin, soothe discomfort, and reduce visible redness.

Armed with the knowledge of your skin type and the kind of care it needs, you can now make better lifestyle choices to support your skincare regimen.