How to Check Your Skin Type
Your skin type is probably the most important piece of information you need to know about your skin.
Knowing your skin type helps narrow down what products you should be using - not to mention it's a key piece of information when it comes to personalising your products.
Choosing the right product for your skin type can do wonders when it comes to excess dryness, or excess oil.
This skin type test is quick and easy for you to do a few times a year!
Steps For Checking Your Skin Type
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Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
It’s important to use a gentle cleanser so your face isn’t stripped of all its oils. Some great gentle, neutral cleansers are the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, or the QV Face Gentle Cleanser.
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Wait 20-30 minutes and don’t apply any products.
If you apply any further products, you’ll affect how your skin returns to its natural state.
- Let your skin return to its natural state and check how it feels using the skin types below
Skin Types
How Do I Know If I Have Dry Skin?
Your skin:
- Mostly feels a bit tight and dry1
- Might have visibly dry or flaky areas
- Might have visible cracks or rough patches
- Has no areas of visibly shiny oil
Dry skin tends to lack sebum (the skin’s own oil), so it’s usually treated with products that can add this oil back to the skin. Products for dry skin also include other great ingredients that can help further hydrate the skin, and help reduce moisture loss to keep skin plump and soft.
As we age, our skin tends to become drier naturally. Dry skin can also occur from changes to our lifestyle, products we use, or our hormones. It’s always a good idea to retest your skin a couple times a year.
How Do I Know If I Have Oily Skin?
Your skin:
- Mostly feels slick and is a bit oily to touch
- Mostly looks visibility shiny and oily
Oily skin is caused by the skin over-producing sebum (the skin’s own oil). It’s usually treated by products that include actives to regulate sebum production - ie. Niacinamide. These products also typically use lighter weight oils, or use ingredients like silicones to reduce the amount of oil needed in the formulas.
Most of us experience oily skin in our teen and young adult years. It sometimes tapers off as we age. Some ethnicities tend to have oilier skin, and it’s also typically more prevalent in males - so genes play a large role too. Oily skin can also occur from changes to our lifestyle, products we use, or our hormones. It’s always a good idea to retest your skin a couple times a year.
How Do I Know If I Have Combination Skin?
Your skin:
- Seems to be oily around your forehead, nose, and chin (T-Zone)
- Seems to be dry around your cheeks and jaw
Combination skin is incredibly common as your skin type usually falls somewhere on the spectrum between oily and dry. Because combination skin has both overly oily and overly dry areas, it’s also the hardest to find suitable products for.
Typically you’ll look for products that contain actives to help regulate sebum (oil) production + lightweight oils to prevent moisture loss (occlusive oils) for the dry areas.
Combination skin is common throughout most of our lives, with it tapering off to dry as our skin matures. Combination skin can also occur from changes to our lifestyle, products we use, or our hormones. It’s always a good idea to retest your skin a couple times a year.
How Do I Know If I Have Balanced Skin?
Your skin:
- Feels mostly smooth, plump, and soft
- Doesn’t feel overly oily or dry
- Doesn’t show signs of dry flaking, or oily sheen
Balanced skin can also be called ‘Normal Skin’. We prefer calling it balanced skin, as all skin types are common enough to be the norm. If you’re in this boat, you’re incredibly lucky in that you can pretty much tolerate most of the products on the market. You’ll likely have your pick of actives to address your other skin goals.
Be sure to take care of your balanced skin though. Incredibly harsh or powerful products can also damage your skin barrier, and swing you away from a balanced state. Less is definitely more with this skin type - support your skin, don’t fight it.
Your skin can move from a balanced state from changes to our lifestyle, products we use, or our hormones. It’s always a good idea to retest your skin a couple times a year.
A Note On Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin isn’t really a ‘skin type’ as you can be any of the types above and still have sensitivities.
With sensitive skin, generally you want simpler products and a simpler routine.
Look for products that support the skin barrier, support the skin biome (bacteria), and don’t include fragrance or essential oils.
