Take it from us, it’s not always easy to determine your skin type. It’s not unheard of to use the wrong products for years, mistakenly thinking you have one type of skin when in fact, it’s something else.
Sound crazy? It isn’t. For a start, your skin changes as you go through your life. This can be because of age, hormones, and other things like environmental factors. It’s easy to see how you could continue with the same products when they’re not working as hard for you as they could.
How to know your skin type
The thing about skin types is that they tend to be talked about in four generic terms. This is helpful, but sometimes you might have an added complication. Perhaps you have oily skin, but acne too for instance. Just because you have a skin type, doesn’t mean the story ends there. You may also need to cater for concerns like this too.
So, there’s a little distinction needed here. On one hand, you have skin concerns, which can run from anything like fine lines and wrinkles to rosacea. On the other, you have skin types, which fall into four main categories. Here are two ways to work yours out based on what derms recommend.
What type of skin do I have?
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See how your skin feels throughout the day. Does it feel oily in any particular places? Or tight? More on what this says about your skin type in a moment. So, keep reading!
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Wash your face and see. Yes, that’s right! Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face then leave it au natural and sans any products for up to 30 minutes. Again, see how it feels then read on to see what this means.
Is there a normal skin type?
Yep, we’ve all seen the words, “normal skin type”, dotted on skincare labels. Is anyone else a bit confused about what “normal” actually means though? I mean, oily, dry and combination are all easier to picture.
But yes, normal skin is a thing. In many ways, your luck’s in if you have this skin type. You’ll have minimal oiliness, flakiness, or redness. That doesn’t mean you can chuck your skincare TLC out of the window though. You still need to look after it to stay radiant. And we all want to be radiant, right!
Let’s talk about skin types
This is the part where we delve into the four different skin types and the essential info you need to manage them. Here we go:
Oily – Oily skin will look shiny and feel oily. You may also be more prone to breakouts, hence finding many products for oily skin and acne as a double whammy.
To manage it:
Dry – Your skin feels tight or dehydrated. Dry skin types may also experience flakiness. You’ll often find that mature skin also benefits from products for dry skin types.
To manage it:
Combination – Getting the balance right is the way to deal with combination skin types. Areas like the T-zone are typically oilier, but you’ll have matte areas elsewhere.
To manage it:
Normal – Normal skin types need to protect and replenish. Typically, you’ll find you have minimal or no oil, shine or redness and fine pores.
To manage it:
- Remember your skin type can change, so care for your skin with light, hydrating moisturisers and good skincare, even if it’s a slimmed-down routine.
- A gentle cleanser will help you remove impurities and maintain your glow.
- Keep on top of the more fragile skin areas, such as around your eyes.
Types of skin tones versus skin types
If you want to look after your skin properly, it’s also worth noting your skin tone. Using the right products for both skin type and tone will mean you’ll be getting the most from your skincare and your makeup.
The easiest way to do this is by checking your Fitzpatrick skin type. This is a scientific method of working out how to protect your skin from sun exposure and also choosing makeup tones.
With this answered, you’ll know how to care for and protect your skin from environmental stressors that may damage or dry out your skin and look great in your makeup at the same time. It’s all part of the puzzle!
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/skin-type-test#oily-skin
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/fitzpatrick-skin-types#what-it-means
