How to Determine Your Skin Type? | Enjoy a 10% Early Bird Discount on Your Personalized Skincare Routine

You’ve probably heard the term "skin types" before, but what exactly does it mean? Your skin type refers to the natural condition of your skin, which can vary from person to person. Understanding your skin type is crucial because it helps you choose the right skincare products and ingredients that will best support and improve your skin's health.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to determine your skin type and which specific ingredients and products you should look for to address your skin's unique needs. Let's dive in and learn how to take the best care of your skin! 

The bare-face method

Skip any skincare products for now and give it about 30 minutes. After that, take a good look at your skin. If you see shine, particularly in the T-zone and on your cheeks, you probably have oily skin. If your skin feels tight or you spot dry, flaky patches, then you’re likely dealing with dry skin.

If you notice a mix of both oily and dry areas, you probably have combination skin. And if your skin feels just right neither oily or dry you likely have normal skin.

The blotting sheet method

Take a clean blotting sheet and gently press it on different areas of your face. After a few seconds, hold the sheet up to the light to check how much oil has been absorbed. If the sheet picks up a lot of oil, especially from the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), your skin is likely oily.

If there’s little to no oil on the sheet, you most likely have dry skin. If you see a small amount of oil from the forehead and nose, but not from other areas, you probably have normal or combination skin.

1. Oily skin

Oily skin can sometimes feel like a constant battle, especially when it seems like no matter what products you try, you end up with breakouts. The reason this happens is due to the excess oil, or sebum, that your skin produces. Sebum is a natural oil meant to keep your skin moisturized, but when your skin produces too much of it, it can clog your pores. These clogged pores can trap dirt and bacteria, which leads to acne and more frequent breakouts.

This condition, known as “seborrhea” in dermatology, is essentially the technical term for oily skin. Managing oily skin often requires finding the right product balance that controls excess oil without drying out your skin or causing further irritation.

What to look for?

When dealing with acne and excess oil production, many effective ingredients exist. AHAs and BHAs are great for exfoliating the skin and unclogging pores, while benzoyl peroxide and sulfur are well-known for their acne-fighting properties. Zinc helps to regulate oil production and reduce inflammation, while retinoids can improve skin texture and prevent future breakouts.

Niacinamide is also highly beneficial for controlling excessive sebum production. Despite the misconception that oily skin shouldn't use oils, certain oils like squalane or rosehip seed oil (which is rich in linoleic acid) can actually help balance oil production and reduce excess sebum.

What to Avoid?

Oily skin tends to be less sensitive and can often tolerate stronger treatments, but that doesn’t mean you should overdo it. Exfoliation and the use of active ingredients like AHAs and BHAs should be done in moderation. While tackling acne and excess oil can be challenging, it's essential to approach it with patience.

Research has shown that using lower percentages of acne-fighting ingredients less frequently can yield similar results to using higher concentrations more often. The key is consistency and time rushing treatments may damage your skin's moisture barrier.

As for ingredients, everyone’s skin reacts differently, so it's hard to say definitively what should be avoided. Comedogenicity tests, which were done on rabbit ears, are not always reliable for human skin.

However, some ingredients are generally worth being cautious about, including coconut oil and its derivatives (like Caprylic/Capric/Coco Glycerides), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), and certain lubricants like Isocetyl Stearate. Keep in mind, this is not a complete list, as each person's skin will react uniquely. Always listen to your skin and adjust your routine accordingly.

2. Normal skin

Normal skin, also known as “eudermic” in dermatology (not euphoric, though that would be nice!), refers to a balanced skin type that isn’t too oily or dry. People with normal skin typically don’t struggle with acne and often enjoy smooth, healthy skin with fewer sensitivities.

However, as you age, normal skin can start to show signs of dryness, especially if it's not properly cared for.

What to Look For?

If you have normal skin, a simple skincare routine is usually all you need. Stick to the basics: a cleanser, a good moisturizer, and sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If you want to elevate your routine, you can add a serum for an extra boost of hydration or treatment. Keep it simple, and your skin will thank you.

3. Combination skin

Combination skin means you have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and drier cheeks. This can be tricky because the products that work for your T-zone might not be great for your cheeks, and vice versa.

What to Look For?

It’s okay to use different products on different parts of your face! For your T-zone, use a light moisturizer, and for your drier cheeks, go for a thicker, more hydrating one. If you’re using acne treatments, just apply them to the oily areas as spot treatments instead of all over your face. This way, you’ll keep both areas happy and balanced!

4. Dry Skin

Dry skin happens when your skin produces less sebum than normal, leading to a lack of moisture and a weak protective barrier. This can make your skin feel tight, rough and look dull. Dry skin can be caused by things like genetics, environmental factors, or even certain acne treatments.

It also lacks natural moisturizing factors like urea, amino acids, and lactic acid, which help to retain moisture in. Additionally, dry skin may have low levels of important lipids like ceramides and fatty acids.

What to Look For?

To keep your skin hydrated, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, urea, amino acids, plant oils, and salicylic acid. These ingredients will help lock in moisture and keep your skin smooth.

What to Avoid?

Avoid harsh exfoliating products like AHAs, BHAs, and physical scrubs, as they can make dry skin worse. If you use them, only use them once a week. Interestingly, when used correctly, exfoliators and retinoids can help thicken the deeper layers of your skin, which may actually improve dry skin over time.

Also, be careful with cleansing – washing your face twice a day can dry your skin out. It's usually enough to wash your face at night to remove sunscreen and dirt. In the morning, just rinse with water. Instead of foaming or gel cleansers, try using cleansing oils to keep your skin from getting too dry.

Create Your Own Skincare Routine

After determining your skin type, it’s essential to choose products that cater to your skin's unique needs. You can take an easy skincare test on our website to get personalized recommendations. Based on the results, we'll guide you to select the best products that fit your skin's type and concerns.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Early Bird 10% Discount, only available for the first five customers every day! Plus, enjoy Instant Delivery via Indrive, ensuring your skincare products arrive quickly.

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Understanding your skin type is the first step in choosing the right skincare products. Make sure to choose wisely based on your skin type, and you’ll be on your way to healthy, glowing skin in no time!