How to work out your skin type
Want to know your skin type so you can choose the right products for it? Discover the three ways you can do it.
Skincare can be an overwhelming subject, especially with so many brands and products flying about. Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser… all these products are important, but knowing which ones to put on your skin is essential.
And to work out what these are, you need to know your skin type. The experts at London Premier Laser Clinics explain how you can identify it.
What are the five different skin types?
Here’s a quick run down of the five different types of skin.
1) Oily skin
Oily skin refers to skin that has excess oil. Oily skin, most common on the T-zone of your face – your forehead, nose, and chin – usually looks shiny, feels greasy, and is often prone to more breakouts and blemishes. Exploring solutions for oily skin can help manage these symptoms, promoting a balanced and healthier complexion.
2) Normal skin
Normal skin is well-balanced, which means it’s not too dry or too oily. People with normal skin are not usually prone to breakouts or blemishes and tend to have a balanced t-zone.
3) Combination skin
Combination skin has areas that are oily and dry, so the skin on your forehead, nose and chin may be shiny, while your cheeks are dry.
4) Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is often visibly red and dry, however sensitive skin may not always show visible signs and may just feel uncomfortable.
5) Dry skin
Dry skin is usually flaky, rough, itchy and irritated with a dehydrated look to it.
How to work out your skin type
There are three ways that you can use to work out your skin type.
1) Study your skin
An easy way to determine your skin type is to study the visible signs of your face. To do this, cleanse your face fully then, after towel drying it, leave your skin for half an hour and come back to the mirror to inspect it. (Don’t use any products.)
Take a good look at your skin. What does it look like? Does it look shiny on your cheeks and t-zone? If so, you may have oily skin. If your skin feels tight and has flaky areas, then it could be dry. If you see a mix of oiliness and dryness, you probably have combination skin.
This is one of the best ways to really get to grips with your skin and to understand how it reacts before any product is applied.
2) The blotting method
Another way to determine your skin type is to press a blotting sheet on the different areas of your face. After holding the sheet up to the light you will be able to see how much oil was absorbed.
If there’s quite a lot of oil on the paper, you probably have oily skin, If there is little or no oil, you may have dry skin, If the sheet reveals minimal oil from your forehead and nose, your skin could be normal or combination.
3) Speak to an expert
If all else fails, it’s worth seeking out expert help from a specialist. A skin specialist or dermatologist will easily be able to diagnose your skin-type and advise you on which products will be most beneficial to your skin.
Photo by Jessica Felicio
