An ultimate guide to identifying your skin type.
An ultimate guide to identifying your skin type.
What Skin Type Do I Have?
If you're like me and have been blessed with the gift of slightly oily skin, then this article is for you! If not, don't worry—I'll cover the other two types of skin as well.
You can have combination skin, oily skin or dry skin.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s learn about specific skin types.
You can have combination skin, oily skin or dry skin.
Combination skin is the most common type of skin. It tends to be on the normal-to-oily side and isn’t uncommonly mixed with other factors like acne or acne scars, rosacea and blackheads/whiteheads (which are typically associated with oily areas). Sometimes called “normal” or “mixed” as well, people who have combination skin often experience dry patches on their cheeks, forehead and chin—some areas oilier than others—and this can lead to an appearance of oily face at times. For example, if you don't moisturize adequately in an area where there's a lot of oil production but no visible breakouts (such as around your nose), it might look shiny after a few hours when it was not previously greasy looking at all; this phenomenon is known as T-zone shine (T stands for “temples," which are located above your eyebrows).
If your skin is oily, you'll have large pores, especially on your T-zone.
If you have oily skin, your pores are likely to be large and visible. This is because there’s more oil in the skin, which makes the pore walls appear larger.
If you have oily skin, you may notice that the pores on your T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin) are particularly large and visible. If you look closely enough at these areas of your face where there is an abundance of sebum (oil), you may see tiny black dots in each pore. These are called “sebaceous filaments” and they're perfectly normal; however if they get clogged with dirt or oil then this could lead to clogged pores which can cause acne breakouts.
Oily skin is a genetic trait, so if your parents have oily skin then you’re likely to have oily skin too.
Dry skin can sometimes appear flaky or itchy, and sometimes it can crack.
Dry skin appears flaky or itchy, and sometimes it can even crack. It's caused by a lack of moisture in the outer layer of skin, according to Mayo Clinic. It's more common in older people and can be caused by the climate or harsh cleansers and other products you use on your face. If you have dry skin, your pores are small enough that you'll never notice them with a magnifying glass—and if someone tries to do this to you while you're asleep just tell them no! Other signs of dryness include feeling stretched or tight, like a rubber band; being shiny or greasy; having small bumps called comedones (AKA blackheads); redness; looking like sandpaper; feeling rough, scaly or flaky; and itching.
If you have dry skin, your pores are small enough that you'll never notice them with a magnifying glass—and if someone tries to do this to you while you're asleep just tell them no! Other signs of dryness include feeling stretched or tight, like a rubber band; being shiny or greasy; having small bumps called comedones (AKA blackheads); redness; looking like sandpaper; feeling rough, scaly or flaky; and itching.
People with normal or combination skin types naturally produce enough oil to keep their skin hydrated.
When it comes to your skin, you have two choices: oily or normal. Oily skin produces more oil than normal skin, while dry skin produces less. The amount of oil produced depends on your genes and hormones, as well as what you eat.
But no matter what type of skin you have, oil is an important part of protecting your body from the sun and helping keep moisture in your body—which is why it's so important for everyone to drink plenty of water every day!
If you have oily skin, there are several things you can do to keep it healthy. First, try using a good face wash that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid to remove dirt and dead cells from your pores. Then, pat your face dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing it. Also avoid touching your face as much as possible—touching your nose and cheeks often results in oil transfer!
Knowing how your skin reacts to certain products makes it easier to understand and treat your condition
Knowing your skin type is key to finding the right products for you. If you have oily or combination skin, it’s important to choose oil-free products with ingredients such as salicylic acid and tea tree oil. Dry or sensitive types should look for moisturizers and products that contain aloe vera or chamomile extract to soothe irritation.
Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to start treating it with the right products. By being aware of what works best for you and your skin condition, you can make sure that every day in the morning is a good one!
