The 5 BASIC Skin Types
We all want clear, healthy, radiant skin so we buy a whole bunch of products in attempt to achieve that glowy "glass skin." All our efforts towards treating our skin with the most expensive skin care money can buy may end up doing more harm than good if you're not using the proper ingredients, methods and products for you skin. The most important thing you can do for you skin doesn't cost very much at all. Finding out what is your unique skin type is the first step towards enjoying beautiful, radiant skin (and it doesn’t cost a penny!).
First thing’s first. There are 5 basic skin types: Normal, Oily, Dry, Combination, and Sensitive.
Normal Skin Type
As the first one suggests, Normal skin types are those who hit the jackpot when it comes to skin. These are the individuals who typically don’t get breakouts (unless they're hormone-induced) and when they do, they don’t have to do too much to get rid of them. Normal skin type is skin that is balanced.
Normal skin feels comfortable, smooth, and has an even texture with small pores. The cheeks are sometimes the driest area of the skin but not excessively. They may experience some shine and larger pores on the forehead, nose, or chin but the water/oil content in the skin is balanced.
Care for Normal skin with routine cleansing using a foam cleanser, exfoliate 2x a week, moisturize with a lightweight lotion, and using sunscreen to keep skin healthy.
Dry Skin Type
Dry skin types are those with skin that cannot hold moisture. People with drier skin types may experience a tight feeling after washing, and skin might look dry or flaky. The texture is rough and uneven and can be dehydrated. Dry skin may experience high sensitivity, pores are small and almost invisible. Because the skin is very dry, this skin type shows fine lines faster than others.
Care for Dry Skin using richer textured cleansers such as creamy cleansers, limit the skin’s exposure to the sun to prevent more fine lines and wrinkles. Dry skin types would benefit from layering skincare products (layer a light face oil over a richer cream). Night AHA creams will help remove dry, dead skin while moisturizing the newly regenerated skin cells.
See how to layer skin products
Oily Skin Type
Oily skin types are those with hyperactive sebaceous glands, essentially, the skin produces greater amounts of sebum than others on a daily basis. Ladies and gents with this skin type usually experience shininess throughout the T-zone, they may have large and very visible pores, and may also experience frequent breakouts. On a more positive note, oily skin types tend to show fewer signs of aging!
Care for Oily skin by cleansing twice a day to prevent dirt accumulation and to keep pores clean using an oil-free foam or gel cleanser. Use an alcohol-free toner to remove excess oil, and a thin, light/gel moisturizer to keep the skin from becoming overly dry (this might seem counterproductive but oily skin produces more oil because it is actually very dry).
Combination Skin Type
Here's where things start to get tricky. As the name suggests, combination skin types experience both dry and oily skin at the same time and to differing degrees. This skin type is arguably the most common skin type because it comes in so many variations. Combination skin types usually experience oiliness through the T-zone, but dry spots on the cheeks (or even smaller dry patches around the mouth). Similar to oily skin types, they usually have large pores on the forehead, nose, and chin.
Care for Combination skin with regular cleansing, toning, and moisturizing both oily and dry areas (with a combination of thick and light/gel creams). Make sure to use a mild cleanser to cater to both skin-specific needs. Products containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) will benefit this skin type.
Sensitive Skin Type
This particular archetype is equally a skin type as it is a skin condition. This is because you can have this skin condition on top of any other type listed above. Sensitive skin can range from dry to oily skin types so be sure to treat the skin accordingly. This skin type is easily irritated by cosmetics ingredients (such as dyes, fragrances, and potent ingredients). The skin is also prone to redness, bumps, itchiness, and a blotchy appearance.
Care for Sensitive skin using mild, fragrant-free cleansing products and a gentle alcohol-free toner specifically formulated for sensitive skin. On that note, all skincare products for this skin type should be gentle, mild, and specifically say "formulated for sensitive skin."
See what to do when your skin reacts to a new product
Keep it simple.
