How to Determine your Skin Type

The most common way to classify skin type is by the skin’s water content and sebum secretion. According to this system, there are 4 main skin types:

• normal
• combination
• oily
• dry

There are also other classifications based on skin condition, ranging from sensitive and dehydrated to wrinkled.

But how Do You Determine your Skin Type?

One way to figure out your skin type is to examine your skin “bare”: without applying skincare or makeup. Follow these simple steps to determine your skin type:

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
2. Don’t apply any skincare and wait 15 to 30 minutes
3. Examine your skin in the mirror
4. Determine your skin type based on your skin’s characteristics:

• If your skin feels rough, tight, and uncomfortable, you have dry skin
• If your skin gets shiny right away, you likely have oily skin.
• If you feel oiliness in some areas and tightness in others, then you have combination skin.
• If your skin looks fine afterwards and doesn’t seem shiny, then you have normal skin

Keep reading my notes to find out more about each skin type.

Normal Skin

Normal skin refers to well-balanced skin—neither too oily nor too dry. Oil production and other factors that affect skin health are within a normal range. Normal skin:

• has good blood circulation
• has no blemishes
• is not prone to sensitivity
• doesn’t feel tight
• looks healthy
• has a good moisture balance
• has small pores
• has an even skin tone

If you have a normal skin type, that doesn’t mean you’ll never feel a bit of dryness, oiliness, or get the occasional breakout.

Also, normal skin types still suffer sun damage and other skin issues due to environmental aggressors or lifestyle choices.

 

Combination Skin

Combination skin, which is the most common skin type, is characterized by a mix of oily and dry skin in different parts of the face.

People with combination skin usually have oily skin in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) with dry to normal skin everywhere else.

The oily areas will look shiny and may have enlarged pores, signs of breakouts, and blackheads.

This skin type needs different care for the oily areas and the other areas.

 

Oily Skin

People with oily skin have higher sebum production. You have oily skin if:

• Your skin looks shiny
• Your skin has enlarged, clearly visible pores
• Breakouts occur frequently
• Your skin is prone to whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones)

Oily skin is usually genetic, but it can also be triggered by hormonal changes, certain medications, and stress.

 

Dry Skin

Dry skin produces less oil than normal skin, which helps retain moisture and protect the skin from environmental factors.

Characteristics of dry skin:

• Less elastic
• More visible lines
• Dull and rough
• Tight, feeling of dryness / “tight skin”
• May itch
• Dehydrated
• May have flaky areas
• May be prone to redness, irritation, or inflammation
• May have pruritus (itching)

 

Dry skin can be caused or worsened by:

• Genetics
• Aging or hormonal changes
• Climate: wind, sun, or cold
• Indoor heating
• Long, hot baths and showers
• Some ingredients found in cosmetics
• Medications

Skin balance also depends on other factors, such as: menstrual cycle phase, climate, seasons, diet, stress, sleep, and other habits. That’s why your skin type can change over time!

 

References:

Baumann, Leslie. (2008). Understanding and treating various skin types: the Baumann Skin Type Indicator. Dermatologic Clinics. 26. 359–73, vol. 10.1016/j.det.2008.03.007.

Baumann, Leslie. (2006). The Skin Type Solution. Random House Publishing Group: New York, NY, USA, 2007

Oliveira, R.; Ferreira, J.; Azevedo, L.F.; Almeida, I.F. An overview of methods to characterize skin type: focus on visual assessment scales and self-report instruments. Cosmetics 2023,10, 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10010014

Saiwaeo S, Arwatchananukul S, Mungmai L, Preedalikit W, Aunsri N. Human skin type classification using image processing and deep learning approaches. Heliyon. October 23, 2023;9(11):e21176. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21176. PMID: 38027689; PMCID: PMC10656243.

Youn, S.W.; Kim, S.J.; Hwang, I.A.; Park, K.C. Evaluation of facial skin type by sebum secretion: Discrepancies between subjective descriptions and sebum secretion.Skin Res. Technol. 2002,8, 168–172.