Understanding Your Skin Type: Oily, Dry, Combination, or Sensitive

Knowing your skin type is the foundation of an effective skincare routine. Using products that don’t suit your skin can lead to breakouts, irritation, or dryness, while the right products can help your skin look healthy, balanced, and radiant. In this guide, we’ll break down the four main skin types and help you identify which one you have.

Why Knowing Your Skin Type Matters

Your skin type determines how your skin reacts to products, weather, and daily habits. Choosing skincare based on your specific skin needs helps:

• Prevent common skin issues like acne or flaking
• Improve product effectiveness
• Maintain a healthy skin barrier
• Avoid irritation and sensitivity

Oily Skin

Characteristics:

• Shiny appearance, especially on the forehead, nose, and chin (T-zone)
• Enlarged or visible pores
• Prone to blackheads and acne

What Causes It:
Oily skin produces excess sebum, often due to genetics, hormonal changes, or environmental factors.

Care Tips:

• Use gentle, foaming or gel cleansers
• Look for oil-free or non-comedogenic products
• Don’t skip moisturizer, hydration helps regulate oil production

Dry Skin

Characteristics:

• Tight or rough feeling
• Flaky or peeling patches
• Dull or uneven texture

What Causes It:
Dry skin lacks natural oils and moisture, which can be worsened by cold weather, hot showers, or harsh skincare products.

Care Tips:

• Use creamy, hydrating cleansers
• Choose moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides
• Avoid alcohol-based products

Combination Skin

Characteristics:

• Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin)
• Dry or normal cheeks
• Pores more visible in oily areas

What Causes It:
Combination skin is influenced by genetics and environmental factors, making different areas of the face behave differently.

Care Tips:

• Use balanced, gentle products
• Spot-treat oily or dry areas as needed
• Lightweight moisturizers work best

Sensitive Skin

Characteristics:

• Redness or itching
• Burning or stinging sensation
• Reacts easily to products or weather changes

What Causes It:
Sensitive skin often has a weakened skin barrier, making it more reactive to ingredients, fragrances, and environmental stressors.

Care Tips:

• Choose fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products
• Patch-test new skincare before full use
• Keep your routine simple and consistent

How to Identify Your Skin Type at Home

Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser

Pat dry and wait 30–60 minutes without applying any products

Observe how your skin feels and looks:

• Shiny all over → Oily
• Tight or flaky → Dry
• Oily in some areas, dry in others → Combination
• Red, itchy, or irritated → Sensitive

Understanding your skin type

Understanding your skin type allows you to make smarter skincare choices and build a routine that truly works for you. Skin can also change over time due to age, climate, or lifestyle, so it’s important to reassess your skin’s needs regularly.

Ready to take the next step? Visit us to shop skincare products specially selected for oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin types. From targeted treatments to complete skincare routines, you’ll find everything you need to achieve healthy, radiant, and glowing skin with confidence.