A first crucial step to finding out how to properly take care of your skin is figuring out which skin type you have. It may even be a combination of types! Let me break down some of the skin types you may have and how to know which category you fit into.

Normal skin:

All skin is normal, but the normal skin type simply means your skin has balanced oil production and is generally free from most breakout related symptoms. You do not have very sensitive or reactive skin either, meaning that products do not irritate your skin easily. If you were to use an oil blotting sheet or tissue about twenty minutes after washing your face with a gentle cleanser, there would be little to no oil transferred.

Oily skin:

Oily skin occurs when your pores have a bit more sebaceous activity than other skin types. You may have slightly larger pore appearance and are more prone to breakouts, blackheads, or whiteheads. If you were to wash your face and oil blot after about twenty minutes, there would be significant transfer of oil onto the sheet. A lot of factors can cause sebaceous glands to do more work than they need to. Oily skin can be caused by genetics, hormonal changes/imbalances, harsh cleansers, climate etc.

Combination skin:

This skin type occurs when your skin is spilt between types. Combination skin, like oily skin, can be caused by a variety of hormonal and cosmetic issues. Usually, there is a mix of oily skin and normal skin on the face, but it can also be a mix of oily and dry skin. A commonly used skincare term, the T-Zone, can describe where the oily patches usually occur on the face. The T-Zone describes the region on the forehead, down the nose, and the chin. The outer portions of the face and cheeks are usually normal or dry.

Dry skin:

Dry skin is usually flaky, tight, and dull. You may feel like you have more apparent fine lines on the face and not much oil production at all. Dry skin can be caused by hormonal and health factors, but can also be enhanced by external factors and personal care mistakes. Harsh cleansers, very high indoor temperatures, too hot of showers, etc. can enhance the effects of dry skin.

Sensitive Skin:

This skin type could be any of the other types mentioned above, but also yields a lot of redness, irritation, burning, and itching. These symptoms can be enhanced by certain topical products that are used. It is important to try to determine what products trigger the most irritation and cease the use of those products.

*It is important to note that oily skin types or combination skin types usually have the most issues with acne, but it can occur in any skin type.

Now that you have a better understanding of what your skin type might be, it is important to gear your routine to suit your individualized needs! In future posts I will detail my favorite products for my skin (Combination/Dry) as well as pointing out product recommendations for other skin types! If you are still unsure about what skin type you are, please feel free to send me a message! I see healthier skin in your future!