Guide

How to Determine Your Skin Type

Knowing your skin type is the foundation of effective skincare. Incorrectly chosen products can worsen problems instead of solving them.

5 min read Updated: 27. 12. 2024
How to Determine Your Skin Type

Why Is It Important to Know Your Skin Type?

Each skin type has specific needs. Using wrong products can cause irritation, dryness, or excessive oiliness. Proper diagnosis is the first step to healthy, glowing skin.

Quick Bare-Face Test

The simplest way to determine your skin type:

1

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser

2

Don't apply any products

3

Wait 30-60 minutes

4

Observe how your skin behaves

Basic Skin Types

There are five basic skin types. Most people have a combination of multiple types in different areas of their face.

Normal Skin

Signs: Balanced, neither oily nor dry. Small pores, smooth texture, rarely problematic.

Care: Maintenance routine, prevention. You can experiment with different products.

Oily Skin

Signs: Shiny, especially in T-zone. Enlarged pores, prone to acne and blackheads.

Care: Lightweight, oil-free products. Gel textures, niacinamide, salicylic acid.

Dry Skin

Signs: Tight, flaky, dull. Visible fine lines, may feel itchy.

Care: Rich creams, oils, ceramides. Hyaluronic acid, avoid drying ingredients.

Combination Skin

Signs: Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), dry or normal cheeks.

Care: Multi-masking, different products for different zones. Balancing products.

Sensitive Skin

Signs: Redness, burning, itching. Reacts to many ingredients, often rosacea.

Care: Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free. Soothing ingredients (aloe, chamomile, centella).

How to Determine Your Skin Type

Follow these steps for accurate diagnosis:

Thoroughly cleanse your skin

Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. Remove all makeup and impurities.

Let your skin rest

Don't apply any products. Wait 30-60 minutes for skin to return to its natural state.

Observe the T-zone

Check forehead, nose, and chin. Are they shiny? Oily to touch? Or rather tight?

Check your cheeks

How do your cheeks feel? Dry, normal, or oily? Compare with T-zone.

Evaluate results

Based on observations, determine which skin type best matches your condition.

Skin Type vs. Skin Condition

Skin type is genetic and relatively constant. Skin condition can change with seasons, stress, hormones, and lifestyle.

ℹ Example

Even oily skin can be dehydrated (lacking water, not oil). That's why it's important to distinguish between type and current condition.

✓ Tip

Determine your skin type once, but monitor skin condition regularly and adjust care according to current needs.

Recommended Products by Skin Type

View All
Bestseller Hydrating Cleanser
CeraVe

Hydrating Cleanser

For dry skin
4.6

Gentle cleansing with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Doesn't disrupt moisture barrier.

Ceramides Fragrance-free For dry skin
Editor's Pick Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
La Roche-Posay

Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser

For sensitive skin
4.5

Extra gentle cleansing for reactive and allergy-prone skin.

Hypoallergenic Soap-free Soothing
Best Value Sensibio Gel Moussant
Bioderma

Sensibio Gel Moussant

For combination skin
4.4

Foaming gel for gentle cleansing without drying. Suitable for sensitive skin too.

Foaming gel pH neutral Fragrance-free

Frequently Asked Questions

Skin type is largely genetic, but can change with age, hormonal changes, or environmental factors. With age, skin usually becomes drier.

Use different products for different zones. Lighter, mattifying products on T-zone, more hydrating on cheeks. Multi-masking technique is ideal.

Repeat the test when seasons change or if you notice significant changes in skin behavior. At least twice a year.

Start Building Your Routine

Now that you know your skin type, build your ideal skincare routine.