Walk into any skincare store and you will be confronted with products labelled for dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, and more. But how do you actually know which category you fall into? Understanding your skin type is the foundation of building an effective skincare routine—use the wrong products and you could be making your skin concerns worse rather than better.
Why Skin Type Matters
Your skin type is determined primarily by genetics and reflects how much sebum (oil) your sebaceous glands produce. This oil production affects everything from how shiny your face gets throughout the day to how quickly you develop wrinkles. Using products designed for your specific skin type ensures you are giving your skin exactly what it needs—not too much, not too little.
Using products mismatched to your skin type can cause problems:
- Rich creams on oily skin can lead to clogged pores and breakouts
- Mattifying products on dry skin can cause flaking and discomfort
- Harsh cleansers on sensitive skin can trigger redness and irritation
- Gentle products on oily skin may not provide adequate cleansing
đź’ˇ Important Note
Skin type is different from skin condition. Type is genetic and relatively stable, while conditions (like dehydration, sensitivity, or acne) can change based on environment, diet, stress, and product use. You can have oily skin that is also dehydrated, or dry skin that is also acne-prone.
The Five Main Skin Types
Normal Skin
Normal skin is the holy grail that everyone wishes they had. It is characterised by balanced sebum production, minimal visible pores, and few imperfections. If you have normal skin, you rarely experience breakouts, do not feel excessively oily or dry, and your skin generally looks healthy and radiant without much effort.
Signs of normal skin:
- Skin feels comfortable throughout the day without becoming oily or tight
- Pores are small and barely visible
- Breakouts are rare and minor when they occur
- Skin has an even tone and smooth texture
- Not particularly sensitive to new products
Care tips: Your main goal is maintenance. Use a gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturiser, and daily sunscreen. You have more flexibility to experiment with products since your skin is generally tolerant.
Oily Skin
Oily skin produces excess sebum, leading to a shiny appearance, enlarged pores, and a tendency toward breakouts. While oily skin can be frustrating to manage, it does have an upside—the extra oil provides natural lubrication that helps prevent premature aging, so oily-skinned individuals often develop wrinkles later than their dry-skinned counterparts.
Signs of oily skin:
- Face appears shiny, especially in the T-zone, within hours of cleansing
- Visible, enlarged pores, particularly on the nose and cheeks
- Frequent blackheads, whiteheads, or acne breakouts
- Makeup tends to slide off or break down throughout the day
- Skin feels greasy to the touch
Care tips: Use a gentle, foaming or gel cleanser twice daily. Choose oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturisers and look for products containing niacinamide or salicylic acid to help regulate oil production. Avoid over-cleansing, which paradoxically increases oil production.
âś… Key Takeaway
Stripping oily skin with harsh cleansers or skipping moisturiser actually triggers more oil production. Your skin produces oil partly to protect itself—when you strip it away completely, your sebaceous glands compensate by producing even more.
Dry Skin
Dry skin produces less sebum than normal skin, resulting in a lack of the lipids needed to retain moisture and build a protective barrier. This can lead to a tight, uncomfortable feeling, visible flaking, and a dull appearance. Dry skin is also more prone to showing fine lines and wrinkles early.
Signs of dry skin:
- Skin feels tight, especially after cleansing
- Visible flaking or peeling, particularly around the nose and mouth
- Rough, uneven texture
- Dull, lacklustre appearance
- Fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominent
- Makeup can look patchy or cling to dry patches
Care tips: Use a cream or oil-based cleanser that will not strip moisture. Layer hydrating products—toner, serum, and moisturiser—and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. Avoid foaming cleansers and products containing alcohol.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is exactly what it sounds like—a combination of skin types on different areas of the face. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is oily while the cheeks and outer areas are normal to dry. This mixed nature makes combination skin tricky to care for, as different areas have different needs.
Signs of combination skin:
- Oily T-zone with visible pores on the nose
- Normal to dry cheeks that may feel tight
- Breakouts primarily in the oily areas
- Skin behaves differently in different zones
- May need different products for different areas
Care tips: Use a gentle, balancing cleanser suitable for all areas. You may need to use different moisturisers on different parts of your face—lighter formulas on the T-zone and richer creams on dry areas. Alternatively, look for products specifically formulated for combination skin that balance oil production while providing adequate hydration.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is characterised by a heightened reactivity to products, environmental factors, or stress. It may become red, itchy, or irritated easily and often struggles with products that other skin types tolerate well. Sensitive skin can also be dry, oily, or combination—sensitivity describes reactivity rather than oil production.
Signs of sensitive skin:
- Frequent redness, especially after product application or temperature changes
- Stinging or burning when using new products
- Reactions to fragrances, certain preservatives, or active ingredients
- Visible broken capillaries
- Skin that flushes easily
Care tips: Stick to fragrance-free, hypoallergenic products with minimal ingredients. Patch test everything before applying to your full face. Avoid known irritants like alcohol, essential oils, and strong active ingredients. Micellar water is often the gentlest cleansing option for sensitive skin.
⚠️ Sensitive vs Sensitised
If your skin has recently become reactive but was not always this way, it may be sensitised rather than truly sensitive. Sensitisation often results from over-exfoliation, retinol overuse, or harsh products. Simplify your routine and allow your skin barrier to heal.
How to Determine Your Skin Type
The Bare-Face Test
The most reliable way to determine your skin type is the bare-face test. Here is how to do it:
- Cleanse your face with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser
- Pat dry and do not apply any products
- Wait two to three hours without touching your face
- Observe your skin in natural light
After waiting, evaluate your skin:
- If your entire face feels comfortable with no shine or tightness: Normal
- If your face is shiny all over, especially the T-zone: Oily
- If your face feels tight, looks dull, or shows flaking: Dry
- If your T-zone is shiny but cheeks are dry or normal: Combination
- If your skin is red, itchy, or irritated: Sensitive (can combine with any type)
The Blotting Paper Test
For a more objective measure, use blotting papers several hours after cleansing:
- Press blotting paper on different areas of your face
- Hold the papers up to light
- Heavy oil saturation throughout = oily skin
- Oil only from T-zone = combination skin
- Little to no oil anywhere = dry or normal skin
đź’Ž Pro Tip
Your skin type can change with age, hormones, climate, and seasons. Re-evaluate periodically—the products that worked in your twenties may not suit your skin in your forties, and summer skin often behaves differently than winter skin.
Matching Products to Your Skin Type
Cleansers
- Normal: Gel, foam, or micellar water
- Oily: Gel or foam cleansers, clay-based cleansers
- Dry: Cream, oil, or milk cleansers
- Combination: Gel cleansers, micellar water
- Sensitive: Micellar water, gentle cream cleansers
Moisturisers
- Normal: Lightweight lotions or gels
- Oily: Oil-free gels, water-based moisturisers
- Dry: Rich creams, facial oils, butter-based moisturisers
- Combination: Lightweight lotions, gel-creams
- Sensitive: Fragrance-free, minimal ingredient formulas
Conclusion
Understanding your skin type is the first step toward building a skincare routine that truly works for you. Take the time to assess your skin honestly—what you think is oily might actually be dehydrated skin overproducing oil to compensate, or what seems like sensitivity might be a reaction to a specific ingredient rather than inherent skin sensitivity.
Once you have identified your skin type, you can make informed choices about the products you use, avoiding waste on items that are not suited to your needs. Pay attention to how your skin responds to different products and do not be afraid to adjust your routine as your skin changes with seasons, age, and lifestyle factors.