The Five Skin Types
Skincare products don't work in isolation — they work in relationship with your skin. The most effective routine is one built around your skin's specific needs, and that starts with accurately identifying your skin type.
- Normal skin: balanced, few imperfections, minimal sensitivity
- Oily skin: excess sebum, enlarged pores, prone to breakouts
- Dry skin: lacks lipids, feels tight and rough, prone to flakiness
- Combination skin: oily T-zone with naturally drier cheeks
- Sensitive skin: reacts easily to products and environmental triggers
How to Determine Your Skin Type
The bare-face method is the most reliable test. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and leave it completely bare for one hour — no products. After 60 minutes, examine how your skin feels and looks. If it's shiny all over, you likely have oily skin. If it feels tight and looks dull, you have dry skin. If only the T-zone is shiny while the cheeks remain comfortable, you have combination skin.
Ingredients to Seek by Skin Type
Once you know your skin type, choosing the right ingredients becomes straightforward. Each skin type responds differently to active ingredients, and using the wrong ones can trigger breakouts, sensitivity, or excessive dryness.
The most effective skincare routine is one built around your skin's specific needs — not one borrowed from a celebrity with a completely different skin type.
- Oily and acne-prone: niacinamide, salicylic acid, kaolin clay, zinc
- Dry skin: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, shea butter, squalane
- Combination skin: lightweight glycerin-based hydrators
- Sensitive skin: centella asiatica, oat extract, fragrance-free formulas
Building Your Skin Type Routine
Start with the absolute basics — a gentle cleanser suited to your type, a targeted moisturiser, and daily SPF. Introduce one active ingredient at a time and observe your skin's response over two weeks before adding anything new to your routine.
