Skin Types
There are five primary types of skin: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive.
Each skin type has its own set of unique characteristics and needs that can affect the look and feel of your complexion. By first understanding what type of skin you have, you can begin to make decisions on how to give your skin the customized care and protection it needs in present and in future.
Your skin type is based on the amount of sebum (oil) your skin produces.
In fact your skin’s oiliness can change over time and may also be influenced by factors such as stress, genetics, hormones, humidity, and the natural aging process.
Oily skin produces an excess of sebum that causes the skin to appear shiny and feel greasy, especially throughout the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
People with oily skin may tend to have less wrinkles, but they may also be more prone to enlarged pores, acne blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads.
Keep in mind that just because oily skin produces more natural oils, this doesn’t mean that it requires any less moisture than other skin types. Supporting oily skin comes down to choosing the right products that nourish and hydrate, without clogging your pores or triggering breakouts.
The ideal oily skin routine should feature a gentle, foaming cleanser that effectively removes dirt, excess oil, and other impurities. It should also include a lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizer that provides your oily skin with the essential hydration it needs.
Dry skin generally produces less natural oils than other types of skin.
This may cause it to appear dull and become rough, flaky, or even scaly. It often feels tight or less elastic, noticeably dehydrated, and may be prone to showing more visible fine lines. In addition, it may become itchy or irritated.
A skincare routine for dry skin should include gentle, soothing, and hydrating ingredients that help maintain the skin’s protective moisture barrier, for examples such as ceramides.
For dry skin types, it is recommend it to moisturize it multiple times per day, and opting for skincare products that are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and alcohol-free.
Normal skin is balanced and it is feeling neither too dry nor too oily. It's not prone to breakouts, flakiness, or feeling greasy or tight.
People with normal skin typically have pores that are small, a smooth skin texture, and are less prone to sensitivity or blemishes.
However, despite the fact that normal skin doesn’t have any specific issues or concerns, it still requires proper skincare to look and feel its best.
The ideal normal skin routine helps maintain your skin’s hydration by locking in moisture and supporting your skin’s protective barrier.
Combination skin includes areas that are dry as well as oily. For example with the T-zone commonly being oily, and the cheeks being either dry or normal.
This skin type can vary during different seasons of the year, and due to various factors, such as stress or hormone fluctuation.
Effective cleansing and hydration are key to care for skin that's oily or normal in some places and dry in others.
Sensitive skin is often referred to as a skin type, but it’s possible to have oily sensitive skin, dry sensitive skin, or normal sensitive skin.
Regardless of which type of skin you have, if you have sensitive skin, it may appear red and feel like it's burning, itching, or dry. These symptoms may be related to having skin that is more vulnerable to external irritants and may be triggered by certain ingredients—like dyes or fragrance—as well as environmental factors.