Knowing your skin type is the first step to enjoying an effective beauty routine that tackles the skin conditions and problems that concern you. What’s more, thanks to the wide variety of products available, it’s becoming easier and more accessible to find treatments that are perfectly suited to each person’s needs. And at Toskani, we’re a great example of this!
Discover what skin types there are and how to identify your skin type with these simple tips.
What are the main skin types?
Although the condition and appearance of the skin can change depending on the climate, state of health, or stage of life each person is in, the truth is that skin type is a genetic issue that stays with us throughout our lives.
In this sense, we can divide skin into four main categories: normal, dry, oily, and combination. Within each of these categories, different skin disorders can appear, such as irritation, even among people with completely different skin types.
Normal
Normal skin is considered an ideal skin type due to its balance in sebum and moisture production. This means that it is neither too dry nor too oily and tends to have a healthy and uniform appearance. Although the T-zone formed by the forehead, chin, and nose may be slightly oilier, this skin type is less prone to blemishes and skin problems compared to other skin types.
- Characterized by a soft, smooth, and uniform texture
- Small, invisible pores
- Few imperfections, impurities, and sensitivity issues
With age, normal skin may begin to become more prone to dryness, which may require the application of specific products for mature skin care.
Dry
Dry skin produces less sebum than normal, which can lead to a weakened skin barrier and moisture loss. It is prone to irritation and may be more sensitive to climate changes and harsh products.
- Feeling of tightness, especially after cleansing
- Rough and flaky texture
- Dull and lackluster appearance
- May show fine lines and premature wrinkles
The good news is that there are countless products for dry skin that help combat and prevent all these symptoms.
Oily
Unlike dry skin, oily skin produces excess sebum, known as seborrhea. This makes it appear porous, shiny, and moist.
- Enlarged and visible pores
- Constant shine, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin)
- Prone to acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples
Combination
Combination skin, as its name suggests, shares characteristics with both dry and oily skin. Depending on the area of the face and the distribution of the sebaceous and sweat glands, this skin type has a more oily T-zone, and other areas, such as the cheeks, that are more prone to dryness.
- Combination of oily and dry areas
Identify your skin type
Every skin type is unique, and identifying it is not always an easy task. Knowing the characteristics of different skin types and paying attention to the problems that affect us most is one way to get an idea of which category we belong to.
But here are two methods that can help you recognize your skin type more easily.
- The bare face and observation method. To find out what type of skin you have using this method, you will need to clean your face with a gentle product and dry it without rubbing. Leave your skin bare, without applying any type of product, for at least thirty minutes. Then examine it in front of a mirror. Check if you feel tightness and have flakes; in this case, your skin is prone to dryness. If you notice shiny skin in the T-zone, you probably have normal or combination skin. And if the shine spreads to other areas, your skin type may be oily.
- Blotting paper to determine your skin type. In this case, you will need dry blotting paper to gently dab your skin. Hold the paper up to the light and observe the amount of oil it has collected in each area. If the oil is barely visible on the paper, you most likely have dry skin. If it collects more oil in the nose and forehead area, you have combination or normal skin. When the paper absorbs oil in different areas, including the cheeks, your skin is oily.
Once you know your skin type, you can tailor your daily skincare routine to keep your skin healthy and radiant!