Your skin type is arguably the most important factor to consider when building a skincare routine. There are five main skin types—oily, normal, combination, dry, and sensitive—and each comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. While everyone needs the essentials (think cleanser,toner, moisturizer, and SPF), the best formulas for each skin type can vary immensely. Understanding where your skin falls on the skin type spectrum is therefore key if you want to build a routine that truly works for you.
The Five Basic Skin Types
Oily Skin: Oily skin is characterized by a higher-than-average production of sebum, skin’s natural oil. This excess oiliness can make the skin appear shiny or greasy and is often accompanied by skin concerns like blackheads and enlarged pores. As clogged pores are a major contributor to breakouts, those with oily skin may also be prone to breakouts.
Dry Skin: Dry skin is the opposite of oily skin—it’s skin that doesn’t have enough oil. It may look dull or feel tight, while severe dryness can cause the skin to crack, flake, or peel. Dry skin and dehydrated skin are sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing—dehydration is a lack of water, and that can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type.
Combination Skin: Skin that displays two or more defining characteristics—like dryness and oiliness—in different areas. Oftentimes, people with combination skin will have an oilier T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), while their cheeks will be drier.
Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is characterized by a heightened sensitivity to stressors, including some skincare products. Degrees of sensitivity can vary: Some people only experience mild irritation when exposed to stressors, while others struggle with redness, itching, and discomfort regularly. That being said, sensitivity isn’t always visible—sometimes, it’s just about how the skin feels.
Normal Skin: While we’d argue all skin is normal, in skincare, normal refers specifically to skin that’s well-balanced and displays no persistent skin concerns.
Can Your Skin Type Change?
Here’s where it gets complicated—your skin type can change (and probably will, at some point). When you’re a teenager, for example, it’s pretty common to have oily or blemish-prone skin. However, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have oily skin forever. In fact, as you get older, your skin gets drier. It’s therefore not uncommon to have oily skin when you’re young and drier skin as you get older.
Other factors, like the climate you live in, may also influence your skin type: Hot weather and humidity can be linked to oilier skin, while cold, dry air is often associated with dryness.
Comments