Skin Types – Know Your Skin's True Nature

Most skincare mistakes don't come from using bad products — they come from not knowing your own skin. If you're using a harsh cleanser on dry skin, or piling on a thick moisturiser over oily skin, your routine can easily backfire. So the first and most important question is: what type of skin do I have?

Normal Skin

Normal skin has a well-balanced sebum production — neither oily nor dry. It feels smooth to the touch, has small pores, is resilient and comfortable throughout the day. It's not particularly reactive and tolerates most products well.

Many people think they have normal skin when they actually just have well-managed skin. There's a difference — and that's good news, because it means other skin types can achieve this balance too with the right routine.

Dry Skin

Dry skin produces little sebum. It can feel tight, flaky or rough, appears more matte, and is particularly sensitive to weather changes, harsh cleansers and hard water (which contains high amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts).

It's important to distinguish dry skin from dehydrated skin: dryness is a skin type (a genetic tendency to produce less oil), while dehydration is a condition (lack of moisture, which can affect any skin type). Dry skin needs moisturisers and ingredients that strengthen the skin barrier — ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter.

Oily Skin

Oily skin produces excess sebum. The T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and often the whole face looks shiny, pores appear enlarged, and the skin is more prone to blackheads and breakouts.

But there's a silver lining: oily skin tends to age more slowly, because natural sebum cushions and protects the skin from UV damage and dehydration. The goal isn't to strip away all oil — aggressive cleansing only triggers more sebum production — but to find balance.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is the most common type: the T-zone is oily while the cheeks are dry or normal. This happens because the density of sebaceous glands is uneven across the face — there are far more of them around the nose and forehead.

Building a routine is slightly more complex, as different areas need different treatment. You may find yourself using multiple products simultaneously — for example, a lightweight moisturiser all over the face, and a mattifying product only on the T-zone.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is reactive: it flushes easily, can burn or itch, and responds unusually strongly to certain ingredients or external factors (wind, cold, sun). It's worth noting that sensitivity isn't a standalone skin type — it's a condition, and any skin type can be sensitive.

Sensitivity can be caused by a weakened skin barrier, allergies, rosacea, or simply skin that's been over-treated. For sensitive skin, the priorities are: shorter ingredient lists, fragrance-free products, and introducing active ingredients slowly and gradually.

How to Determine Your Skin Type

The most reliable method is the clean skin test:

1. Wash your face with a gentle, foaming cleanser, pat your skin dry gently, and apply nothing afterwards.
2. Wait one hour.
3. Observe how your skin feels and looks:

What do you notice?

• Tightness, dryness, possible flakiness → Dry skin
• Evenly shiny, oily to the touch all over → Oily skin
• T-zone oily, cheeks dry or normal → Combination skin
• Neither tight nor oily — comfortable → Normal skin
• Redness, burning or itching → Sensitive skin

A complementary method is the blotting paper test: gently press a thin piece of paper against different areas of your face. Any oil marks on the paper reveal where your sebaceous glands are most active.

Can My Skin Type Change?

Yes — and this matters more than people realise. Skin type is not set in stone: it can shift with the seasons (drier in winter, oilier in summer), hormonal cycles, pregnancy, age, diet changes, and the overall quality of your skincare routine.

It's worth simplifying your routine once a year and running the test again. You might find your skin has changed — and what worked for you a few years ago may no longer be the right fit.

Summary

Knowing your skin type isn't the destination — it's the starting point. The more accurately you understand your skin's nature, the easier it is to build a routine that genuinely works, and the fewer products you'll waste in the process. In upcoming posts, we'll go through the recommended ingredients and routine structures for each skin type in detail.