How Do You Figure Out Your Skin Type?

How Do You Figure Out Your Skin Type?

While out shopping for skincare products, you may have noticed that some mention they are best for a certain skin type. If you are not familiar with your skin type, you’re probably confused and not sure what to buy. We’ll clear up any confusion regarding how to figure out your skin type.

Step-By-Step

Figuring out your skin type goes beyond just guessing. To determine what type you have, you can follow a simple test. First, start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Then pat dry and remove any makeup. Take care not to over-wash your skin.

The next step is to let your skin air dry for about 1-2 hours to allow your skin to return to its natural state. Keep your hands away from your skin and don’t apply any products to your face. After your skin has dried, pat your face with a tissue, particularly paying attention to the “T-zone” which is your nose and forehead. After you have completed these steps, you can figure out your skin type.

Skin Types

You may be surprised to know that there are four common skin types. If you have followed the steps above, read about these choices to figure out your skin type.

1. Normal: This skin type shows no sign of flaking or oily skin. The skin should feel supple, elastic and vibrant.
2. Oily: If there was grease on the tissue after you wiped your t-zone, then you probably have oily skin.
3. Dry: Dry skin will feel taut and dry after it is washed. Those with dry skin tend to have small pores.
4. Combination: This is the most common skin type. Like its name suggests, it is a combination of all three skin types. Typically, the t-zone is oily and the rest of the skin is normal to dry.

Skin Problems

Sadly, most skin types, with the exception of normal skin, can suffer from potential problems if not taken care of or treated correctly.

For example, oily skin is often prone to breakouts. It also can look coarse, thick and greasy. When taking care of oily skin, it’s important to eat healthy and avoid rich creams.

Dry skin may need to be moisturized more often. It is commonly prone to fine pores, wrinkles and a sallow tone. To keep it healthy, apply a high-quality moisturizer.

Because combination skin can be oily and dry at the same time it requires different treatments for different areas of the face. To keep it happy, moisturize dry zones and clean and tone oily zones.

While its easy to get discouraged when having issues with our skin type, it’s important to remember that with awareness comes more control. Instead of getting discouraged at a certain skin type and its potential problems, be empowered to know how to correctly take care of your skin so it looks its best.