What Skin Type Do I Have?

Identifying your skin type and what you need to care for it

Knowing your skin type is essential for creating a skincare routine that works for your skin. Despite what you may have heard, your genetics determine your skin type. It has to do with the size of your sebaceous glands and the amount of serum or oil your glands produce. The four main skin types are normal, dry, oily or combination. Regardless of which skin type you may have, all skin types need cleansing, hydration moisture and sunscreen.

| Skin type and skin condition are NOT interchangeable. Dry skin is NOT the same as dehydrated skin.

Again, your skin type is what you were born with. A skin condition is a temporary or long-term concern resulting from a symptom of your skin type or lifestyle habits. Some of the most common skin conditions are hyperpigmentation, acne, and dehydration. Dehydration can be caused by harsh products or a harsh environment. When skin is dehydrated it is lacking water. All skin types can be dehydrated, even dry skin.

Let’s break down the skin types:

Dry skin

With dry skin, the oil glands produce less oil and pores are small and hardly visible.While dry skin and dehydrated skin are different, having dry skin makes it harder for your skin to retain water. Remember, your skin’s protective barrier is made up of oil, sweat and water. So because dry skin is already producing less oil, it’s easier for the skin’s natural moisture barrier to become compromised.

• looks like: dull with some flaking, fine lines and wrinkles

• feels like: tight, dry and itchy with a rough texture

Normal skin

Normal skin is generally the easiest skin type to care for. Pores are neither small nor large and the skin has a good balance of water and oil. This skin type may not have many major concerns to address such as congestion or redness. 

• looks like: bright, bouncy

• feels like: smooth texture and hydrated

Oily Skin

Caring for oily skin requires a bit more patience. Despite what many people think, oily skin still needs moisture (oil) as much as it needs hydration (water). With oily skin, pores are more visible and oil is produced in excess due to larger amounts, making skin more prone to blemishes, shininess, and clogged pores.

• looks like: skin looks shiny in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) with blackheads and whiteheads

• feels like: thickened and greasy

Combination Skin

Combination skin can be tricky to care for since you’re caring for two skin types at the same time. In your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) your pores are larger and the skin produces more oil than the outer areas of your face.

• looks like: oily in the T-zone, with dry or normal cheeks/temple, blackheads and whiteheads

• feels like: greasy in oily areas, itchy and dehydrated in dry/normal areas

The best time to identify your skin type is after you’ve cleansed your face.

• If your skin never feels oily after cleansing, you likely have dry skin.

• If your skin feels hydrated and comfortable, but not oily, you likely have normal skin.

• If your skin feels oily all over shortly after cleansing, you likely have oily skin.

• If your skin feels oily only in your T-zone, you likely have combination skin.

Sensitive skin vs. sensitized skin

This is a weird space when it comes to skin because each skin type can experience sensitivity but here’s a good way to understand it:

Sensitive skin is skin that’s regularly flushed. It can feel tight and itchy with burning sensations, and will appear red and irritated.

Sensitized skin is temporarily sensitive as a result of over working the skin. Harsh products, strong actives, environmental factors like wind and lifestyle habits like extra hot showers can cause sensitization.

How to care for your skin type

When caring for dry skin

• Focus on restoring and nurturing the natural moisture levels and locking in hydration. Use cream or oil cleansers, rich moisturizers, balms and oils. Limit your use of foaming cleansers, harsh products and exfoliators.

Products I recommend for dry skin:

• Skin Script Cucumber Hydrating Toner

• IMAGE Vital C Hydrating Repair Crème

When caring for normal skin

• Focus on maintaining a good balance of water and oil in the skin. Use cream and foaming cleansers to keep your skin in balance. Hydrating serums and moisturizers are your skin’s best friend. And just because your skin type may be balanced, doesn’t mean you should put everything on it.

Products I recommend for normal skin:

• Skin Script Citrus-C Nourishing Cream

• IMAGE Hydrating Hydrogel Sheet Mask

When caring for oily skin

• Focus on absorbing and balancing excess oil in the skin while giving it hydration (water) and moisture (oil). Use gel and/or foaming cleansers to absorb excess oil, without stripping the skin’s protective barrier. Include lightweight and gel moisturizers in your routine and exfoliate a 2-3 times a week to help reduce clogged pores.

Products I recommend for oily skin:

• Face Reality Mandelic Acid Cleanser

• Skin Script Cacteen Balancing Moisturizer

When caring for combination skin

• Focus on absorbing oil in the oily areas and adding moisture to the dry or normal areas. Use gentle foaming cleansers, hydrating serums and water-based moisturizers. Opt for chemical exfoliants which will help remove dead skin without stripping the skin like a physical exfoliant can. Be sure to incorporate masks into your routine each week as well. Use a charcoal or clay mask that will absorb oils in your T-zone, and a nourishing or hydrating mask on the outer areas of your face.

Products I recommend for combination skin:

• Skin Script Light Aloe Moisturizer

• IMAGE Ormedic Balancing Cleanser

Need help understanding your skin type? Schedule a virtual consultation with me.

Be good to your skin and it will be good to you,

Tanali