When it comes to determining the skin type, the first question that comes to mind is, why is it important to know the skin type? When you do not know your skin type, it can lead to confusion in selecting the best skincare products that suit your skin. So instead of benefiting, you might be making things worse.
Suppose you have oily skin and you start using greasy skincare products, it will lead to breakouts and clogged pores. And vice versa, if you have dry skin and you do not keep your skin hydrated and moisturised, it can lead to irritated or flaky skin.
No matter how much you spend on skincare products, if you do not go by your skin type, it can worsen your skin condition. If you know your skin type, you would avoid unnecessary problems and get healthy and glowing skin with the proper care.
How to determine your skin type correctly
First, determine your skin type. You have to observe your skin throughout the day, while you wake up, and after cleansing. Check your skin pore size, oily and shiny skin areas, and dry or flaky skin areas. There are two methods to determine your skin type:
1. Bloating paper test
First, cleanse your face using a gentle face wash. Remove all the dirt, impurities, and makeup from the skin and do not apply any moisturiser, sunscreen, makeup, or any other skincare product to the face.
Do not touch and keep your skin as it is for two to three hours. The skin will be natural within this timeframe, so you can check your skin type.
Use bloating paper to do the skin type test. Gently press the blotting paper on different areas of your face, like the chin, cheeks, forehead, and nose.
- If the bloating paper has a lot of oil on it, you have an oily skin type.
- If bloating paper has minor to no oil, then you have a dry skin type,
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if the bloating paper has oil from the T-zone only and not from other areas, you have a combination skin type.
2. Bare-faced test
This test is simple to identify your skin type and does not require any tools as such. All you have to do is cleanse your face using a gentle cleanser or face wash and pat it dry.
Leave the face without applying any moisturizer, serum, toner, or skincare products. Leave the face untouched for two to three hours, and then notice.
- Oily skin type:
If your skin is shiny over your cheeks, T-zone, and forehead, you have an oily skin type. Enlarged pores on the cheeks, nose, and chin are a sign that you have an oily skin type. People with an oily skin type are prone to frequent breakouts, visible blackheads and whiteheads, and pimples.
When you have oily and acne-prone skin, use skincare products that go well with your skin. Use a gentle face wash that cleanses excess oil and dirt effectively without over-drying the skin.
People with oily skin generally face issues with frequent breakouts. In such cases, various over-the-counter skincare products are available in the market that heal active pimples, prevent future breakouts, and reduce redness and inflammation.
When you have an oily skin type, your makeup would easily slide off or disappear fast during the day. Your skin might also look thicker when you have oily skin as compared to dry or normal skin types.
- Dry skin:
When your skin feels dry, flaky, rough or tight, consider it dry skin. Especially around the mouth, cheeks and forehead, you would experience stiffness when you have dry skin. Your skin might look slightly matte and powdery.
This dryness causes the skin to appear dull, uneven, tired, with lack of moisture, and does not look healthy. When you do not apply moisturiser quickly after washing your face, it might irritate the skin.
Dryness on the skin makes wrinkles and fine lines more visible. Your skin might also exfoliate and feel redness and irritation, especially around the nose, mouth, and chin. If you find you have dry skin, use face washes, moisturisers, and other skincare products which is specially formulated for dry skin to avoid skin irritation.
- Combination skin:
Combination skin type is the mix of the two - Oily and dry skin. It looks oily around the T-zone and nose, while the areas of the face, like the chin, are dry to normal.
You can call it combination skin type when you feel stiffness or roughness on the other areas of the but the T-zone and nose, or near that area, look shiny. Around the shiny area of the skin, skin pores are visible larger than in the other dry areas. You could also experience occasional breakouts in the shiny areas.
This skin type needs balanced skincare products. They do not overdry the skin or overmoisturise it and give the best results gently without side effects. Go for the skincare products that are dermatologically tested for the best results.
- Normal skin:
Normal skin looks neither oily nor dry. It looks balanced and healthy. You would feel comfortable after washing your face and even during the whole day. Your skin pores are barely visible, you have fewer breakouts, and the best thing, you do not have visible wrinkles and fine lines.
Normal skin type is easy to handle; all you have to do is keep it moisturised, protect it from sun tanning, and use gentle cleansers.
Concussion:
Whatever your skin type is, it is always best to identify it before choosing your skincare routine to maximise the benefits of the skincare products. Either a simple bare skin test or a blotting paper test can help you accurately identify your skin type. More importantly, your skin type changes with age, seasons, and lifestyle. So it is always good to check skin type periodically. Notice small changes to your skin, treat it with utmost care, and keep your skin vibrant and youthful.
