Skin Types and How to Tell What Type You Have

If you want to maintain beautiful skin for many years to come, you need to always take proper care. This will not be possible unless you know which skin type you have. Keep in mind that your skincare characteristics can change in some cases, especially if you have to take hormonal pills or suffer from some conditions that affects your hormonal balance.

If you notice that your skin care products don’t seem to be as effective as they used to be, taking a simple skin type determination test in order to make sure that you are using the right kind of products.

Test to Determine Your Skin Type

1. Wash your face with a neutral cleanser. You need to remove any traces of oil, makeup, or any dirt that accumulates on your skin throughout the day (and night). Use neutral cleanser to prevent any “side effects” that will interfere with the natural qualities of your skin, like pore-tightening or moisturizing effect.
2. Wait for an hour. This time should be enough for your skin to regain its natural properties after washing. Do not do any activity during this time that could impact your skin, like exercising or cooking as this will affect your face.
3. Dab your face with a paper tissue. Be very careful and thorough in your “dabbing”. Pay special attention to your “T-zone” because it is the major indicator of your skin type.
4. Review the dabbed paper to determine your skin type.

Depending on the markings left on your tissue, your skin type is:

• Normal.
  In this case there will be nothing showing on the tissue.
  Normal skin is supple, elastic, and smooth. You are truly lucky to have it.
• Oily.
  If your tissue is soaked with grease all over the place, this is your skin type. It is also characterized by enlarged pores and persistent shine caused by sebum overproduction.
  Oily skin is prone to acne and develops blemishes easily. This is why you should take very good care of it and only use skincare products developed specifically for this skin type.
• Dry.
  There will be either no marks on the tissue or some tiny flecks of dead skin.
  Dry skin is characterized by almost unnoticeable pores, dull complexion, rather visible lines, and flakiness. It often feels tout and gets irritated easily.
  Wrinkles and lines are much more pronounced and appear earlier in people with this skin type. This means that it’s imperative that you start your anti-aging care in your 20s.
• Combination.
  Shows signs of excessive sebum production around the “T-zone” but is either dry or normal on your cheeks and forehead.
  This skin type is most common and can be rather problematic to deal with due to the fact that different areas of your face will require different care. There are some skincare products designed specifically for combination skin, but they may not be 100% effective. You may consider using two types of products, especially if the difference is big. Apply products for oily skin to your “T-zone” to tighten the pores and prevent shine and blackheads. Nourish the outer areas of your face with some extra nutrition and hydration to prevent flaking and irritation

Note that there are two “additional” problem categories that you need to consider:

1. Acne-prone skin. This problem mostly affects those who have oily or combination skin-type by default. However, if the acne is caused by some kind of hormonal disorder, it is this condition that may be responsible for the excessive production of sebum.To deal with this skin type, you need to determine the cause of acne and undergo a comprehensive treatment program.
2. Sensitive skin. This issue usually occurs when your skin is too dry. Excessive sensitivity results in itching, redness, and irritation. You need to determine what factors trigger this reaction, like allergy to some cosmetic product or cold. In the majority of cases, the condition is caused by reaction to creams or some other skin care treatments. The products designed for this skin type are neutral and shouldn’t cause any allergies.