Do You Know What Your Skin Type Is? If you don’t, you might be wondering if it’s something you need to know.
Why Is It Useful To Know Your Skin Type?
Knowing your skin type is useful because it can help you to determine how to look after your skin, the best types of products that work with your skin type, as well as the ones to avoid. Skin type is largely genetic, although external factors can influence it, as can medical conditions and bodily changes, like hormones. Here’s how to figure out your skin type.
The Basic Skin Types
There are five basic skin types: dry, sensitive, oily, acne prone and combination.
If you don’t already know which of the five you are, there’s a simple test you can take to find out:
Wash your face with a cleanser and pat your skin dry.
Wait an hour.
Then, using your finger, press lightly into your chin, cheeks, forehead and nose. Watch what happens in each area.
Based on your findings, you can use this information to work out which skin type you have:
Determining Your Skin Type
Acne Prone Skin
There’s probably no need to test for this skin type – if you have it, you’ll likely already know.
Acne prone skin is characterised by breakouts, pimples, blackheads and is prone to irritation.
Acne prone skin should be treated very gently, and remember to avoid harsh scrubbing, rubbing or manual exfoliation.
For STYLE STORY’s top picks for acne prone skin, see here.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is characterised by flakiness, with no oil or oily residue on the skin’s surface. Dry skin will be dry to the touch and often feels tight after cleansing. By midday, flakes may appear.
Dry skin can result in a pale tone, and will accentuate fine lines and wrinkles
This skin type is unfortunately very susceptible to showing visible signs of ageing, and can also be painful if not properly cared for.
The Korean Beauty Routine is perfectly suited for dry skin types, as it involves layering various products to lock in moisture and hydration.
For STYLE STORY’s top picks for dry skin, see here.
Korean Beauty products are perfectly suited for various different skin types, and layering products works well.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is often dry, tight, and can become irritated quickly and easily. It is often characterised by redness, visible signs of sensitivity or itchy areas.
Sensitive skin is one of the most problematic types to care for. It requires gentle TLC, and usually a fair bit of experimentation to work out which products play nicely with it.
We recommend steering clear of products containing simple alcoholsand products that are excessively fragranced. While you may be tempted to opt for products claiming to be all-organic, these often aren’t the best for sensitive skin types, as they contain less preservatives and can be less stable.
For STYLE STORY’s top picks for sensitive skin, see here.
Oily Skin
Oily skin will show visible patches of oil. It can sometimes appear greasy, is commonly shiny and is also characterised by enlarged pores that are susceptible to blackheads and blemishes.
While this may not sound like a dream skin type, in fact when it comes to ageing, oily skin often fairs the best, as oily pores are not as vulnerable to wrinkling. Woohoo!
For STYLE STORY’s top picks for oily skin, see here.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is characterised by a variety of characteristics on different parts of the skin.
Oil is often present along the T-Zone (the forehead, nose and chin) with areas of dryness elsewhere.
This is one of the most common skin types and can require you to apply different products in different areas, to treat the various skin concerns.
For STYLE STORY’s top picks for combination skin, see here.
"Knowing your skin type is useful because it can help you to determine how to look after your skin, the best types of products that work with your skin type, as well as the ones to avoid."
