Skincare

The Easy Guide to Finding Out Your Skin Type

May 1, 2019

Do you know what your skin type is? Finding out your skin type is the first thing you should do before investing in products to create a regimen. It’s important to know what you should use and avoid based on your skin type so you can have healthy skin.

When finding out your skin type, there are four different categories:

  • Normal
  • Combination
  • Dry
  • Oily

Your skin type can change over time due to certain factors such as aging, genetics, certain medications, and exposure to chemicals. Therefore, you want to familiarize yourself with each one and pay attention to the characteristics of your skin.


How do I find out my skin type?

One way to figure out your skin type is to visit your Dermatologist. However, you can also follow the steps below:

  1. Wash your face and pat it dry.
  2. Don’t put anything else on your skin.
  3. Wait between 1-2 hours.
  4. Observe how your skin feels

Observing your skin to see if you have any of the characteristics below will help you determine what your skin type is. From there, you can learn how to effectively take care of your skin!

Normal Skin

After following the above steps, if your skin feels smooth with little to no imperfections, then it’s safe to say you have normal skin. This means you have the right balance of moisture, even skin tone, and smaller pores.

I mean, that sounds amazing doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want to have normal skin?

As long as your skin isn’t easily sensitive, you have more options when it comes to choosing products. It’s important to focus on investing in products that will be gentle on your skin. You also want to ensure your skin remains protected by using sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 every morning.

Related Post: 6 Skincare Mistakes to Avoid Making in Your Routine

Combination Skin

Combination skin is characterized by an oily T-Zone (forehead + nose) and normal or dry skin on the rest of your face. If you have combination skin, you may have an oily T-Zone but experience dryness on your cheeks.

You may notice that you have larger pores on your nose and forehead, however, they are smaller or barely visible everywhere else. At times your skin may become dry with flaky patches, or you’ll experience oily skin that is more prone to breakouts.

Sometimes looking for products can be tricky for those with combination skin since you have to treat each area of your face differently. You’ll want to look for products that are formulated to be safe and effective for all skin types.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is more prone to becoming irritated by harsh ingredients in skincare products. You want to stay away from the following:

  • Sulfates
  • Parabens
  • Fragrances
  • Mineral Oil

Finding out your skin type is dry means there isn’t enough oil to protect the outer layer of your skin and lock in moisture. Your skin may feel tight and is prone to irritation and flaking. You will notice rough, tight skin, and dry or red patches.

To effectively care for dry skin, you need to use a gentle cleanser and moisturize regularly. A good ingredient to look for in your products is Hyaluronic Acid. This ingredient helps improve your skin’s moisture retention!

Related Post: The Best 6 Face Cleansers for Sensitive Skin

Oily Skin

If you find out your skin type is oily, you may tend to look and feel greasy even after you wash your face. Your skin will look shiny and blemishes are more common. Oily skin has excess sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands underneath the facial skin.

Some people with oily skin may feel they have to exfoliate or cleanse their faces more often to get rid of the excess oils, however, this isn’t the case. Over-exfoliating and washing your face too much can lead to your skin producing more oil. It’s important to focus on using gentle products!


No matter what your skin type is, it’s important to follow these tips:

  • Always wear sunscreen. You want to keep your skin protected at all times.
  • Use products that contain clean ingredients.
  • Eat a good diet and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. You can use some of the best products, however, if you aren’t eating right or drinking water, you will still have issues with your skin.
  • Have a CONSISTENT routine for your skin every morning and night.

Having a routine that is created based on your skin type will help you maintain the health of your skin and treat any concerns you may have. If you’re still not sure about your skin type after reading this post, then it’s best to visit a Dermatologist for more information!

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12 Comments

  • Reply Tiffofalltrades May 1, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Yes I think that’s they to getting that glowing skin . Great post Maddy

    • Reply Madisen May 1, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      Thank you for reading boo!

  • Reply Lizbeth May 1, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    Good job! I’ve been trying to take better care of my skin lately and this is very valuable information. I think I’ve been using the wrong products all along, but now I know what to look for! Thanks Madisen! 🙂

    • Reply Madisen May 1, 2019 at 11:00 pm

      Thank you for reading love! I’m glad this was helpful for you and I hope you find the right products!

  • Reply Aisha May 1, 2019 at 7:31 pm

    i have domination skin. My Tea Zone is the oily part. I use My African Black Soap All-in-One and my turmeric face soap for dark spots. Great post sis.

    • Reply Madisen May 1, 2019 at 11:02 pm

      Oh okay nice! When I was reading about combination skin I also saw that some people use two different facial masks on each part of their face, which is pretty interesting to me. Thank you for reading and commenting sis!

  • Reply JoAnna McMurray May 2, 2019 at 12:56 am

    😍 Great Post Hun! I think I have a combination. My T Zone can become very dry, and the rest of my face is pretty normal besides the occasional breakouts. I used to get really bad acne on my chin in my teens, I may get one or two randomly still. And since I’ve been taking care of my skin my blackheads on my nose are completely gone! I thought they would never go away because they would make my nose feel so dry. & Thanks for the reminder to put on sunscreen! I have some and I keep forgetting to use it 😑 Should that be the last thing I put on my face? I’ve been wondering about the order of using products. 🤔

    • Reply Madisen May 2, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you for reading love! I’m glad you were able to get your skin under control because breakouts can be very annoying. They always pop up at the wrong time lol. I actually planned on doing a blog post on the order you should use your skin care products, so I’ll definitely get that done! But yes, sunscreen should be the last thing you use every morning (after you apply your moisturizer and before you put any makeup on.)

  • Reply Stevie May 2, 2019 at 1:14 am

    This was such a great post! Very informative. I loved reading it. I have combination skin with an extra side of oil lol 😂

    • Reply Madisen May 2, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      Lol not an extra side of oil though! Thank you for reading boo! Your skin is gorgeous so I already know you do a great job taking care of it.

  • Reply Colette May 2, 2019 at 7:57 am

    Oily to normal!

    • Reply Madisen May 2, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Nice! I kind of wish I had normal skin. My skin is so dry and flaky at times.

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