How To Identify Your Skin Type

The five basic types of skin - normal, dry, oily, combination and skin - have different characteristics. Knowing your skin type is very essential, because the wrong use of beauty products and improper care might lead to a number of problems, such as acne and blackheads. Moreover, by identifying your skin type, you would be able to relieve yourself from the frustration of finding that special product that would suit your skin. The nature of skin largely depends upon the genetic make up, diet, stress level and products. In the following lines, you will learn how to identify your skin type.

 

 

 

Normal skin has optimum amount of oil. The pores of the skin are regular in size. The skin is translucent, soft, with a smooth texture. Normal skin is neither too oily, nor too dry, which makes it easy to maintain. Acne and skin discoloration are seldom seen in a person with a normal skin.

 

To know whether you have normal skin, wash your face thoroughly with plain water. Now, wipe your face with a dry towel. Take a white tissue paper and press it to your skin for about ten minutes. If an even coat of just a little oil is deposited on the tissue, then your skin is normal.

 

Even though normal skin is easy to maintain, outbreaks of blackheads and acne cannot be ruled out, even if you are blessed with a normal skin type. Choose the beauty products that are suited for normal skin type. Avoid using bar soap. Instead, make use of a soap-free face wash.

 

 

The dry skin type is characterized by small pores, with no sebum and moisture. The skin flakes off quite often, because of the insufficiency of natural moisture. It is fine textured and susceptible to changes in the climatic conditions, such as wind, variation in temperature and humidity. The skin is fragile, transparent and patchy.

 

To identify whether your skin is dry, wash your face with plain water and towel-dry it. Now, press a tissue paper on your face, for about ten minutes. If no oil is deposited on the tissue, then your skin is dry. People with dry skin often experience bumps and irritation, when they wash their face even with plain water.

 

The best care for dry skin is moisturization. Prior to applying a moisturizer, it is suggested to exfoliate the skin, using a scrub. This will remove the dry, dead skin from the surface. Thereafter, apply a good, long-lasting moisturizer on your skin. Cleanse and moisturize your dry skin, twice daily.

 

Oily skin secretes more oil than it is actually needed by the skin, making it look excessively greasy. Due to the deposition of excess oil, the pores are clogged up, which leads to acne and large blackheads. Oily skin has a coarse texture, with enlarged pores. The face often 'shines' with oil, especially on the central panel of nose, forehead and chin.

 

It is very easy to identify an oily skin type. All you need to do is wash your face with water, towel-dry it and blot it with a tissue paper, for about ten minutes. In case you find the deposition of oil on the tissue paper, then your skin is oily. Your face would become oily automatically, even after washing it with a face wash.

 

Oily skin needs intense care, because it is easily prone to the problems of acne and blackheads. To reduce the deposition of oil on your face, wash it with an oil-free face wash. Exfoliate your face on a regular basis. There is no need to use moisturizer, because the oily skin produces oil naturally.

 

Combination skin is neither too oily, nor too dry, but a combination of both. Combination skin retains oil in certain areas of the face. Forehead, nose and chin are usually oily, which form the 'T-zone' of a combination skin. Other areas of the skin, including cheeks, chin and area around the eyes are dry.

 

If you want to identify whether you have a combination skin, then wash your face thoroughly with water and then towel-dry it. Now, wipe your face gently with a tissue paper. If you find that oil has been deposited from certain areas of your face, then your skin is a combination of oiliness and dryness.
 

People are often confused to choose their beauty products, when it comes to caring for their combination skin. However, regular cleansing and moisturizing can reduce the oiliness from the 'T-zone' and restore oil to the dry areas of your skin. Clean up the oily areas of your skin and moisturize the dry patches, on a regular basis.

 

Sensitive skin, as the name suggests, is highly susceptible to a number of factors including weather, temperature, chemicals. The skin often becomes irritated. Dry skin is often categorized into the sensitive type, because it is quickly prone to the factors that affect a sensitive skin.

 

Unlike other skin types, where you test by blotting a tissue paper on washed face, in the case of sensitive skin, you would have to consider the factors that might cause irritation on your face. If threading of eyebrows, waxing of upper lips or similar beauty treatments causes instant irritation on your skin, then probably your skin is sensitive.

 

To protect your sensitive skin from sunburns, change in the weather and temperature, use products such as sunscreen lotions and moisturizers. Regular cleaning, exfoliation and moisturization can ensure a healthy, glowing skin. Choose products that are mild on the skin. Do not wear heavy makeup.