Most of us don’t know what skin type do we have but knowing our skin type is the first important step to effective skin care. Still confused what skin type do you have, then worry no more coz I’m here to share with you some easy ways to determine your skin type at home..
- Oily Skin
- Dry Skin
- Combination Skin
- Normal Skin
- Sensitive Skin
How to Determine Your Skin Type at Home:
1. Wash your skin thoroughly at night, do not use any skin care product, go to bed without any artificial air conditioning (well that’s just a matter of a day) and when you wake up in the morning, touch your skin all over (in the T zone and the C zone) if your T zone feels oily and C zone which is the cheeks and chin feels dry then your skin is combination. If you touch your skin and you feel your skin to be oily then you have an oily skin and if your skin feels dry all over then it’s a dry skin.
2. Look at your skin in the mirror in the morning, if the center of the skin has wide open pores, does not look fresh or looks a little tired then it’s an oily skin type. And if your skin feels tight, stretch, well rested, smooth then it’s a normal skin type. If your skin feels sensitive, red, irritated, or flaky at few areas then it’s an extremely dry skin or if it’s got more redness in some areas then it’s a dry sensitive skin or probably just sensitive skin.
3. Get some oil blotting paper, they are super cheap and are easily available! Place the blotting paper on your face, if you see some oil on the paper from all over your skin (T zone and C zone) that means you probably have oily skin. If paper is placed on the cheeks and no oil comes out or maybe a little oil comes out and on the T zone some oil is seen on the paper then it’s a combination skin and if you see no oil on the blotting paper and it looks rough then you have dry or extremely dry kin.
4. One more simple test could be, wash your face, leave it for about an hour without applying anything on it then apply a tissue over the face, if it sticks to the skin that means you have an oily skin, if the tissue sticks just to the T zone and not on the C zone then you have combination skin and if it doesn’t stick anywhere then you have a dry skin.
Let’s sum up the various skin types with various conditions:
Normal skin- Skin type with least amount of problems, it’s smooth, elastic and supple. It does not feel dry nor does it feel oily.
Oily skin- The skin type with various amount of problems, it feels oily, shiny, is acne prone, results in large pores, blackheads and acne but one advantage of oily skin type is that it is less prone to wrinkles.
Dry skin- The skin type which I’m blessed with or maybe cursed with! This skin type is more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, irritation, dry, rough patches, flaky skin and allergies and feels stretchy all the time.
Combination skin- Skin type which is prone to symptoms of both the oily skin as well as dry skin. It feels oily on the T zone (nose and the forehead) and dry on the C zone (cheeks and the chin).
Sensitive skin- Skin that feels dry, scaly, itchy, easily becomes irritated, breaks out easily. This is the most problematic type of skin hence it needs special skin care products which does not make it more sensitive and are mild.
Now you know your skin type, also remember that it may keep changing depending on the weather, health, age, temperature, etc. So follow a skin care regime according to your skin, if you have dry skin use products that say nourishing, moisturizing or simply for dry skin, if you have oily skin, use products that say oil free, non comedogenic or which are meant for oily skin and if you have sensitive skin, use mild and gentle products that are free of paraben, fragrance, phthalates, alcohol and sulphates.
Hope now you know how to determine your skin type!! Let me know if you want me do a skin care post on any particular skin type, I would be happy to do that!
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