When it comes to skincare, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Just as we, humans, come in different shapes, sizes and colors, our skin comes in various types. While our skin serves the same purpose for all of us, which is to protect us from external factors, it behaves and reacts in different ways. Understanding your skin type is most helpful when you want to find the right products for yourself or treat your skin when it flares up. Here, we dive into the five skin types there are with a detailed description in hopes that it can help you identify what your skin type is and what ingredients in products you should look out for.
Normal Skin
If you have skin that’s not too oily, doesn’t flare up much or at all, is not too sensitive, is not too dry, skin that is pretty clear and consistent throughout the year, you have a normal skin type. Call it boring but consider yourself lucky. A normal skin type is defined as having a regular texture, fairly balanced and even appearance and very rarely have imperfections. It rides no highs and lows to life. Little to minimal care is needed for normal skin types, hence, a basic skincare routine suffices – hydrating serum, moisturiser and sunscreen for the day. It doesn’t get easier than that.
Combination Skin
A combination skin type swings to both sides of the pendulum. Those who experience an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dryness on the cheeks usually have combination skin. Things get oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. Sebum production and sweat glands occur on various parts of the face. If you identify with this condition, balancing out the oil-to-dry ratio is key. Reach for cleansers that remove excess sebum, like ones with salicylic acid to reduce oil buildup and the clogging of pores, and water-based, non-comedogenic (a product that won’t block your pores) moisturisers to hydrate the skin and maintain the skin’s moisture levels. Gentle exfoliation with AHA/BHA two to three times a week is also recommended to reduce oil buildup.
Dry Skin
Times can’t be as rough as when your skin is parched and desert-like. Is your skin flaking, scaly and maybe even a little painful and cracked? This is a clear sign that you have dry skin. Oftentimes, dry skin is caused by external triggers, like cold weather and low air humidity. It can also be caused by your lifestyle habits, like not drinking enough water. The biggest thing to do when you find yourself in this scenario is to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Products with ceramides, peptides, glycerin, jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid are great to lock in moisture so you see no more dry days. Try to avoid exfoliating skin because you don’t want sandpaper, and because your skin might be already cracked, avoid strong chemical ingredients, like retinol.
Oily Skin
When you think oily, do you picture a thick grease board and something grimy? Not so appealing, is it? An oily skin type is defined by a shinier, greasier appearance which may be caused by excess sebum production due to genetics, and usually links to skin breakouts. Pores become clogged and dead skin cells accumulate, which then paves the way to pimples, blackheads and other gunk. To treat oily skin types, exfoliate your skin about three times a week. Salicylic acid will be your new best friend as it reduces sebum production and removes dead skin cells. Follow up with a toner to balance your skin’s pH levels, a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate skin, a niacinamide serum to regulate sebum production and finish off with a water-or-gel-based moisturiser as the lightweight texture won’t make your skin feel suffocated. Clay masks also help absorb excess sebum and minimise pores.
Sensitive Skin
Sometimes our skin is easily triggered by external stimuli and gets emotional. Well, that’s okay. We all have our moments. Sensitive skin types are delicate and fragile and have a weakened skin barrier. So, it gets more affected by external stimuli than say a normal skin type would. Itching, easily irritable and inflamed skin often accompany sensitive skin. Those with eczema (like me!) or rosacea fall under the sensitive skin type category. To remedy this, go for skin-soothing formulas. Aloe vera is a great choice, along with colloidal oatmeal to repair the skin’s barrier, antioxidant green tea or calendula extract to reduce redness and inflammation and my favourite hyaluronic acid.
