What's My Skin Type? The One Thing You Need to Know Before Spending Money on Skincare
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Fact: There isn't much point spending lots of money on skincare products until you know what your skin type is.
Hang on... what?
You heard us.
Lots of skin care comes back to trial and error, but if you want to make sure you're investing in products that will actually work for you, the first step is understanding your skin type.
We're all born with a skin type.
But what are the different skin types and how do you find out which skin type you have?
You can find out by listening to the first episode of Skincare School the podcast below (or keep scrolling for the quick version).
Different Skin Types.
Everyone’s skin is different, and we all have our own skin type.
Think of it as your skin's personality.
It determines what our skin likes, what it really doesn't like, and why it behaves the way it does (e.g. why your face looks like the bottom of a deep fryer by midday).
Your skin concerns might change over time, but ultimately, your skin type is yours for life.
At Adore Beauty, we focus on the four basic skin types:
Normal skin, dry skin, oily skin and combination skin.
You can learn more about skin types in our YouTube video below!
1. What Is Normal Skin?
You probably have normal skin if:
- Your skin is generally well-behaved and doesn't bother you much.
- You don't really have any major skin concerns.
- You can tolerate most skincare products without any irritation.
Our pick for the best product for normal skin:
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum - 30ml - A does-everything vitamin C serum that protects skin against causes of visible signs of ageing, and reduces the look of hyperpigmentation.
Shop skincare products for normal skin here.
2. What Is Dry Skin?
You probably have dry skin if:
- Your skin usually feels on the tighter or drier side, and can appear dry, dull, flaky and/or textured.
- You feel like you need more moisturiser or thicker creams to keep your skin feeling comfortable.
- Your makeup doesn't always go on smoothly over your skin texture.
Our pick for the best product for dry skin:
Aspect Probiotic Mask 118ml - This best-selling face mask nourishes the skin barrier, moisturises the skin and gives very good glow.
Wear a thick layer overnight, use in place of moisturiser, or even try it under your makeup!
Shop skincare products for dry skin here.
3. What Is Oily Skin?
You probably have oily skin if:
- Your skin becomes oily all over, and you often wake up in the morning with a visible layer of oil on the skin.
- Your pores may appear enlarged, or are prone to blackheads and congestion.
- Your makeup slides around during the day or doesn't last long on the skin.
Our pick for the best product for oily skin:
asap radiance serum with aha/bha 30ml - An exfoliating serum that refines skin texture, controls oil production, minimises the look of pores and treats breakouts.
Shop skincare products for oily skin here.
4. What Is Combination Skin?
You probably have combination skin if:
- Your skin becomes oily specifically through your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), but feels drier on your cheeks and around the perimeter of your face.
- You experience symptoms of both dry and oily skin.
- Your makeup slides off around your T-zone, but stays put or is harder to apply smoothly over the cheeks.
Our pick for the best product for combo skin:
Skinceuticals Retexturing Activator - An acid-free resurfacing serum that matches a 20% daily glycolic treatment, while simultaneously reinforcing the skin's barrier for healthier, more radiant skin.
Shop skincare products for combination skin here.
Do I Have Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin isn't actually a 'skin type', it's more often a skin condition or skin state.
Sensitive skin symptoms like redness, soreness, inflammation and changes in texture can present as a reaction to external or internal stimuli.
Unless you are genetically predisposed to having a sensitive skin condition like rosacea, dermatitis or psoriasis, you may have sensitised your skin by using too many active skincare ingredients.
Other triggers of sensitive skin include:
- The weather and climate where you live.
- Exposure to heat and UV rays.
- Certain foods or fragrances.
- Changes in hormones or medications.
Our pick for the best product for sensitive skin:
mesoestetic melan recovery 50ml - A soothing, calming moisturiser that helps to instantly reduce inflammation in the skin.
Shop skincare products for sensitive skin here.
What Is My Skin Type?
Here's how to find out your skin type:
- Think about how your skin looks/feels the majority of the time.
- Is your skin mostly oily You've probably got oily skin. Got skin that feels dry and tight, or looks a bit dry and flaky most of the time? Then you might have dry skin.
- If your skin is all over the place, strip your skincare routine right back to basics (cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen) for around four weeks to allow your skin time to reset.
- The most fool-proof way to find out your skin type is to see a dermatologist or a dermal clinician - they'll take one look at your face, ask you a few questions and tell you what skin type you have!
If you still need some help finding out your skin type, we've made it easy for you!
Check out below our Skin Type Quiz, to help you determine your skin type in a couple of minutes!
Want to dive deeper on skin types? Here's some more content on skin types you might find helpful!
Head to our Skincare School content hub for more episodes, articles and info on Skincare School the podcast!
