Determining your skin type can be done with a simple test. Just follow these steps!

Step 1: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove all makeup, oil and dirt.

Step 2: Pat face dry with a soft towel and leave skin bare. Don’t apply any moisturizers or serums. Let your skin act naturally.

Step 3: Wait 1 hour. During this time don’t touch your face (resist temptation!). After an hour, look closely and note the quality of your skin.

Main different skin types:
Normal
Dry
Oily
Combi
Sensitive

Normal Skin type
[Relatively free from imperfection, No visible pores]
Usually compatible with every kind of skincare product. Skin is neither dry nor oily and has a general even skin tone.

How to Identify: Your skin is pretty even-keeled, not much – or only occasional – oil, dryness or breakouts which go away quickly. You don’t really experience reactions to products, and your complexion appears balanced.

Cause: Genes!

What to Avoid: Though normal skin is one of the easiest types to care for, it’s also one of the first skin types to show signs of aging. Don’t forget to include some anti-aging and hydrating products in your skincare routine. And don’t wait! Start as soon as your early 20’s for good prevention. Also, make sure and back off from any product that causes a shift in skin to become more oily or dry.

Dry Skin type
[Flaking skin, Dry patches, Tight pulling sensation]
Important to have a regular routine that will moisturise and hydrate. Oil based products are good option.
Honey, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Poly Hydroxy Acids (PHA), Hemp Seed Oil, Rosehip Oil, Squalene, Ceramides, and Linoleic Acid.

**It’s also important to note that there’s a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin is a skin type caused by a lack of oil production in the skin. Dehydrated skin is caused by a lack of water and is a temporary skin condition due to climate, environmental factors or not drinking enough water.

Causes: Skin that is genetically predisposed to produce less oil (or sebum), hormone imbalance, dry climate, heaters during cold weather, hot showers/baths, medications, and age (metabolic changes can cause our skin to get drier and thinner as we get older). So PRONE to have wrinkles

What to Avoid: Alcohol and sulfate-based products, which can strip your skin’s natural oils. Also, try not to use super hot water when showering or bathing since it wicks moisture from skin. If you use a heater or live in a dry climate, consider getting a humidifier for your home or bedroom.

Oily Skin type
[Greasy complexion, Large pores, Black/Whiteheads]
Exfoliation is important for oily skin type. Due to excess sebum production, it is crucial to maintain a proper oil to water ratio. Water based products are recommended, gel based instead of cream ones.
(BHA: Beta Hydroxy Acid)

How to Identify: Your skin is shiny, or you notice a lot of excess oil on your face, neck, shoulders and back. You may feel like you want to wash your face again midday when oil production is at its peak. Your pores appear larger or get clogged easily, leading to black/whiteheads, pimples or cystic acne. The good news is that studies show that the moisture from oily skin might help to prevent wrinkles.

Cause: The skin’s sebaceous glands overproduce oil (sebum) due to genetic makeup. Other causes can include hormones, humid climates, or over drying your skin which forces it to produce more oil.

What to Avoid: Oil-based cleansers, moisturizers and makeup. Your skin can only absorb so much moisture, the rest is left sitting as a residue on the surface of your skin. Also, look for products that aren’t alcohol-based or contain sulfates which can dry out skin. It might seem counter intuitive, but many products formulated to treat oily skin strip it of its natural oils which it needs for moisture and protection. When your skin senses that it is dry, it actually produces more oil as a defense mechanism, which can just make things worse!

Combi Skin type
[Oily T-Zone, Dry cheeks and chin area]
Tend to need more products because different parts of the face is oily/dry.
(Hyaluronic Acid)

How to Identify: Your skin is oily, has larger pores, or breaks out in your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), but is dry or normal on your cheeks and jawline. Combination skin can be tricky to treat since you have to address two different issues. Your goal: balance.

Cause: Genes, or an overproduction of oil in the T-zone. Your products might also be causing some skin imbalance. If you’re attempting to treat the oily areas, you could wind up drying out the dry areas and vice versa.

What to Avoid: Alcohol-based products which are too drying. You also don’t want to use any products formulated for oil control or ultra hydration to treat your entire face. Either use separate products to target the oily T-zone and dry areas, or look for something that can restore skin’s balance.

Sensitive Skin
[Redness, Itchiness, Reacts easily to new products]
Best to keep skincare routine simple and opt for more natural ingredients.
(AHA: Alpha Hydroxy Acid)

How to identify: If your skin is easily irritated or inflamed, or is itchy, dry or gets red easily, congratulations! You’ve won the sensitive skin lottery. Your skin may react when using a new product, flush easily with heat, or you always get those pesky razor bumps when you shave. People with sensitive skin might also sunburn easily or experience conditions such as eczema or rosacea.

Cause: Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can contribute to skin sensitivity, and it can be tough to pin down a single cause. There are, of course, genetics and hormone fluctuations. Weather (heat and cold), dry climates and hard water can have a big effect on skin. And, the products you use (makeup, lotions, soap, laundry detergent, etc.), can include fragrances or harsh chemicals which can aggravate skin sensitivities or allergies.

What to Avoid: Products with lots of synthetic fragrance, heavy dyes or harsh chemicals. Anything that contains ingredients that might inflame potential allergies or irritations. It’s best to stick to basic ingredients which means, yes, some days you might just want to use a little coconut oil as a moisturizer.

A good rule is to always do a 24 hour test patch on skin before applying a new product to your entire face. Become best friends with samples, don’t waste your money or time returning a product you ultimately won’t be able to use.