There are five basic types of skin. Each skin type has particular products designed to benefit it, and knowing your skin type is the first step in making informed decisions in your beauty routine. It is easy to identify your skin type. After you figure out which type you are, analyze the products you have been using and decide whether or not they are truly the best choice for your particular skin.

Normal Skin

Normal skin occurs when the skin has regular sized pores with a healthy amount of oil. Normal skin is often easy to maintain, and there is usually an absence of recurring issues like acne or skin discoloration. Normal skin can still have outbreaks of blackheads and acne, but make sure you are not using a product that will over-dry your naturally perfect skin. You know you have normal skin if you press a white tissue paper to your skin 10 minutes after it has been washed and the tissue shows an even coat of just a little oil.

Dry Skin

People with dry skin tend to have small pores and no oil on their face. Their skin may even flake off if it has not been properly moisturized. Dry skin can experience bumps and irritation from being dry, and also often falls in the sensitive skin category. If you have dry skin, choose an exfoliator that will remove deadened dry skin from the face, but also moisturizes and protects the new layer of skin. A good long-lasting moisturizer is also an obvious choice for the dry skin type. You know your skin is dry when you press a white tissue paper to your skin 10 minutes after it has been washed and the tissue is completely dry with no signs of oil.

Oily Skin

Oily skin secretes more oil than the skin needs, causing excess oil on the face and clogging up the pores. People with oily skin often have large pores, and when dirt gets into the pore it mixes with the oil it can cause acne or large blackheads. Oily skin needs a care regimen focused on decreasing the oil and reducing the size of the pores. Oily skin will cover a white tissue paper with oily residue after being blotted on your clean face.

Combination Skin

It can be hard to know if you have combination skin or oily skin, but combination skin is characterized as being oily only in certain places like the nose and forehead and dry in others like the cheeks and chin. Combination skin requires a cleansing and moisturizing routine that will not inflame oily or dry skin because the skin can be a “combination” of both. You know you have combination skin if when you press a white tissue paper to your skin 10 minutes after it has been washed it shows oily residue in certain places and no residue in others.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin can be one of any of the skin types, but it is in a class by itself because it needs to be treated in a very special manner. Sensitive skin can be affected by a number of factors; temperature, chemicals, and even plucking eye brows or getting your upper lip waxed can severely irritate sensitive skin. If your skin often reacts to temperature changes, new makeup or lotion, fabric or routine maintenance you probably have sensitive skin. Choose products that are mild, and are made with natural ingredients to help your skin look and feel beautiful.

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