What Skin Type Do I Have? A Real Guide to Finding Out
- Garance
- May 27
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Table of Contents
Quick Insights
Know Your Skin: Identifying your true skin type is the key to smarter skincare.
What Affects It: Hormones and medication can change your skin type, not weather or stress.
Smarter Routine: Tailor your routine based on skin type to optimize results.
Introduction
Your skin type shapes everything, from the cleanser you use to whether a moisturizer helps or hurts. But most people confuse skin type with skin conditions. This guide clears things up, busts myths, and helps you choose products that actually match your skin.
What Is a Skin Type?
Your skin type reflects how much oil and moisture your skin naturally produces.
In short: Skin type = your skin's oil production + how well it holds moisture
In skincare terms: How much moisture do you need from your products?
It’s your skin’s baseline state, and usually falls into one of four categories:
Dry Skin: Feels tight or rough. Lacks oil and often flakes. Looks often dull.
Oily Skin: Looks shiny, especially by mid-day. Prone to clogged pores.
Normal Skin: Balanced, not too oily or dry. Still needs care. And normal skin doesn't mean it's perfect, it can still have pimples.
Combination Skin: Oily in some spots (usually the T-zone), dry or normal in others.
Tip: If you often feel like one moisturizer never quite works for your whole face, like one area still feels tight and thirsty, while another feels greasy or like the product just sits there: that’s a common sign of combination skin.
It can feel like you’re always choosing between “too much” or “not enough” depending on the zone.
"Because that is what a skin type boils down to: How much moisture do you need from your products?"
Are you confident you know your skin type or are you still guessing?
I’m confident
I’m still guessing
I’m not sure what to believe anymore
Skin Type vs. Skin Condition
"Your skin type is more or less fixed, but certain factors can indeed alter it. Very few factors can truly change your skin type – most influences are temporary and only affect skin condition, not type."
Your skin type is mostly fixed. Skin conditions are temporary and influenced by outside factors. Here’s the breakdown:
-> Factors That Can Change Skin Type
Hormonal Shifts: Pregnancy, menopause, and puberty can shift your baseline.
Strong Medications: Products like Roaccutane for acne can turn oily skin drier.
-> Factors That Affect Skin Condition (Not Type)
Climate: Humidity or cold can make skin feel different, temporarily.
Skincare Products: Using harsh or mismatched products can confuse your skin and make it drier or oilier.
Stress & Illness: These don’t change your type, but they can throw your skin off balance, e.g. extra dryness, pimpels, dulness,...
Common Myths
Myth: "My skin was oily last summer, now it’s dry. My skin type changes all the time."
Truth: You’re likely still the same type. Climate changes or over-cleansing made your skin react.
Myth: "I’m oily so I don’t need hydration."
Truth: Oily skin still needs water, just not extra oils. So oily skin often doesn't truly need a serum and a moisturizer. Although if you can find very thin textures, they might still benefit from it.
How to Tailor Your Routine
Once you know your skin type, your routine becomes easier to build and more effective:
For Dry Skin
Use rich creams and oils to support the skin barrier.
Add a few drops of oil after moisturizer to lock in hydration.
For Oily Skin
Pick lightweight, non-comedogenic products (think gel creams or water-based serums).
Avoid thick oils and rich creams that can clog pores.
For Combination Skin (Most difficult skin type!)
Try multi-zoning: apply different products to different areas.
Or, choose formulas that adapt, like a light gel cream with hydration serums where needed.
"Oily skin also needs hydration. They need less oil because their skin already produces it, but they still need water."
"Over-cleansing can backfire. When you strip your skin, it compensates by producing more oil, creating a cycle that makes you think you have oily skin."
FAQ
Q: How can I find my real skin type? A: Cleanse your face with water only, apply nothing, and wait 30 min - 1 hour. If it feels tight, likely dry. If it’s shiny, oily. But avoid testing after using exfoliants or retinol. Give your skin a “reset” week with just hydrating products first. More details below.
Q: Can skin type change over time? A: Yes, but rarely. Hormonal shifts or intense medications are usually the only culprits.
How to Test It
After cleansing your face with water only, leave your skin bare for 30 min - 1 hour:
Tight, flaky, itchy? You’re likely dry.
Shiny all over? Probably oily.
Dry cheeks, oily T-zone? Combination.
Slightly tight feeling? Normal skin that's dehydrated, which is normal because you haven't applied a cream after cleansing, so you haven't added back the lost moisture.
Note: Results vary if you’ve used strong actives the days before. Give your skin a reset with just hydrating products before testing for at least a week.
Advanced Treatments
Targeted treatments can help support your skin type, but they must be tailored:
Dry Skin: May benefit from barrier-repair facials or gentle peels.
Oily Skin: Consider microdermabrasion or BHA treatments.
Combination Skin: Custom facials that address multiple needs in zones.
Always see a professional for treatments like microneedling or chemical peels.
Final Thoughts
Your skin type doesn’t need to change.
Your routine does.
Understanding your skin helps you avoid wasted products, false promises, and frustration.
If in doubt, ask a licensed esthetician or a derm. They see beyond the surface.
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