Many skincare products are recommended for certain skin types. But how do you know what type of skin you have? One easy way to figure out what type of skin type you have is to try this test at home:
Clean your skin thoroughly, rinse well and pat dry with a towel. Allow it to rest for two hours or overnight and then lightly press a tissue onto the T-zone area of your skin (forehead and bridge of nose) then repeat over the rest of your face. If the tissue comes away with an oily residue, you have oily skin; if there is residue only in the T-zone, you have combination skin. And if the tissue comes away unmarked, wash your face again with facial cleanser and water. If your face feels supple and smooth afterwards, it’s normal (which is the rarest form) and if it feels taut, it’s dry.
Normal Skin: soft, smooth, and springy. Normal skin requires the least specialized care.
Dry Skin: feels taut, dry, and has no shine. Dry skin also tends to be more sensitive so use gentle products to avoid irritation. It requires regular moisturizing, mild cleansers and gentle care. Wash with warm but never hot water. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Protect hands with gloves when cleaning.
Oily skin: has a shine and is supple. The pores are open and are less vulnerable to sun and damage via natural elements. It needs thorough cleansing as the oil acts as a magnet for dirt (leading to acne,etc.) but cleansing needs to be gentle enough to avoid stimulating the sebaceous glands into further oil production. Wash face no more than twice a day. Do not scrub harshly or pop pimples. Look for products marked non-comedogenic, signaling they are not likely to clog pores.
Combination Skin: most common type, as pores on the forehead, nose, and chin are usually larger than those on the rest of the face. The T-zone is oily, while the remainder of the face is dry. It is best treated differently according to the needs of the specific area.
Here are a few basic tips for all skin types:
Wear sunscreen (seriously! one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.)
Protect skin by wearing a hat and sunglasses or avoid extended time in the sun.
Wash your skin gently but thoroughly every day and never wear makeup to bed.
