Learning how to correctly identify your skin type is a useful skill for anyone who takes pride in caring for their skin. In order to care for your skin and solve any problems you might be having with it, you first need to know what category of skin type you fall into, whether that’s dry, oily, normal or combination.
Once you know your skin type you can choose skincare products, treatments and cosmetics that are made specifically to enhance, care for and suit your skin type, giving you better bang for your buck and happier skin.
We asked Nivea skincare expert Robyn Hutch for her advice on identifying your skin type, and what it means for you.
1. Look at your skin
Examining your skin and identifying what you see can help you classify which skin type you have. Look for different signs such as dry patches, excess oil, fine lines and redness. For example, redness is a sign of sensitive skin, dry patches indicate a dry skin type, fine lines might indicate you should start considering anti-ageing products, while shiny or oily skin is usually indicates people with combination to oily skin.
2. Try the blotting method
The blotting method is a quick and simple technique you can use to find out what type of skin type you have. Pat your T-zone with a tissue or cotton pad and examine it to see if any oils rub off. If you notice oil residue on the tissue or cotton pad, you most likely have oily or combination skin. If you don’t notice any oil residue on the tissue, you will most likely have normal to dry skin.
3. Look at your pores
The pores on your face are another key indicator of what skin type you might have, this can involve the size and how often they tend to get clogged. If your pores are predominantly large and often clogged around the nose area, but are also unnoticeable around your cheeks and forehead, this can be an indication that you have combination skin. If you have oily skin, then you will tend to have large, visible pores. For people with dry skin, your pores will be quite small and your skin will feel tight.
4. Touch your face after giving your face a gentle cleanse
Another way to find out what skin type you are is by touching and getting a feel of your skin. After a gentle cleanse, wait an hour to see if your face feels tight and lacking moisture. If so, you most likely have dry skin. If your skin tends to have a lot of excess oils and residue around the nose, forehead, and chin, then your skin type will be oily. By touching the different parts of the face, you will start to see where your skin fits in on the spectrum.
5. Consult a skin expert if you’re unsure
If you’re still unsure about your skin type my recommendation would be to see a skin expert. Skin experts will be able to analyse your skin and help you determine which skin type you fall under. A skin expert would also be able to provide you with information on the different skin types, specific products you should be using for your skin type and how to maintain healthy skin.
You might also like:
How to choose skincare products that are right for you
Top 10 skincare tips for glowing skin
How to make a natural skincare starter kit
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