Have you ever wondered why a “cult-favourite” moisturizer leaves your skin glowing, while another person finds it leads to breakouts or irritation? The secret lies in the fact that our skin is a complex, living organ with its own unique biological blueprint. To truly master your beauty routine, you must first seek to understand your particular skin type and ask yourself, “What’s my skin type?” Because we are all uniquely made, a “one-size-fits-all” approach to skincare simply doesn’t exist; what serves as a “holy grail” for one person might be completely ineffective—or even disruptive—for another.

The beauty industry generally classifies skin into four primary categories, each defined by its level of sebum (oil) production and moisture retention. The skin can be classified into four (4) main types: normal, dry, oily and combination.               

Normal skin appears balanced regarding moisture distribution, while dry skin may be noticeably flaky or have a tight feel. On the other hand, oily skin produces too much sebum and combination, while seemingly balanced on the outskirts of the face, may appear oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) or dry around the cheeks. 

Further, factors such as water retention, sebum production, sensitivity and the propensity to acne formation will impact the different skin types. Therefore, you must have an idea of where your skin fits and how to take care of it based on your ‘unique’ skin type. Let’s discuss!

How to Determine Your Skin Type?

Determining what’s my skin type is essential for selecting products that suit your unique needs.

Our genetics, age and the environment mainly determine our skin type. However, the skin’s condition will be influenced by both internal and external situations it is exposed to. Remember, our exterior is a reflection of what is happening on the inside.  Therefore, diet and the overall health of our body will also have an impact on the type of skin we display, normal, dry, oily or combination.

However, your skin isn’t static. It is a delicate dance between genetics, water retention, hormonal shifts, and environmental stressors. Factors like the change in seasons or even your diet can cause your skin to shift, adding layers of complexity to your “unique” profile. Understanding exactly where your skin fits right now is the only way to choose the correct ingredients and techniques to protect your health and radiance.

If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of guesswork and wasted products, it’s time for clarity. Let’s dive into the types of skin and the simple steps to accurately identify your skin type so you can finally build the perfect regimen you deserve.

The Four (4) Main Types of Skin in Skincare:

Identifying your skin type is the “North Star” of your beauty routine. Many people struggle with skin issues, not because they are using bad products, but because they are using the wrong products for their specific biological makeup. While our skin can change slightly based on the season or our age, we generally fall into one of four primary categories. Understanding these categories is the secret to moving away from trial and error and finally giving your skin exactly what it needs to thrive. So, here are the main types of skin:

1. Normal or Eudermic Skin

Normal or eudermic skin is the term that is used to describe skin that appears well-balanced, or that is not too oily or too dry.  As such, normal skin tends to be smooth, soft to the touch and supple in texture.  Further, the pores on a person with normal skin are hardly visible, and they are not easily prone to blemishes, breakouts or sensitivity issues.

2. Dry or Xerosis Skin

Dry or Xerosis skin is the term used to describe skin that produces less sebum and lipids than normal skin. However, xerosis cutis is the medical term given to skin that is abnormally dry.  As a result, the skin is unable to maintain the necessary moisture for suppleness or protect itself from external influences such as the sun. 

Dry skin usually feels tight and looks blotchy with a rough texture and is prone to chapping, redness and itchiness. Further, dry skin is prone to the dreaded fine lines and wrinkles. While many factors can be attributed to dry skin, such as the environment, research suggests that dry skin is largely due to genetics and other factors such as lifestyle, diet and hormonal changes (Bolognia, J.L, 2012).

3. Oily Skin

Oily skin is described as one that produces too much sebum or oil, unlike dry skin.  Sometimes this overproduction of sebum gives rise to a condition known as seborrhea. This heightened production of sebum can cause the pores of the skin to become congested and clogged, which can lead to acne breakouts. Further, oily skin appears thicker and paler and is prone to enlarged and visible pores. 

The skin also tends to express a shiny or greasy appearance.  However, one good thing about this look of ‘glossiness’ is that it makes the skin appear younger and more supple and thus less prone to the dreaded wrinkles. Genetics have been cited as a significant contributor to oily skin. However, hormonal changes, stress, and the type of products used will impact this particular skin type.

4. Combination Skin

This is the term used to describe skin that appears oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with normal or dry cheeks. The oily parts of the skin are caused by the heightened production of sebum, while the drier parts are usually a result of a lack of sebum production or a lipid deficiency. Therefore, combination skin is usually more prone to breakouts on the chin, nose and forehead (T-zone) and typically has visible or enlarged pores, especially around the T-zone.

How to test for ‘Your Skin Type’

Two (2) main methods can be used to see where you fall in the skin type conundrum – the barefaced method and the blotting sheet method.

The Barefaced Method:

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser, then pat it dry.
2. Leave the skin bare for around 30 minutes. That is, do not apply any serum, moisturizer, or toner; just leave it as is.
3. After the 30 minutes have passed, examine your face by paying particular attention to your cheeks, chin, nose and forehead for any sign of shine or greasiness. Take note of what you see.
4. Wait another 30 minutes and check if the skin feels parched by smiling, normally or by doing some other facial expression that should induce some movements in the face. If the skin feels tight, then your skin type is likely dry. 
5. If your T-zone looks greasy or shiny in the first 30 minutes, then your skin type is more on the oily side. If the T-zone appears oily, while the cheeks appear dry, then your skin type may be leaning towards the combination side.  However, if the skin does not feel tight or look oily but has that supple feel, then your skin type is more of a normal type.

The Blotting Sheet Method:

This is a much faster method and is often a good indicator for oily and dry skin types.

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
2. Leave the skin bare for around 30 minutes. That is, do not apply any serum, moisturizer, or toner, just nothing!
3. After 30 minutes have passed, use blotting paper (absorbent paper) on the different areas of your face (T-zone and cheeks).
4. If the sheet picks up little to no oil, you are more likely to have a drier skin type. However, if the blotting sheets pick up more oil in the T-zone and less on the cheeks, you are leaning towards a combination skin type.  If oil is picked up in the T-zone and cheeks, then you have an oilier skin type, and if there appears to be little oil in the T-zone and cheeks, then your skin type is more on the normal side.

My Personal Experience and Further Suggestions:

I tried both methods a few years ago and was able to ascertain that my skin type was ‘combination’.  However, to be certain, I visited a Dermatologist in 2015, and the same skin type was confirmed.  So, now I am more certain that my skin type is combination, as such, my product choices and skincare regimen reflect the same.  

Let’s bear in mind, though, that these tests are not ‘bulletproof’.  As such, while your test may indicate a particular skin type, a visit to the dermatologist may indicate otherwise.  However, the tests may help you gain some insight into your skin type and how to take care of it.  Further, if on a particular day, you conduct the test and are not so sure what the result means, why not wait a few more days and try it again? Here are some videos that can further help you on your skincare journey.

• Decoding Skincare Labels
• Skincare Ingredients to Avoid

Illustrative Summary

Here is an illustrative summary of the different SKIN TYPES – Normal, Dry, Oily and Combination!

Let’s Sum Up!

To effectively take care of our skin, we need to have a clear idea of our skin type.  This will help us to target products that will benefit our skin and prevent it from major distress such as acne, spots and other skin conditions.  There are four (4) major skin types: normal, dry, oily and combination.  

Normal skin tends to have a balance between moisture and dryness, while dry skin has less sebum activity.  On the other hand, oily skin produces too much sebum and lipids, and combination skin tends to produce too much sebum in the T-zone and less on the cheeks.  

Therefore, all the different skin types require a specific treatment plan that should be geared at providing the skin with what it lacks while controlling what it produces in abundance to create ‘that’ balance.  Nonetheless, while you may have developed what could be deemed a ‘bullet-proof’ routine that works, remember, life happens! As such, it will be necessary to assess your skin and products periodically to maintain healthy skin.  Importantly, our skin will evolve throughout our lifetime.  

An oily skin type in your early years may become drier or more on the combination side as you age.  Additionally, the skin will lose its volume, density and pigmentation as we age.  As such, it becomes increasingly necessary for us to continually assess and revamp our skincare products and routines as the years go by.  

So, now that the foundation is set, we are on our way to getting ‘our’ beautiful and glowing skin.  So, What’s Your Skin Type?

Now that you know your skin type, here is a simple skincare routine that you can use to start or rejuvenate your skincare journey.

• A simplified skincare routine – That works!

• Video: Let’s Talk Skincare – A Simple Skincare Routine That Works!

Editor’s Note: This article was last updated by a Research Consultant and Certified Nutrition Coach on January 9, 2026