Finding your skin type

Struggling to work out whether you have dry, oily, combo, acne-prone or sensitive skin? Keep reading to find out what skin type you have

In order for you to be able to create an accurate skincare routine, you first need to know your skin type. Your skin is your body's biggest organ, so you need to make sure you look after it properly. Applying the wrong products may actually cause issues. For example, using moisturisers which are too thick can result in reduced natural oil production, resulting in drier skin. There are 6 different skin types; dry, oily, normal, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone.

Dry Skin:

Dry skin usually feels tight, is often flaky, and can be easily irritated. If you have dry skin, you are less likely to experience breakouts, due to the lack of natural oil production (the main cause of breakouts) by your skin. Dehydration is a leading cause of dry skin, thus, to properly care for your skin, you need to keep your skin hydrated. Without enough moisture and hydration, the skin's carrier is weakened, resulting in dry and flaky areas. Those with dry skin, should use products with hydrating formulas, such as hyaluronic acid, and are free from fragrance and chemicals.

Oily Skin:

Oily skin occurs when your skin produces an excess of sebum or oil, which can lead to breakouts and clogged pores. Overactive sebaceous glands are a leading cause of oily skin, as they release more oil than the average sebaceous gland. Stress, sweat and hormones can also lead to an increase in oil production, specifically in areas where the oil glands are located. This is why teenagers tend to get acne, because their increased hormones lead to increased oil production. You can usually tell if you have oily skin, if your face is shiny within a couple of hours of washing your face. Those with oily skin should look for non-comedogenic products (those which won't clog your pores).

Normal Skin:

Normal skin is the least common skin type, and is generally characterised by a well moisturised t-zone. Those with normal skin have less frequent breakouts, and their skin can usually tolerate any type of product. It is essential for those with normal skin to maintain and balance hydration levels, so a daily moisturiser is needed.

Combination Skin:

Combination skin is made up of multiple skin types, and is the most common skin type. Those with combination skin will usually be more oily in the areas where you have more oil glands, and drier in areas where you are lacking oil glands. If you have combination skin, you should avoid over-cleansing, and may benefit from using a cleansing brush. It is essential for those with combination skin to balance their skin, without over-drying or creating excess oil.

Sensitive Skin:

Sensitive skin is characterised by experiencing a burning sensation when using certain products. Unfortunately, determining which ingredients cause inflammation and irritation to your skin, is not easy, and takes a lot of time. One way to manage sensitive skin, is to add one new product at a time, in order to work out whether that is the product irritating your skin. Those with sensitive skin should look for products which are non-irritating, fragrance-free, free of parabens, mineral oils, sulphate detergents, phthalates, urea, DEA or TEA, as these ingredients can cause redness and itchiness.

Acne-prone Skin:

Acne-prone skin is characterised by frequent large cystic bumps. Surprisingly, an oily scalp and dandruff is also a characteristic of acne-prone skin. Hormones produce oil, and excess oil leads to acne. For some people, oil-based products can cause acne to worsen. As a result, those with acne-prone skin should avoid oil-based products, and instead choose oil-free cleansers and moisturisers, and use products which contain salicylic acid.