How to work-out your skin type

Oily, Dry, Combination… Many women are unsure what category their skin type falls into.

Knowing what skin type you have is important. Your skin care routine, and make-up choices should be based on it if you want your skin to look its best.

Although it is quite a complicated science, and there are other factors that you may have to take into consideration, there is a quick way of determining your skin type. Wash you face, and wait 30 minutes. Then take a tissue and gently press it against your whole face. Any oil that has been produced will show-up on the tissue, and be an indication of your skin type.

Normal: The tissue paper won’t reveal any traces of oil at all, but your face should still feel supple, hydrated, clear and healthy. This skin type is generally the least problematic, especially if treated with a regular skincare regime.

Combination: The tissue paper will reveal oil along your T zone (forehead, nose and chin), but not on your cheeks. This skin type has medium pores, and if kept in good condition can enjoy a smooth and even texture and healthy tone. To look after combination skin, make sure your dry zones (usually around your eyes and cheeks) are regularly moisturised with creams specifically designed for dry skin, while oily areas (usually around the T zone, nose and forehead) can benefit from more frequent thorough cleansing and a lighter moisturizer.

Dry Skin: The tissue will show no oil spots, and your face skin will feel a little flaky and dry after you’ve wiped it. Make sure you enlist a regular skin care regime to suit dry skin with lots of moisturising treatments and masks.  Before any makeup application, make sure you use a quality moisturizer and primer to rehydrate and ‘plump up’ your skin as much as possible.

Oily Skin: The tissue will show oil patches from all over your face – cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Oily skin can look greasy, and big pores and acne can result, but on the flip side people with oily skin tend to look younger longer and their skin isn’t as delicate and prone to wrinkles as other skin types.  Regular cleansing can assist, and make sure to cleanse well before any makeup application.

Sensitive Skin: Is more of a skin condition rather than a skin type. You can’t determine this from the tissue test, but if your skin tends to be thin and delicate with fine pores, and tends to react badly to skin products, you may have sensitive skin. Sensitive skin often becomes red and flushed easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic or sensitive to regular beauty products and can be prone to rashes.  To look after sensitive skin, seek out products marked as non-hypoallergenic. It may take lots of testing to find products that don’t irritate your skin, but it will be worth it in the end.