Having beautiful skin begins with knowing your skin type and choosing the best skin care regime that caters to your specific needs. There are four basic types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily and combination skin. Skin type is usually determined by genetics but it can be especially tricky to figure out your true skin type because it can change over time and can be affected by climate, hormones and diet.  Treating the wrong skin type can lead to irritated skin, breakouts and premature ageing.

Types of Skin

1 - Normal Skin

‘Normal’ is a term widely used to refer to well-balanced skin. If your skin is generally neither dry, nor oily, it’s considered to be normal. The T-zone (forehead, chin and nose) may be a bit oily, but overall sebum and moisture is balanced and the skin is neither too oily nor too dry.

Normal skin characteristics:

• Smooth texture
• Healthy glow
• Fine pores
• No severe sensitivity
• Radiant complexion

2 - Dry Skin

‘Dry’ is used to describe a skin type that produces less sebum than normal skin. If you have dry skin, you may feel tightness in your skin. There may also be scaly patches or flaking. Skin lacks in lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences. Dry skin ranges from the skin that is a little bit drier than normal, through very dry skin to extremely dry skin.

Dry skin characteristics:

• Dull, especially on the cheeks and around the eyes
• Lack elasticity
• Visible lines and wrinkles
• Small pores
• Tightness or itchiness

3 - Oily Skin

‘Oily’ is used to describe a skin type with heightened sebum production. Oiliness can change depending upon the time of year or the weather. Usually located in the T-zone, cheeks and chin. Those with oily skin tend to notice a great deal of shine on their face, and may deal with terrible acne breakouts.

Oily skin characteristics:

• Easily gets blackheads
• Blemishes or acne can be a constant battle
• Affects younger people
• Enlarged, clearly visible pores 
• Glossy shine
• Thicker, pale skin

4 - Combination Skin

Combination skin types typically experience dry and flaky skin on certain portions of the face, and excessive oil on others. Combination skin is dry in the cheeks while being oily in the t-zone (nose, forehead, and chin). Dealing with both dry and oily skin means finding the perfect skincare regimen that’s strong enough to exfoliate without irritating the skin.

Combination skin characteristics:

• An oily T-zone (forehead, chin and nose) 
• Enlarged pores in this area perhaps with some impurities
• Normal to dry cheeks