How to Know Your Skin Type: Skin Types Explained

What are the skin types?

There are five umbrella skin types – dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and normal – which each have their own characteristics. Different types of skin show stress and stability in their own way, so, we’re going to help you identify some of these common traits below.

Oily skin

Oily skin types are characterised by an excessive production of sebum – your skin’s natural oil. This overflow of oil can give the appearance of a shiny or greasy complexion, either around the T-zone – forehead, nose, and chin – or all over the face. Oily skin is often prone to skin concerns, like blemishes and enlarged pores.

Dry skin

On the opposite end of the spectrum, dry skin types naturally produce less oil.

Dry skin can feel tight, rough, and scaly – and significant dryness may cause skin to flake or crack. As dead skin cells tend to collect on the skin surface, dry skin can look dull in appearance, too.

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are often conflated, but dehydration is a skin concern – not a skin type. It refers to a lack of water in the skin and can happen to any skin type.

Combination skin

If you have a combination skin type, you’ll experience a mix of oily and dry patches of skin.

The T-zone tends to be the epicentre for sebum in combination skin, while the cheeks often feel dry. Combination skin types will experience several crossover characteristics with dry and oily skin: including large pores, blemishes, tightness, and dullness.

Sensitive skin

Those with sensitive skin can experience a range of skin concerns, including both visible responses and physical sensations. Typical signs of a sensitive skin type are redness and tingling sensations, although dryness is also common.

This skin type is known for its heightened sensitivity to external and internal stressors. These stressors are unique to you but often include extreme weather changes, fragrance-based products, and even some skincare formulas.

Normal skin

A better way to describe normal skin skin types is ‘balanced’. People who sit in this category won’t experience dryness or excessive oil flow but instead sit somewhere in the middle.

What is my skin type?

If you’re still not quite sure how to know your skin type, we suggest using the ‘bare faced’ method to help you pinpoint where your skin sits on the spectrum. This technique involves cleansing your face and waiting 30 minutes so you can observe its natural state.

Here are some pointers:

• Tightness or dryness indicates a dry skin type
• Visible all-over shine points to an oily skin type
• Shine on the T-zone but tightness on the cheeks signifies a combination skin type
• Redness accompanied by a tight, tingling feeling suggests a sensitive skin type
• A comfortable, balanced feeling could mean you have a normal skin type

How to care for your skin type

All skincare routines will share some essential steps (such as cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreen), but certain formulas can be included to assist your specific skin type.

Now that you’ve determined your skin type, then, find out how to elevate your daily routine with targeted products and care.

Oily skin tips

Skincare routines for oily skin should help re-balance oil flow to refresh and purify the complexion. To regulate sebum and mattify the skin, we suggest including a detoxifying cleanser as the starting point of your skincare routine.

The Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser is a prime example – it gently exfoliates pores, removes buildup, and softens the skin surface.

Even oily skin types still need to think about hydration. Skipping moisturiser can confuse the skin into thinking it isn’t producing enough oil, which kicks sebum production into overdrive. Instead, opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser like our best-selling Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream.

Dry skin tips

As anyone with this skin type will tell you, hydration is the bedrock of an effective dry skin routine. With fewer natural oils to keep the skin lubricated, it’s important to offset lost moisture with hydrating ingredients to prevent the skin from drying out further.

We suggest a two-pronged approach with a nourishing cleanser and moisturiser. The Ultra Facial Cleanser helps remove impurities without drying the skin, while Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane imparts moisture-locking ingredients such as squalane and glycerin.

Combination skin tips

Combination skincare routines require a balanced approach that won’t overwhelm the skin. To combat enlarged pores and oiliness in some areas – and dullness and dryness in others – we recommend using formulas that both nourish and protect.

You can gently rebalance skin using the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and the Calendula Herbal Extract Toner. Then, follow with a light-textured moisturiser like Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream for uniform hydration.

Sensitive skin tips

Building a sensitive skin routine can take some trial and error – especially as you discover your individual triggers. Sensitive skin types are also susceptible to skin moisture barrier damage, which can lead to transepidermal water loss, thereby exacerbating sensitivity. This is where comforting formulas can help.

As a general guide, we recommend prioritising gentle, fragrance- and alcohol-free skincare formulas that help mitigate redness, tightness, dryness, and tingling sensations. For particularly stressed skin, we love cleansing with the gentle, hydrating Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser and sealing in moisture with the Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Balm.

Normal skin tips

Thankfully, normal skin types don’t have to be too picky when it comes to skincare formulas. 

The goal of a skincare routine for normal skin is to purify and achieve optimal hydration levels. We recommend opting for naturally derived ingredients such as squalane and avocado oil (found in the Ultra Facial range), which work to support the skin’s natural components.

Many people tend to think of blemish-prone skin as a skin type, when it’s actually a concern that can affect all types of skin. Next, discover the best ingredients to target blemishes.