What’s Your Skin Type, Why It Matters, and How to Take Care of Your Skin
Skin isn’t just “dry” or “oily.” Understanding your skin type and condition can be surprisingly nuanced. Here’s a breakdown to help you get to know your skin—and how to care for it.
There are primary skin types: dry, oily, combination (also sometimes called "normal" skin type). And then there are common conditions: sensitive, acneic and mature (aging skin). Determining your skin type has more nuance than most think. Sometimes its straightforward, other times its more complicated. Below you will find a broad explanation of most common skin types and conditions.
Primary Skin Types:
Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when your skin is lacking oil, water, or sometimes both. When the skin is short on oil, it may feel tight, sensitive, or even begin peeling—severe dryness can lead to cracking and bleeding. On the other hand, skin that’s lacking water (dehydrated skin) often looks thin and papery, showing a crepe-like texture when gently pinched between your fingertips.
Interestingly, dehydration can also cause the skin to overcompensate by producing more oil. That means you can have oily skin that’s actually dehydrated beneath the surface. Supporting your skin starts with hydration from the inside out—drinking enough water is one of the simplest, most effective, and affordable ways to improve the look and feel of parched skin.
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Combination Skin
Combination skin is exactly what it sounds like—a mix of different skin types on one face. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) appears oily with larger pores and occasional shine, while the cheeks and outer areas may feel normal or even dry.
This skin type can sometimes be tricky to manage because it requires balance—products that reduce excess oil in certain areas while still supporting hydration where your skin needs it most. Lifestyle, stress, and seasonal changes can also make combination skin fluctuate, leaning oilier in the summer and drier in the winter.
A common misconception: combination skin isn’t two separate skin types—it’s one skin type with different needs across your face. The key is using a routine that balances both, rather than treating each area completely differently.
Want a routine that helps bring balance to both dry and oily areas? Shop Our Combination Skin Products
Oily Skin
Oily skin is often recognized by enlarged pores across much of the face and a frequent shiny appearance. Makeup, such as mascara or eyeshadow, may crease or wear off quickly due to excess oil.
This skin type can also be influenced by underlying factors, including hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), hormonal shifts like puberty, thyroid imbalances, PCOS, or even certain medications. While oily skin can feel challenging to manage, the right skincare routine can help balance shine and support a healthier complexion.
A common misconception: oily skin does not mean your skin has enough moisture. In fact, skipping hydration can make oil production worse, as your skin tries to compensate. Lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers and balancing products are key to keeping oily skin healthy.
Looking for solutions tailored to oily skin? Browse our Oily Skin Products
Common Skin Type Conditions:
Sensitive:
Skin sensitivity often presents as redness on lighter skin tones or as purplish to grayish hues on darker skin. If your skin stings after cleansing or when applying products, you likely have sensitive skin. In some cases, sensitivity is temporary, allowing the skin’s natural barrier to heal and recover. However, some individuals have a genetic predisposition to sensitive skin or allergies to common ingredients. It is important to distinguish this from conditions such as rosacea and eczema, which require diagnosis and treatment by a dermatologist and cannot be managed by estheticians or skincare products alone.
Mature:
Individuals over the age of 40 typically exhibit signs of mature skin. This includes visible fine lines around the eyes, mouth, and often the forehead, which are present even when the face is at rest (lines that appear only during facial expressions such as smiling or scrunching do not apply). Mature skin tends to lose elasticity, leading to a feeling of droopiness or sagging. Enlarged pores are common, as the skin loses the ability to contract them effectively. Hyperpigmentation spots are also frequently observed.
It is important to note that mature skin can occur in individuals under 40 due to factors such as smoking, sun damage, use of tanning beds, and alcohol or drug consumption. While skincare products can help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, more pronounced wrinkles, sagging, and drooping cannot be fully addressed by skincare alone.
Acne-Prone:
Acne is separated into many categories and its complicated to treat. Acne is a chronic condition where breakouts are continual and last longer than four weeks and on 25% or more of the face.
There are levels of severity: Mild, Moderate and Severe.
Along with various types of breakouts, such as blackheads and pustules.
Mild acne: mostly whiteheads, blackheads and a few pustules.
Moderate: more widespread, whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules.
Severe: painful nodules, cysts, papules, pustules, blackheads and whiteheads.
Acne that is moderate or severe needs to be treated by a dermatologist. Mild acne can usually be treated by skincare and treatments.
Pimples: (also called pustules) small pus-filled bumps
Papules: small discolored bumps, purple or red and discoloration that is darker than your normal tone.
Blackheads: clogged pore that is open with a black, or brown top. This is cause by oxidation of the sebum (oil) trapped in the pore.
Whiteheads: clogged pore that is open except lighter and not yet oxidized.
Nodules: large painful lumps under the skin.
Cysts: large painful pus-filled lumps under the skin.
Now that you have your skin type, build your routine.
Your cleanser needs to be strong enough to clean dirt, makeup, and oil off your face, but gentle enough not to dry out your skin. If your face feels tight after cleansing, switch to a more gentle or creamy cleanser.
Usually done with a toner or a hydrosol, spritz or pat into skin.
This is where serums live. You can layer serums if you like. Go thinnest to thickest. Apply your serums while skin is still damp for the best effects.
Using a lotion or a cream. You can wait for your serum to soak in or you can apply your moisturizer right on damp skin.
Protect
Even in the daytime SPF. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 15 SPF or more everyday. Including in the winter and on cloudy day! Even if you have darker skin you can still get skin cancer especially on areas where you skin is lighter like your fingertips and feet. If you live somewhere it snows (hello Michigan) the sun can reflect of snow and cause more UV damage. UV rays from the sun can not only cause skin cancer, but also can cause premature aging. It doesn’t matter what anti-aging products or practices you do, if you skip the SPF your skin will prematurely age. Sunglasses and big hats are always a good idea.
After these steps, apply eye cream, lip balm, makeup etc. If you like. At night, the protective step can be skipped; you can also apply a skin oil over top for extra moisture.
Is this too overwhelming? Too many steps? Start out with the important ones: Cleanse, Moisturize, and Protect. A cleanser, a moisturizer, and a solid SPF. Add more steps when you're ready.