Skin Types and Care: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive

The first step of knowing how to properly care for your skin type is to identify what type of skin you have. Sure, there are plenty of different types of skin – I know mine changes depending on the weather, time of the month and what products I’m using at the time – but in general, there are five main skin types: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination and Sensitive.

If you’re unsure on your skin type, or think it may be a mix, then I’d recommend having a facial (or even just asking advice at a skincare beauty counter in a department store) to ask for expert advice. However, if you do already know, then feel free to check out my top tips for how to care for your type of skin below.

Normal

If you have normal skin, then congratulations, you have the skin type that is easiest to care for! That’s not to say you don’t need to look after it – keeping it healthy is important and prevention is always better than sure – so make sure you treasure your complexion and don’t take it for granted.

Simply put, the best products to care for Normal skin are often the simplest. You don’t need any specialist treatments, anything too harsh or too gentle. Ensure you have the basics rights and you should be in for an easy ride. Make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise daily and the rest should look after itself.

Dry

Dry skin ladies will find that although they don’t suffer as much with spots and oil as other skin types, they are more prone to patches of dry, flaking skin and sometimes a dull complexion.

Caring for dry skin is not just about the products you use, however, there are other dermatological tips for making the most of your skin, such as not using hot water to wash, and using an oinment cream rather than a lotion.

Oily

Your skin naturally produces oil – therefore although it is not possible to prevent this oily skin, it is possible to reduce the effects of the oil produced that can sometimes bother people who have an oily skin type.

For oily skin, regular exfoliation is an essential step in your weekly skincare routine. Most skin types should only exfoliate once a week as to not damage the skin, but oily skin types often benefit from using an exfoliator up to thee times a week to minimise the appearance of black heads and minimise pores that can often become enlarged due to the over production of oil in the skin cycle.

To help makeup last longer (as it can often feel like it ‘sliding’ off the face of an oily skin type’) try a mattifying primer before applying foundation, and after, blot on a translucent face powder across the T-Zone.

Combination

Combination skin can sometimes be the most frustrating skin to care for – and I feel you, as I am a Combination skin type myself! The most common form of combination skin is having an oily T-Zone (which often looks shiny as the day goes on), whilst also experiencing dry patches on the other parks of the skin (especially the cheeks).

When treating combination skin, you may benefit from using different types of products on the different areas of your face. For instance, specifically using a mattifying day cream on your T-Zone, and using a moisturiser for normal skin on your cheeks.

Cleansing is especially important for combination skin. Get into a habbit of doing it morning and night, almost as a ‘reset’ button for your skin. Use gentle cleansers that don’t include soap or sulphates which risk stripping your complexion of it’s natural oils. The key is to get these natural oils under control, not try and stop them.

Sensitive

If you have sensitive skin, you’re probably used to sudden breakouts, redness or allergic reactions. When I was younger, my skin was more sensitive than it is now, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve increased tolerance to more products, which has made caring for my skin easier.

If you have sensitive skin, make sure to avoid any skincare products that contain alcohol and fragrances. Alcohol is a super harsh ingredient that will strip your skin, and fragrances can often cause irritation and redness in those with delicate skin.

Instead, go for natural skin care brands above harsh, acne-tackling or anti-aging chemical focused ones.

No matter your skin type, try and make sure you’re finding the best products to care for it’s specific concerns. So tell me, what are your skin concerns?