What is my skin type? If you don’t know what yours is, you should find out.
Why? There are a number of reasons why you need to do it but the main one is this (and please remember it):
Skincare is not a “one size fits all” deal.
A lot of people think that because this product worked for this person, it’s going to work the same exact way for them. It doesn’t work that way.
A bottle of skin cleanser, no matter what kind it is, will not yield the same exact result to all the people who use it and this is because of skin types.
Skin type is basically defined as the classification of your skin based on its defining characteristics.
Different skins, as simple as the word “skin” sounds, can have a lot of different characteristics.
From those, several types can be formed – approximately 9 or 10 – but there are 5 basic ones that every girl should know.
5 easy ways to determine skin type
We propose here 5 fun and easy ways to know what type of skin you have. we recommend you to try 2-3 of them and check you reach the same conclusion. If not, don’t panic, there must be a simple explanation, though we are pretty sure your results will be the same haha.
Online quizzes are a fun way to determine what your skin type is. Answer a few questions to get a better idea of what your skin type is. It will only take 1 minute, have fun 🙂
Method 2 : Go see a skin doctor (dermatologist).
An accurate way of knowing your skin type is by getting advice from a professional. (ok that is the obvious method haha)
See a skin doctor or a dermatologist and have your skin checked. Aside from asking about the specific type of skin you have, ask for his or her suggestions if you have problematic skin or you can also ask advice about a skin care regimen that’s based on your skin type.
Method 3 : The blotting Paper Test
This test involves blotting key areas of your face to determine your skin type.
What you’ll need:
Blotting paper
Mirror
These blotting papers are awesome as quick fix right before an important date without messing my make up ( Yep I have used them a lot to make sure my face is not greasy and shiny, that would not be super sexy, would it ?)
A simple pass over your face and you can see the oily residue that has been transferred off your skin and onto the sheet (bye bye oil)
Where to find some blotting papers?
Easy, go to your favorite cosmetics shop or simply on amazon here (this is the most cost effective brand, with 200 good quality sheets) This is the brand that I like. (probably the cheapest but most effective as well 🙂 and they are fragrance free (yippee 😉
Instructions :
The night before, wash your face and go to bed. Do not apply any skincare product. (yeah I know it is hard but it is just for the test)
Once you wake up, take the blotting paper and stand in front of a mirror.
Blot key areas of your face: T-zone, forehead, under eye, cheeks, jaw area.
Check the oils absorbed by the blotting paper:
Oily skin – The blotting paper has excessive amounts of oil in most areas of your skin.
Combination skin – Some of the areas on your face have excessive oil but other areas feel tight and don’t have oil on them at all.
Normal skin – The blotting paper has, more or less, average amounts of oil in all areas.
Dry/Sensitive – The blotting paper has little, close to nothing, oil on it.
Method 4 : Visual Examination
Just by looking at your skin, you can pretty much tell what skin type you have.
As soon as you wake up, just wash your face and go about your day.
To do this accurately, you need to make sure that you do not wash your face again or apply any product or makeup. No wiping or blotting as well. (yeah don’t cheat lol)
As soon as midday hits, go see what your skin looks like in front of a mirror:
If your entire face is looking shinier compared to this morning, you have oily skin.
If only your T-zone looks shiny but the rest of your face is pretty much the same, you have combination skin type.
If your skin looks the same as it did this morning, you have normal skin.
If you see dry patches, a little peeling and redness, you have dry/sensitive skin.
Method 5 : Touch Test
Ok don’t get me wrong.. I am still talking about skin type, you have not entered the twilight zone haha
You can apply the same preparation steps as you did with #3 then as soon as it’s midday, go ahead and feel key areas of your face.
If your T-zone and other parts of your face feel moist, then you have oily skin.
If your T-zone, nose and chin feel moist but you felt roughness and dryness on other areas, you have combination skin.
If your entire face feels supple and moisturized, you have normal skin.
If you feel rough patches or if your skin stings a little after minimal exposure outside, then you have dry/sensitive skin.
Ok let’s make a quick overview of the different types of skin we can have 🙂
The 5 Basic Skin Types
Skin Type 1 : Normal
This skin type feels clean and smooth.
It’s also naturally radiant because it’s not too oily or too dry.
Normal skin doesn’t experience breakouts that often.
A person with normal skin type may not observe changes in their skin throughout the day.
Skin Type 2 : Oily
Oily skin tends to shine, especially during midday.
It is prone to whiteheads, blackheads, clogged pores and acne. These tend to appear all over the face and not just in specific areas.
This skin type will feel greasy, moist and coarse. It also means this skin is prone to break outs and acne.
Skin Type 3 : Combination
This skin type is a mix of oily and dry.
Some areas on the face (especially the nose and the forehead) will appear shiny while the other areas are clean.
Localized dry patches can also be observed.
If you’re skin changes along with the weather, you also fall under this category.
Skin Type 4 : Dry
Dry skin feels tight, rough, flaky and dry.
The person that has dry skin is prone to wrinkles, aging and irritation.
This skin type is similar to the sensitive skin type only that redness doesn’t appear after putting on skin products. The skin, however, may still feel dry after a couple of hours a product has been applied.
Skin Type 5 : Sensitive
Sensitive skin tends to get irritated easily.This skin can easily flush, have rashes or red patches.
It might feel rough and dry especially during the night time or afternoon time.
The feeling of itchiness or tingling can also develop after using certain products.
Nothing is permanent
Remember that skin changes with age, diet and hormonal changes. This means that your skin type may change. Nothing is set in stone.
But now that you know what type of skin you have now, you can proceed to choosing the skincare products that are right for you. Better choice means better effect.
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