How to Determine Your Skin Type

A robust skincare routine will boost skin health, combat the signs of aging, and bring out your natural beauty. To care for your skin properly, you’ll need to know what type you have. If you’re unsure, don’t worry; this brief guide will help determine your skin type and give you the lowdown on caring for your complexion.  

Exploring Skin Types

Skin is governed by various elements such as age, environment, and genetics, and there are four main types: normal, dry, oily, and combination skin. 

Normal Skin

Scientifically classified as eudermic but commonly known as normal, this type of skin boasts balanced levels of moisture and sebum (the oily substance produced by sebaceous glands). Normal skin is well-balanced and not overly dry, oily, or sensitive. If you are lucky enough to have “normal” skin, you benefit from good blood circulation and almost invisible pores. You’ll also enjoy a smooth, soft complexion and won’t suffer from an overload of blemishes or skin irritations.

Dry skin

Scientifically known as Xerosis, dry skin can be caused by a lack of water between the layers of skin or by external factors such as the weather. The condition can affect people of all ages with varying degrees of severity. For some, dry skin is a temporary problem, but for others, it’s permanent. If you have mild dry skin, you might experience a slight tightness, rough patches, and a dull complexion. In more serious cases, side effects include tightness, roughness, and scaly, flaky patches, plus itchy skin. As you age, you’re also more likely to develop noticeable lines and wrinkles.

Oily Skin

Seborrhoea (oily skin) generates more sebum than normal skin. The T-Zone (chin, nose, and forehead) is particularly oily, but it’s not unusual for the whole face to have a visibly shiny sheen. Oily skin has larger pores, which can become clogged by grime from excess oil. This often causes acne and the unwelcome arrival of comedones (whiteheads and blackheads). Teenagers and men tend to suffer from oily skin the most, and this could be down to genetics or hormones. That said, oily skin can impact anyone and is sometimes triggered by stress, using lots of cosmetics, or taking certain types of medication.

Combination Skin

As the name suggests, combination skin has both oily and dry areas. The skin is unbalanced due to the mismatched sweat and sebaceous glands. The cheeks are often dry and have rough patches, whereas the T-Zone (chin, nose, and forehead) are oily and prone to blemishes and blackheads. You may have combination skin due to genetics, but you can also experience it later in life if you encounter hormone level changes, stress, use certain cosmetics, or eat particular foods. 

Sensitive Skin

The skin has a natural barrier, but not everyone’s barrier works wonderfully well, and this can lead to an increased risk of irritation. Sensitivity can be a short-term or long-term problem, and you’re likely to encounter redness and itchiness. Sensitive skin is caused by hormonal changes, pollution, stress, and allergens. Other triggers include alcohol, certain foods, and dry skin conditions, e.g., eczema. 

How do I find out my skin type?

We’ve given you a guide to the different skin types, but if you’re still having trouble pinpointing which one, you can try a simple technique. First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser to get rid of any dirt.

Next carefully pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel and wait for an hour or so. Take a good look at your skin, checking your T-Zone (chin, nose, forehead) and noting how your skin feels. Here’s a quick recap:

Normal: Skin feels relaxed with a balanced colour and isn’t dry or oily

Dry: Skin has red or rough patches and feels tight

Oily: Skin has a shiny sheen and feels greasy

Combination: Skin has an oily T-Zone with dry patches on the cheeks

Your skin type can change over time. As a teenager, you might have oily skin and suffer from acne, but as you age, your skin could dry out. Age also brings a loss of elasticity, and you’ll start to notice wrinkles and visible lines. 

The Best Way to Care for Your Skin

Whatever type you have, be it normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive, there are plenty of things you can do to care for your skin. Follow our top tips:

Guard against the sun

It’s nice to bask in the summer sun, but sun exposure can cause age spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer. Sun protection is the way to go, so use sunscreen, stay in the shade between peak hours, and cover up by wearing light, loose clothing and a hat.

Cut back on the alcohol and cigarettes

Smoking isn’t just bad for your health, it’s bad for your skin. Smoking reduces blood flow, dulling your complexion and prompting the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  

Follow a healthy diet & stay hydrated

Eat an array of veggies, fruits, wholegrains and lean proteins to boost your skin and combat aging. Cut back on processed food and snacks, they won’t do your complexion any favours. You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Take time out to relax and de-stress

Stress is bad for your mind, body and soul, not to mention your skin. Manage your stress levels by getting a good amount of sleep each night, exercising, and scheduling in some me-time and social fun with family and friends.

Follow a daily skincare routine

It also pays to follow a daily skincare routine, using high-quality skincare products to complement your skin type. Here at Jana Skin, we believe everyone deserves a fresh and radiant complexion. Inspired by the pristine beaches of Australia, our products are natural and cruelty-free. The Jana Skin Australian Ocean Seaweed & Algae mask contains natural botanicals and is suitable for all. We’ve also launched a new ocean botanicals range featuring seaweed and microalgae, which will complement your skin type, be it normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive.