Determine your individual skin type! We’ll show you how.
Welcome to our guide that will help you determine your unique skin type and learn how to care for it properly. Your skin is a reflection of your beauty and health, so it’s important to know your skin type, its characteristics, and its current condition. No matter your skin type, it’s essential to recognize it and understand how to care for it to enhance its qualities and achieve your skincare goals.
What is your skin type?
One of the simplest ways to identify your skin type is through the paper test.
Prepare a clean, thin tissue paper. Thoroughly wash your face with a cleanser and gently pat it dry with a towel. Wait five minutes to let your skin settle and its natural processes resume. Then, take a thin sheet of paper and gently press it onto different parts of your face—your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks.
Press the paper lightly against your skin to absorb any oil. After a few seconds, remove the paper and observe what happened. If the paper absorbed oil or shows visible oily spots, you likely have oily skin. Pay particular attention to your forehead and nose, where oil production is highest. If there’s no oil or just a tiny amount, this is a sign of dry skin. If you notice a combination of oily and dry areas, you may have combination skin.
- Normal skin: This is considered a balanced skin type. It has medium-sized pores, an even texture, and the right level of moisture. It doesn’t suffer from excess oiliness or dryness. If you have this skin type, congratulations! With this relatively problem-free skin, you can focus on issues like reducing wrinkles, slowing down skin oxidation (aging), or simply brightening the skin through regular exfoliation. Even with normal skin, don’t forget to protect it from the sun.
- Oily skin: Oily skin has increased oil production, often appearing shiny on the skin's surface. Pores may be enlarged, and the skin can be prone to acne and blemishes. The right care should regulate oil production and keep the skin clear. Warning! Skin often becomes oily when it isn’t properly hydrated. Don’t dry it out—use moisturizing products instead. Drying products can trigger more oil production, creating a vicious cycle.
- Dry skin: Dry skin tends to feel tight and rough. It has fine pores and may be prone to flaking. The right care should deeply hydrate and nourish it. Tip: Try a combination of retinol serum and a moisturizer. Retinol helps bind water in the skin after a 14-day skin adjustment process.
- Combination skin: Combination skin is a mix of different skin types in various areas of the face. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) is oily, while the cheeks are dry. Care should focus on balancing the needs of each area. Tip: Try Dermalogica Smart Response Serum, which adapts to the specific needs of different skin areas.
Both dry and oily skin can result from a long-term, poorly adjusted skincare routine. Dry skin often occurs around age 25, when the first wrinkles appear, caused by inappropriate product combinations. Oily skin frequently develops during adolescence or hormonal changes, where drying or alcohol-based products are misused, causing the skin to produce more oil. In both cases, these skin issues can be relatively easy to correct.
Skin characteristics and conditions:
Sensitive skin: Sensitive skin is prone to irritation and reactions to cosmetic products and external factors. It may show redness, itching, or burning. Care should be gentle, using products without irritants.
Warning! For sensitive skin, it’s not always best to rely on purely natural products. Essential oils and flower extracts can often cause irritation. It’s essential to test products before using them, ideally on the inner wrist or behind the ear.
Tip: Treatments with Omorovicza Thermal Water, the Dermalogica UltraCalm line, or products with aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, or chamomile often have a soothing effect.
- Problematic skin: "Problematic skin" refers to skin with various issues like acne, pimples, cysts, blackheads (comedones), redness, irritation, excess oiliness, or dryness. This skin can be sensitive, inflamed, and prone to blemishes and imperfections.
Tip: For problematic skin, it’s crucial to hydrate and avoid squeezing pimples to prevent inflammation. Treat your skin with products containing glycolic acid (for exfoliation, always with SPF), anti-inflammatory salicylic acid to regulate oil, or products with the antioxidant niacinamide to improve skin texture. For problematic skin, it’s also advisable to use products containing retinoids, Vitamin A derivatives that help combat acne and other issues.
