Oily, dry, combination, normal, sensitive — before you reach for any product, you need to know your skin type to know what to do. Because the best serum in the world will not do much if it was designed for someone else’s skin.
One of the most common mistakes people make with skincare is skipping straight to products without understanding their skin first. We have all been there — buying something because it went viral, only for it to break us out or do absolutely nothing. The fix is often simpler than we think: know your skin type, and build from there. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there are five recognised skin types — oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive — each with its own characteristics, triggers, and needs. This article will help you figure out which one is yours, and what to actually do about it.
01 Before buying: How to figure out your Skin type at Home
You do not need a dermatologist to identify your skin type — though one will always give you the most accurate read. The simplest DIY method is the bare-face test, recommended by dermatology practices as a reliable starting point.
The Bare-Face Test
Simple, free, and takes about 30 minutes. Here is how it works:
1. Wash your face with a gentle, unfragranced cleanser and pat dry.
2. Apply nothing — no toner, no moisturiser, no serum. Leave your skin completely bare.
3. Wait 30 minutes, then observe your skin in good lighting.
4. Shiny all over? Likely oily. Tight or flaky? Dry. Shiny only on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) but dry on the cheeks? Combination. Comfortable throughout, neither tight nor greasy? Normal.
5. Any redness, stinging, or itching — even with nothing applied — points to sensitivity as a factor.
You can also use blotting sheets: press them onto different areas of the face after the 30-minute wait. Oil across every zone = oily. Oil only on the T-zone = combination. Little to no oil = dry or normal.
Worth knowing: your skin type is largely set by genetics, but it is not fixed for life. Hormones, age, climate, stress, and the products you use can all shift how your skin behaves over time. What worked at 20 may not work at 30. It is worth re-evaluating every year or so — or whenever your skin starts acting differently than usual.