How to determine your skin type

Delicate, velvety skin with a perfect matte tone, a gift from nature only for a few. And incorrectly selected products can lead to rapid aging, irritation and inflammation. Moisture content, balance of lipids and acids, sufficient facial blood circulation are the factors that shape the epidermis. Having learned to determine your skin type, it is easy to take care of your face, maintaining youth and freshness. To do this, it’s worth spending a few minutes and taking the test online.

Take an online test to find out what skin type you have?

Dry type

Very sensitive and delicate dry skin is most often susceptible to various peelings and irritations. Pale pink color, sometimes with yellowish tint, through a thin layer of epidermis, facial vessels are visible. Lack of lipids affects immune properties; even small temperature changes cause redness on the face. It is not uncommon for a feeling of tightness to remain after washing or removing makeup. Proper skin care will help prevent the appearance of wrinkles, premature aging, and sagging - the main problems of the dry type.

Find out more about caring for dry type can be found HERE.

Normal type

Moisturized, with a perfect even tone, elastic - normal facial skin. Thanks to the balanced functioning of the sebaceous glands, there is no peeling or irritation. How can you not see inflammation and clogged ducts in the form of black dots? It is worth determining your facial skin type in order to maintain a harmonious state in the future, prevent the appearance of wrinkles and dehydration.

Find out more about caring for normal type can be found HERE.

Combined type

The easiest way to correctly identify this type of epidermis is visually. Oily shine in the nose, chin, forehead and contrasting dry cheeks and temples. Environmental factors often lead to the appearance of comedones and acne in problem areas. Combination skin needs comprehensive care, separately for each area of ​​the face.

Important advice from the editors

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Find out more about caring for combined type can be found HERE.

Fat type

A test to determine your skin type should be taken after the hormonal changes of adolescence. After this period, increased oiliness, inflammation and acne can be attributed to oily skin. Insufficient blood flow activity and excessive secretion of the sebaceous glands lead to a porous, lumpy structure with uneven pigmentation. A huge plus is its slow aging, thanks to the increased lipid content. Using a test, you can determine this type at home and, following the care advice, normalize the condition.

Find out more about caring for bold type can be found HERE.

The path to ideal skin has long been determined by the best cosmetologists and dermatologists. The first step - how to determine your skin type - has already been taken. By implementing all the recommendations, it is easy to become the happy owner of ideal, radiant skin.

Which products are suitable for your skin type

Video: How to determine your skin type at home

"Author of the article: Veronika Belova": Graduated with honors from the LOKON Academy of Beauty Industry. Mother of a beautiful child. I like to experiment, I constantly try different products, masks (including cooking with my own hands), techniques that can make us beautiful and healthy. I'm on VKontakte - write, I'm always glad.

To keep your skin flawless, you need to take care of it 24/7. And remember: all efforts will be in vain if the cosmetics do not match your skin type. Let us help you identify it.

1. Characteristics of skin types
2. Skin type test
3. How cosmetologists determine skin type
4. How cosmetics affect the skin
5. Care for different skin types

Characteristics of skin types

Skin type is determined genetically, but its features can change throughout life under the influence of various circumstances:

hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, menopause;

with a sharp change in climate;

under the influence of lifestyle and eating habits, including harmful ones;

as a result of stress that most of us don't even notice anymore.

Monitor the condition of your skin and focus on its condition when choosing care products.

How to determine the current skin condition? Cleanse your face, sit in front of a mirror and look at your reflection.

Normal skin

There are no visible flaws on it:

color - uniform, relief - smooth;

The texture of the skin is matte, with a slight glow.

Dry skin

Even the naked eye can see that it is thin and delicate, its pores are practically invisible. Until a certain age, beautiful porcelain skin without a single pimple is an obvious advantage.

But don't delude yourself. Dry skin is often sensitive because it lacks lipids that prevent the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the epidermis.

Skin can be dry, oily, normal, combination © iStock

Under the influence of climatic factors or incorrectly selected cosmetics, it easily becomes dehydrated and begins to flake, causing a feeling of tightness.

In addition, dry skin fades faster; doctors even have a characteristic for this type of aging - finely wrinkled.

Oily skin

Oily skin looks thick, and even without a magnifying mirror it is easy to notice enlarged pores and blackheads. Her eternal companions:

sallow complexion;

rashes that often become inflamed.

Oily skin, paradoxically, can also be dehydrated and even sensitive, especially with aggressive care, that is, abuse of alcohol toners, scrubs, products with acids and retinol.

All these imperfections pay off with one big advantage: oily skin ages much more slowly and is not prone to the formation of premature wrinkles.

Combination skin

This is the most common type, combining the signs of oily skin in the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin) and dry or normal skin in the U-zone (cheekbones and cheeks). Care for such skin should also be combined; the main thing is to choose the right products for each area of ​​the face.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive, that is, poorly protected from aggressive environmental factors, can be any type of skin - dry, oily, normal or combination.

A characteristic sign of sensitive skin is an acute reaction to a change in climate or cosmetics, new food, stress, alcohol: the face turns red, itching and dryness may appear on the chin and cheeks.

Skin type and condition may change throughout life © iStock

Skin type test

Still not sure what skin type you have? Try to honestly assess her condition.

A

The skin is matte, without greasy shine.

There is no feeling of tightness after washing.

Acne and inflammation do not bother me.

After a walk, the skin of the face does not turn red.

B

Often after washing there is a feeling of tightness.

The skin reacts to some foods with redness.

After prolonged exposure to the sun or wind, the skin begins to peel.

IN

Pimples and blackheads are your constant companions.

You have already tried all the methods to combat oily shine, but to no avail.

Enlarged pores are visible to the naked eye.

After cleansing, the skin begins to shine.

G

The skin on the cheeks, temples and around the eyes often peels.

There are black spots on the forehead, nose and chin.

There is an oily sheen in the T-zone.

Once a month, or even more often, acne appears on the chin, nose and forehead.

If you answered yes to most of the questions:

in the block A - you normal skin type.

in the block B - you dry skin type.

in the block IN - you fatty skin type.

in the block G - you combined skin type.

How cosmetologists determine skin type

An experienced cosmetologist can determine your skin type visually, but will still ask a few questions. Additional digital diagnostics, for example, videodermatoscopy, consists of examining the skin under high magnification in order to carefully examine the texture of the skin, the condition of the pores, pigment spots, and micro-peeling invisible to the eye. Using various attachments, you can even measure the degree of greasiness and dehydration.

A cosmetologist can determine skin type visually and using dermatoscopy © iStock

How cosmetics affect the skin

Doctors are unanimous: with regular use, well-chosen cosmetics can correct problems characteristic of any skin type. For example, reduce sebum production and mattify oily skin, and in the case of dry skin, form a protective hydrolipidic film and eliminate discomfort.

When selecting cosmetics, it is important to focus on two parameters:

product texture: light non-comedogenic products are suitable for oily skin, rich ones that provide comfort for dry skin;

active components: they are responsible for the stated result.

Care for different skin types

Properly selected cosmetics can reduce discomfort and temporarily improve the appearance of the skin or completely eliminate the problem.

Normal

No enlarged pores, no comedones, no acne - it’s not surprising that girls with normal skin often take care lightly. And completely in vain. To preserve nature's gift, do not neglect the basic rules of care. Choose products labeled “for normal skin.”

Cosmetics for normal skin

Dry

Those with dry skin should use products with acids and retinol with caution, as they can cause irritation and discomfort. Moisturizing and nourishing are what dry skin needs.

Use a cream with SPF filters 365 days a year, as UVA rays have harmful effects regardless of weather conditions. Clouds and glass are no barrier for them.

On the packaging of the cream, look for the “hypoallergenic” mark.

At night, it is better to use a cream with pronounced lipid-restoring properties.

Use gentle exfoliants to deeply cleanse the skin.

Cosmetics for dry skin

Fat

When choosing an effective product for oily skin, remember that it needs products labeled “non-comedogenic.” You should be extremely careful when using products containing oils.

Cosmetics for oily skin

Moisturizing gel against oily shine and skin imperfections Purefect Skin Hydrating Gel, Biotherm

Combined

When choosing a product for combination skin, keep in mind that the T-zone tends to be oily with enlarged pores, while the cheeks and eye area tend to be dry.

You need products labeled “for combination skin.”

It is worth using combined moisturizing: a rich moisturizer is suitable for dry areas, a light gel or fluid is suitable for oily areas.

Cosmetics for combination skin

Oils, calcium and jasmine extract help maintain lipid balance and stimulate skin regeneration.

Beautiful skin is not always a gift from nature. Most often, this is the result of competent care. To provide such care, it is necessary to determine your facial skin type. Only after this will it be possible to select creams, masks and tonics. Using high-quality products that are not suitable for your skin type can only worsen its condition.

Facial skin types and their characteristics

Let's figure out what types of facial skin there are and their characteristics. It is customary to distinguish three main types and two intermediate ones.

Normal

The least common type is normal facial skin. Its owners are real lucky ones, since they have to make the least amount of effort to look attractive.

The epidermis has an even texture and a healthy color. The skin is matte, pores are hardly noticeable on it and there are no rashes or acne.

Dry

The second main type is dry skin. She is thin and delicate. At a young age, she looks very beautiful - matte, smooth, without greasy shine and rashes with almost imperceptible pores.

However, signs of aging on dry skin appear at a fairly young age. Fine wrinkles can appear as early as 25 years of age. In addition, dry skin is prone to flaking. Often there is a feeling of tightness.

Fat

The third main type is oily skin. This type of epidermis often occurs in adolescents, but in some girls, hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands persists into older age.

The epidermis is thicker, with large pores visible on it. Due to the fact that the glands work in an enhanced mode, there is an oily sheen. Pores often become clogged, leading to the formation of blackheads and pimples. Wrinkles on such skin appear later - closer to 45-50 years.

Combined

Combination skin is very common. This is an intermediate option that combines the characteristics of the main types. The epidermis in the central and peripheral parts of the face has different properties.

There are two types of combination skin:

1. Prone to dryness. In this case, the central part of the face is normal or slightly oily, and the cheeks are dry.

1. Prone to fat. The central part of the face is oily, and the peripheral part is normal.

What is my skin type?

There are several simple ways to help determine your own skin type.

The test using a paper napkin is carried out as follows:

1. You should thoroughly cleanse your face of cosmetics and impurities;

1. Now you need to give the skin time to recover, this will take 3-4 hours. To get reliable results, you need to stay home during this time and try to avoid strong physical stress;

1. Prepare 4 cosmetic or regular paper napkins. One is applied to the forehead, the second and third to the cheeks, the fourth to the chin. There is no need to rub it, just apply it and press a little;

1. consider used napkins. If there are no marks on them at all, then the skin is dry or normal. If there are greasy marks on all napkins, it is greasy. If there are traces of fat only on napkins that were applied to the forehead and chin, then the skin is of a combination type.

You can determine the type of epidermis without napkins; to do this, you just need to observe your face for 2-3 days. For observation, it is worth using a mirror that magnifies the reflection so that even small details can be seen.

1. Fat type – noticeable greasy shine, enlarged pores, dull color. Comedones and acne often occur.

1. Dry type – thin, delicate skin. There are no visible pores on it. Peeling may be present. After washing with water, a feeling of tightness appears.

1. Normal type – the skin is velvety, has an even matte tone, there are no rashes.

1. Combined. The skin of the nose, forehead and chin is shiny, the epidermis on the cheeks is dry.

If you cannot determine your skin type on your own, then you should visit a cosmetologist’s office. A specialist will do this quickly and accurately.

Please note that skin type may change with age. Many people suffer from excessive oily skin in their youth, but as they grow older, the sebaceous glands begin to work less intensively, and the skin changes, becoming combination.

Features of facial skin care

Features of facial skin care depend on its type. So, if the epidermis is dry, then the main goal of care is to maintain optimal water-lipid balance.

Tips for caring for dry skin:

1. do not use cosmetics that contain alcohol;

1. Do not use gels, foams or soaps for washing; you need to cleanse the skin with cosmetic milk;

1. scrubs are not used, or used very rarely, choosing a product with a minimum size of exfoliating particles;

1. the use of film masks, as well as aggressive peelings based on fruit acids, is excluded;

1. for care, choose specially developed creams and natural oils;

1. You should consume more foods that contain vitamins E and A; you can use an oil solution of these vitamins as an additive to creams and oils.

If the epidermis is oily, then the goal of care is to make the skin matte and prevent the formation of acne. In addition, do not forget that such an epidermis needs moisture no less than dry skin. Care Tips:

1. use lotions, thins, creams created for this type of epidermis. Such products do not clog pores, do not stimulate the sebaceous glands and dry out a little;

1. You need to pay attention to hygiene, do not touch your face with your hands during the day, and change your pillowcase often. This is necessary to reduce the amount of inflammation on the skin;

1. You need to wash your face with cool water, since exposure to hot water “stimulates” the sebaceous glands even more, and the sebaceous sheen will appear even faster;

1. scrubs for oily skin types should be used once a week

Combination skin requires especially careful care, as it combines a number of problems. A greasy sheen often appears on the central part of the face and inflammation occurs. And at the same time, a feeling of tightness appears on the cheeks.

Necessary:

1. thoroughly cleanse the skin, for the forehead, nose and chin using lotions with antibacterial or drying additives, for the cheeks choose products with an emollient composition;

1. It is strictly not recommended to use alcohol lotions even for oily areas. Such products provoke the sebaceous glands in oily areas to work with even greater intensity. And when used on dry areas, a feeling of tightness may appear.

Cosmetics for facial skin care

Taking into account the type, cosmetic products for facial skin care are selected. Exactly what types of cosmetics you need to buy can be seen in the table.

When purchasing cosmetics, you should pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations. If the jar of cream says “For dry skin,” then you should not use it if you have an oily type of epidermis.

Traditional methods of care

Traditional methods of care are also chosen taking into account the type of epidermis. For the dry type, you need to choose fattier products - butter, cream, sour cream. If a homemade composition is prepared for the owner of oily skin, then it must include drying ingredients. For example, lemon juice.

Dry type

Dry skin needs increased hydration and nutrition. You can prepare masks, creams and tonics at home.

1. Potato mask. Boil two medium potatoes, add a tablespoon of cream and 2 teaspoons of castor oil, stir well. When the mixture has cooled, add the yolk. Mix everything and apply a thick layer on your face for 20 minutes.

1. Cucumber. This version of the mask perfectly moisturizes. You need to mix 4 tbsp. l. finely grated fresh cucumber and 2 tbsp. l. fat sour cream. Apply for half an hour.

1. Oatmeal-banana. Take a tablespoon of oatmeal and pour a small amount of hot milk over it, let the flakes swell and cool. Then combine with a teaspoon of honey and half of a banana, mashed to a puree. Apply for half an hour.

1. Tea tonic. For preparation you need green tea without additives. Pour 150 ml of boiling water over a tablespoon of dry tea, let it brew for 10 minutes, strain. Stir 1 teaspoon of honey into the strained tea and add 100 ml of milk. The resulting composition should be wiped onto the skin at least twice a day. If possible, you should wipe your face with toner every two hours.

1. Cosmetic ice made from rose petals. Collect and chop the petals, take a tablespoon of chopped petals and brew them with a glass of boiling water and leave. When the infusion has cooled, strain it and pour it into molds and freeze. In the morning, instead of washing your face, wipe your face with a frozen ice cube.

Fat type

For oily epidermis, hydration is necessary; in addition, drying additives are used.

1. Refreshing and mattifying toner spray – an excellent product for summer care. It can be used throughout the day. Wrap two aloe leaves in paper and put in the refrigerator for two to three days. Then wash the leaves, cut off the spines and cut into pieces. Cut a medium-sized fresh cucumber into the same pieces. Grind the cucumber and aloe leaves in a blender. Squeeze the juice out of the resulting mass through cheesecloth. Add 2 tablespoons of grapefruit juice and add half a glass of mineral water. Pour the toner into a spray bottle and use throughout the day.

1. Clay masks cleanse the skin well and dry it out. To prepare the composition, you need to dilute the clay with a small amount of warm water. You can add 1-2 drops of essential oil for aroma. The resulting mass is applied to the face and left until completely dry, then washed off.

1. Protein mask with charcoal. It is necessary to beat the egg whites until they form a stable foam. Grind two tablets of activated carbon into powder and mix with carbon. Apply with a brush to cleansed skin. As soon as the first layer dries, the second is immediately applied. After 15 minutes, wash off the composition.

1. A soft honey-cinnamon scrub. To prepare this composition, you need to slightly heat a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir. Apply the composition while warm to the face with circular massage movements. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse off.

Combined type

For skin of this type, you need to select products especially carefully; they should dry out oily areas and stimulate the action of the sebaceous glands in areas prone to dryness.

1. The skin cleansing scrub is easy to prepare. You need to take a tablespoon of finely ground coffee and mix it with the same amount of sour cream. Apply with massaging movements and massage your face for a couple more minutes. Then leave the composition on the skin for a quarter of an hour and rinse off.

1. Curd and berry mask. Any fresh berries are suitable for cooking. In winter, if there are no fresh berries, you can replace them with kiwi or persimmon. The berries are crushed to a puree. Then the puree is mixed with an equal volume of cottage cheese. Apply for 20 minutes.

1. Pumpkin. Peel a small piece of pumpkin and steam or cook in water. Then grind the boiled pumpkin into puree. Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and a tablespoon of starch. Apply the composition for 40 minutes.

1. Anti-inflammatory lotion. Mix a teaspoon of chamomile and calendula flowers, add peppermint leaves. Pour a glass of boiling water over the prepared mixture. Let it brew a little and strain. Stir 1 teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice into the warm mixture. Wipe oily skin areas at least twice a day.

The task of determining the type is not difficult, but you need to be especially careful not to make a mistake. After determining your skin type, you can buy ready-made cosmetics or prepare homemade facial care formulations.