When you’re watching skincare commercials or trying to figure out what you need while standing in the makeup aisle, you're probably trying to solve this extreme riddle with an elusive answer – what Is my skin type?!

While those professionally touched up images may start to make you feel a little less than, just remember, you are beautiful, you are strong, and you can figure out the issues that might be facing your skin! And it all starts with understanding which skin type you have and what your skin needs. 

There are 5 basic types of skin — you can fluctuate depending on the weather and season, but you genetically fall into one of these categories: normal, oily, combination, sensitive, and dry. Also, you may have mature skin or youthful skin — this may play into the final decisions you make when buying your skin care products.

Let’s dig into the definitions of each of these skin types and how to start balancing them out!

Different Skin Types

Normal Skin

While this may sound like a recipe for perfection — it’s not always! Depending on hormones, stress, or using the wrong skincare product, people with normal skin may develop acne or other blemishes that will need to be addressed. Normal skin simply means that your “baseline” is no issues when not facing stress or hormones.

If you have normal skin, you still need to have a simple skincare routine that supports health. Your routine should include ingredients that are not overly drying as well as not overly moisturizing to the skin.

Dry Skin

People with dry skin may say their face feels tight or flaky, no matter how much water they drink, due to lower production from the sebaceous glands. If you truly have dry skin, you will have smaller pores and may face earlier wrinkles, simply because your skin has a difficult time retaining moisture and losing the top layer of dead skin cells. 

Your skin issues are most likely not the simple result of dry weather but are inherited, and you will need to ensure you provide enough external and topical moisture to help your skin with anti aging products.

Oily Skin

When your skin often feels oily, regardless of how much you wash your face, you know you’re dealing with genetic and/or hormonal factors. If you’re genetically predisposed, the glands in your face create higher amounts of sebum, the substance that should keep your skin feeling hydrated.

When your face is producing more oil, your pores expand and then get blocked with bacteria, creating blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne issues. 

Acne prone skin is difficult to deal with and you have to find the right combination of elements that dry out the unwanted oils while encouraging the proper balance of hydration. 

Combination Skin

If you’re prone to having dry patches and over-producing oil in the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), you probably have combination skin. Combination skin contains both oily and dry or oily and normal areas on your face. 

Because of being prone to acne as well as other skin issues, you may need to have two separate products to deal with both areas. 

Sensitive Skin

If you constantly deal with redness and irritation, outside of regular acne, you most likely have sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin may also have dry, oily, or combination skin, which adds to their issues. Most people with sensitive skin have seen a board certified dermatologist because of medical skin conditions, like eczema, rosacea, or skin allergies. 

If you have sensitive skin, you know how important it is to stay away from harsh chemicals and find the skincare routines that work with your skin instead of causing adverse reactions. 

Finding the Right Skincare Solution

If you’ve narrowed in on an idea of your skin type, let’s go over some of the key ingredients or qualities that you want in a skincare routine. 

For Every Skin Type

• Clean ingredients. To help your body and your face ward off blemishes and imbalances, be sure to use products that don’t contain harsh chemicals or toxins that can do more damage. Visit our friends at MADE SAFE for more information. 

• Natural, plant-based botanicals. So many companies are claiming they are green or eco-conscious, when in reality, they do one thing and use that as their “claim to green fame.” Be sure all of your body care, from soaps and shampoos to skincare and cleaning supplies are made with the best ingredients to support your health. 


For Normal Skin

• Nothing overly moisturizing or drying

For Dry Skin

• Moisturizers with more oil or fat content will help seal in and retain hydration.

• Avoid harsh cleansers and replace them with moisturizing milk and cream cleansers. 

• Limit long hot showers
.
• Use humidifiers throughout your home
.

For Oily Skin

• Trade-in harsh chemicals and exfoliants for softer, more natural exfoliants.

• Use lightweight moisturizers to help balance your skin.


For Combination Skin

• Find what skin elements you have in the above listing, and use what you need for the various areas on your face. 


For Sensitive Skin

• While you may need to see a dermatologist to treat some of your skin issues, you may be able to help heal your skin with all-natural ingredients that you are not sensitive to.

• Be careful when trying new routines to test the products on a small patch of skin before use. 


As you’re looking to answer the question, “What type of skin do I have,” we want to help you! Use our skin quiz to quickly and easily see what elements and products Freegirl recommends for your unique needs!