How to Know Your Skin Type (and Stop Buying the Wrong Products)
Most skincare disappointment comes down to one thing: the product was good, it just was not made for your skin. Before you buy anything else, spend five minutes finding out what you are actually working with.
The bare-face test
Wash your face with a mild cleanser, pat dry, and apply nothing at all. Wait sixty minutes and look in good natural light.
- Shiny all over: oily skin
- Tight, rough or flaking: dry skin
- Shiny forehead and nose, comfortable cheeks: combination skin
- Red, itchy or stinging: sensitive skin (which can also be oily or dry)
What each type needs
Oily skin needs cleansing that controls without stripping — charcoal or probiotic formulas — plus a light moisturiser. Skipping moisturiser makes oily skin oilier.
Dry skin needs creamy cleansers, richer creams, and fewer harsh actives. Aloe vera, goat milk and collagen formulations suit it well.
Combination skin can use different products on different zones. There is no rule that says one cream must cover your whole face.
Sensitive skin should introduce one new product at a time, with a patch test behind the ear for two days first.
Skin type changes — recheck twice a year
Age, season, medication, pregnancy and stress all shift skin behaviour. Repeat the bare-face test at the start of winter and again in summer, and adjust rather than assume.