How To Determine Your Skin Type

We all want flawless skin, and the first step in that direction is to determine your skin type. Knowing your skin type is essential for creating a skin care routine that works for you—understanding your complexion will help you properly take care of it and allow you to make the best choices about the right products to use.

We categorize our skin care by three different skin types—Normal to Combination, Oily/Overactive, and Dry/Dehydrated—here’s a quick rundown on each:

Normal to Combination: your skin feels balanced, and isn’t overly dry or oily—though you may occasionally experience oiliness in your T-zone or dryness in other areas of your face. Your pores are typically small and your complexion is only prone to infrequent acne breakouts, flakiness, and doesn't often feel greasy or tight.

Shop it: our Balancing Skin Care series.

Oily/Overactive: your skin produces an above average amount of sebum—the skin’s natural oil—that can cause congestion and make your face appear shiny or feel greasy, especially throughout the T-zone. You are more likely to have blackheads, enlarged pores, and frequent acne breakouts. 

Shop it: our Purifying Skin Care series.

Dry/Dehydrated: your skin produces a less than average amount of sebum—the skin’s natural oil—which can cause it to look dull or feel tight. You are more likely to have severe dryness that can make your face become rough or flaky, show more visible aging lines, crack, and be itchy or irritated.

Shop it: our Hydrating Skin Care series.

The descriptions above might be enough for you to determine what type of skin you have, but if you’re still not sure which way your complexion leans try the simple method below—it takes less time and effort than watching an episode of your favorite show.

Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and patting it dry. Wait 30 minutes and then take a glimpse in the mirror—if your skin is shiny only in your T-zone or simply feels hydrated and comfortable you likely have normal to combination skin; if your skin appears shiny in most places you likely have oily/overactive skin; and if your skin feels tight and looks flaky you likely have dry/dehydrated skin. If you have blotting paper on hand, feel free to utilize that as well by pressing a sheet to various spots on your face and then holding them up to the light to see the oil marks—if you only see a small amount of oil from your T-zone you likely have normal to combination skin; if you have a plethora oil from all areas of your face you likely have oily/overactive skin; and if they absorb little to no oil you likely have dry/dehydrated skin.

Now that you know your skin type it's time to build the perfect routine! Shop all of our skin care products here.