Guide
Find your skin type – a simple at-home test
Knowing your skin type is the starting point for all skincare. But skin type isn't static – it changes with season, age and lifestyle. Here's how to find yours, both with a simple home test and a more precise skin analysis.
Why the wrong skin type leads you astray
Choose products for the wrong skin type and you can make the problem worse. Dry skin treated as oily gets drier; oily skin that's over-moisturised can turn shiny and congested. Many people also have combination skin – oily T-zone and dry cheeks – which needs different approaches in different zones.
Simple home test in three steps
1. Cleanse and wait
Wash your face gently and let the skin rest without products for an hour. Avoid touching your face.
2. Assess how it feels
Tight all over? Likely dry skin. Whole face shiny? Oily. Shiny T-zone but dry cheeks? Combination.
3. Test the reaction
If your skin easily turns red, itches or stings from new products, it leans sensitive – regardless of the other type.
Consider the season
The same skin can be dry in winter and normal in summer. Repeat the test at each season change.
Zone by zone
Don't treat the whole face the same. Most people have different needs on forehead, cheeks and chin.
A more precise answer
The home test gives a hint, but it's based on feeling. A free skin analysis measures hydration, sebum and sensitivity across 12 zones and gives you an objective answer to how your skin actually distributes – often more nuanced than a single label.
Once you know your skin type, the rest gets easier. Our philosophy is to support the skin's own systems with gentle, holistic choices rather than fighting symptoms with harsh products.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have several skin types at once?
Yes. Combination skin is very common, and sensitivity can occur alongside any type. That's why a skin analysis measures zone by zone.
Does skin type change over time?
Yes, with age, hormones, season and lifestyle. Repeat your test or analysis roughly once per season.
Is sensitive skin its own type?
Sensitivity describes how skin reacts rather than its oil/moisture balance, but it's crucial for product choice and is often treated as its own dimension.
Sources
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci 2017;19(1):70.
- Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne. Forsch Komplementmed 2012;19(2):75–79.
Article reviewed by Christopher Genberg, founder of 1753 SKINCARE.
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