Dry vs. Oily Skin - How to Identify Your Skin Type

The foundation of proper skincare is identifying your own skin type. Products for dry skin function very differently from those for oily skin, for example, so a completely wrong product will not normalize and balance the skin's characteristics. On the contrary, it can even increase discomfort and worsen symptoms.

Skin type is a fundamental skin condition based on genetics that remains relatively consistent throughout life. Age and hormonal activity influence it, but the condition changes relatively slowly. Although the season, current skincare habits, environment, and climate affect the skin and can be taken into account, the skin's "factory setting" is always at the core. Good skincare begins with understanding this.

Wash your face with a mild cleanser and then leave your skin without any treatment products for about 1-2 hours. Pay attention to how your skin feels.

• If your skin soon feels tight all over and even flakes, you likely have dry skin. It needs rich, moisturizing products and ingredients that strengthen the skin's protective barrier.
• If your skin clearly starts to shine, you likely have oily skin. With oily skin, pores may also be clearly visible. Your skincare products are best at balancing sebum production and preventing excessive oiliness.
• If, on the other hand, some parts of your face are shiny and others feel dry and tight, you have combination skin. With combination skin, the chin, nose, and forehead are usually oilier, while the cheeks are a comparatively drier skin area. Products for combination skin balance the different areas of the skin, providing an appropriate ratio of moisture and sebum-balancing ingredients.
• If you don't notice clear changes in your skin in one direction or another, you most likely have normal skin. Normal skin type does not show obvious dryness or oiliness; it is inherently relatively balanced.

Many people confuse skin type with the current condition of the skin. For example, an oily skin type can simultaneously be superficially dry. In this case, the skin may be shiny but still feel tight after washing. This can be due to external conditions, such as forgetting to use moisturizer during severe frost.

Therefore, it is important to distinguish:

Skin type (dry, oily, combination, normal skin)

Skin condition (dehydrated, sensitized, congested, etc.)

Sometimes sensitive skin is talked about as its own skin type, but it is not. You can observe sensitivity in your skin regardless of your skin type. Sensitivity can be due to skin condition, lifestyle factors, and other internal influences, as described above. Sensitive skin reacts easily to irritants, such as:

• Shaving
• Sunlight
• Mechanical stress
• Harsh skincare products
• Temperature fluctuations, such as sauna bathing

For every skin type, there are gentle and reactivity-reducing products for sensitive skin if needed.

When you find basic products that suit your skin type and its potential challenges, your skin will begin to both feel and look good.

If choosing products independently online feels like a shot in the dark, you can take our online test, designed to tell you your recommended skincare routine in half a minute based on your observations and wishes. You can access the survey HERE.