When it comes to caring for your skin type, balance is key. That is true whether you have normal, dry, oily, or combination skin.
Wading through all of the best practices for each skin type, though, can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve collected all of that information here into one useful article.
This post will outline the four skin types – normal, dry, oil, and combination. This will include a description of each, including characteristics and causes. We’ll then share with you tips on caring for each skin type so you can strike that perfect balance for yourself.
Normal Skin
Normal skin is skin that maintains a naturally middle-of-the-road oil balance. It’s not too oily, or too dry.
Normal skin also has an even skintone, small pores, and smooth texture.
Despite the name, normal skin is actually the least common skin type.
How to Care for It
Normal skin doesn’t mean you can slack on your skincare routine.
It’s important that you maintain the natural equilibrium of your skin by using mild, non-irritating products. Hydrating moisturizers and once or twice weekly exfoliations can help you to maintain your normal skin condition.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is a bit of a misnomer, since the opposite of dry in this case isn’t wet. Instead, dry skin refers to skin without adequate levels of oil production.
Typical characteristics of dry skin are flaking, scaling, and redness. Dry skin can also lead to a dull appearance.
Dry skin can be your skin’s natural condition, or it may be caused by environmental factors (e.g., dry winter air, air conditioning), hormones, or even aging.
How to Care for It
If you have dry skin, you may be worried about cleansing too often. But cleansing your skin should still be an important part of your skincare routine.
Cleanse with a gentle soap, one free of alcohols. You should cleanse using only tepid water as hot water can further dry out the skin. Toners should also be alcohol free.
Moisturizer should be applied at least twice daily – morning and night – after cleansing.
Oily Skin
Oily skin is skin that produces more oil – or sebum – than is needed to maintain its balance. This leads to a shiny appearance with large pores which may make one more susceptible to certain kinds of acne (e.g., blackheads and whiteheads).
Just as with any of the other skin types, oily skin can be genetic. It may also be hormonal (e.g., menstruation, pregnancy) or environmental (e.g., humidity).
How to Care for It
The skin needs a certain level of sebum to function properly. This means you don’t want to use harsh products that strip the skin of all of its natural oils, but just enough to maintain a balance.
Use a gentle cleanser that’s aimed towards oily skin, followed by a moisturizer. While you may be tempted to avoid moisturizing, doing so can actually make the problem worse.
You can work another angle, too, by using astringent products to reduce the size of pores. These include witch hazel and green tea extract, both of which are often ingredients in toners.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is a skin type that exhibits characteristics of both dry skin and oily skin.
For example, you may experience oiliness in the T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin) and dry skin patches on the cheeks and eyelids. Or vice versa, you may experience dryness in the T-zone with excess oil on the cheeks.
The imbalance may make your skin more sensitive or prone to reactions.
How to Care for It
If you’re feeling hopeless about caring for your combination skin, you’re not alone. It can be difficult to maintain the balance in the different zones of your face, but not impossible.
It’s best to use products formulated for combination skin or those targeted towards oily skin. You can then use a humectant, like glycerin, plus a moisturizer on the dry patches of skin to bring hydration back into balance.
Do you have questions about skin types and how to care for them? Drop them in the comments.