Understanding Your Skin Type

PSA: Your skin’s got a type, and everything starts with knowing it. Each skin type has its own set of characteristics and needs that affect your complexion. Whether you’re chasing hydration, balance, or calm, comfortable skin, understanding your skin type is the key to choosing the right products and building a routine that actually works.

Not sure what your skin type is? Learn how to identify it, explore the five main types, and discover the best ways to care for your skin.

What Is Skin Type?

Skin type refers to your skin’s natural characteristics, primarily determined by genetics and how much sebum (oil) your skin produces. It represents how your skin typically looks, feels, and behaves. Factors like age, environment, and hormones can also affect your skin.

On the other hand, skin conditions are temporary states influenced by lifestyle and products, such as dehydration, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.

Your skin type influences:

• How your skin responds to weather and products
• Which textures (gel, cream, oil) feel best
• How long hydration lasts
• What may trigger dryness, congestion, or irritation

Now that you know what shapes your skin’s behaviour, it’s time to see where you fit. Let’s break down the common skin types and what makes each one unique.

Five Common Skin Types & Key Characteristics

There are five main skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Each has distinct traits and responds best to a skincare routine designed to maintain its natural balance.

To identify your skin type, it’s important to know its key characteristics:

How to Identify Your Skin Type

Ready to find your skin type? You can start by simple observation or try these two easy at-home tests.

The Wash & Wait Test

Also known as the bare-face test, this is the most reliable method to determine your skin type.

1. Cleanse: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
• Try the Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser or the haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel.
2. Wait: Leave your skin bare for 30–60 minutes.
3. Observe: Examine your skin’s natural state.
• Normal Skin: Feels comfortable, balanced; not oily or tight
• Oily Skin: Appears shiny and feels greasy all over
• Dry Skin: Feels tight, possibly flaky and/or rough patches
• Combination Skin: Shine on the T-zone; cheeks feel normal/tight
• Sensitive Skin: Signs of redness, itchiness, or irritation

The Blotting Paper Test

A quick way to check your skin’s natural oil patterns, this test helps distinguish between oily and dry skin types.

1. Cleanse & Wait: Wash your face with a mild cleanser, pat dry, and wait at least 30 minutes.
2. Blot: Gently press blotting paper onto different areas of your face.
• Check out SUKOSHI Oil Blotting Papers, which come with oil-absorbing sheets and a handy puff.
3. Check Paper: Hold the paper up to the light and observe how much oil it has absorbed.
• Normal Skin: Minimal oil in all areas
• Oily Skin: Lots of oil in all areas
• Dry Skin: Little to no oil spots
• Combination Skin: Oil mainly in the T-zone, sparse on cheeks

Note: This test does not detect sensitive skin.

These two simple methods provide insight into your skin’s natural tendencies, which can help you manage and care for your skin.

How to Care For Your Skin Type

Build a skincare routine tailored to your specific skin type and look for ingredients that support your barrier. Here’s how to care for each skin type effectively:

Normal Skin

Normal skin, or balanced skin, is soft, supple, and generally shows few imperfections. While it doesn’t require special care, gentle cleansing, lightweight hydration, and barrier-supporting products will help maintain its natural moisture and balance.

Recommended products:

• SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
• ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream

Oily Skin

Oily skin, which often overlaps with acne-prone skin, produces excess sebum and may appear shiny or feel congested. Use foaming, gel, or oil-based cleansers to remove excess oil without over-drying. Choose lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas and oil-absorbing treatments, such as clay masks, to help manage excess oil and refresh your complexion.

Recommended products:

• beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
• Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask

Dry Skin

Dry skin is prone to dehydration and sensitivity, often feeling tight, flaky, or uncomfortable. Nourish your skin with hydrating toners, soothing serums, and rich creams. Incorporate humectants, like hyaluronic acid, and nourishing oils to help lock in hydration.

Recommended products:

• I’m From Rice Toner
• AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream

Combination Skin

Combination skin benefits from a targeted approach, as different areas have different needs. Apply lightweight, oil-free products to your T-zone and hydrate drier areas with richer formulas. Multi-step routines, including spot treatments or dual moisturizers, can help address specific skin concerns.

Recommended products:

• Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Deep Cleansing Foam
• Purito SEOUL Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream

Sensitive Skin

Sensitivity refers to how reactive your skin is to environmental factors and skincare products, and it can exist alongside any skin type. Sensitive skin may experience redness, itching, or inflammation, and symptoms can fluctuate with the seasons.

Keep your routine simple by using gentle, fragrance-free products with calming, barrier-supporting ingredients. Avoid harsh exfoliants, alcohol-based toners, and strong active ingredients.

Recommended products:

• S.NATURE Aqua Squalane Moisturizing Cream
• Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum

Essential Skincare Steps

No matter your skin type, your skincare routine should consist of these essential steps:

• Daily Care: Follow a consistent morning and evening routine with a cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturizer.
• Sun Protection: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 in the morning and reapply throughout the day.
• Exfoliation: Gently exfoliate 1-3 times a week to help remove dead skin cells and support skin clarity.

Feeling a shift? Listen to your skin and adjust your routine as needed to maintain a healthy, balanced glow.

Still Not Sure About Your Skin Type?

Is your skin dry, oily, sensitive, or a little bit of everything? If you need extra help, we’ve got you!

Online

Take our free skincare quiz to understand your skin and receive a curated routine in just a few steps.

In Store

For in-person expertise, visit one of our 20+ stores for personalized guidance! Our beauty consultants can help identify your skin type, recommend the right products, and build a routine that works for you. Skincare often takes a bit of trial and error, so getting expert advice can make all the difference.

If you live in Toronto, book a 1:1 digital skin analysis at our CF Toronto Eaton Centre location for a deeper look at your skin. Discover your skin type, plus insights into your skin age, moisture and sebum levels, pores, and overall condition. Coming soon to more locations!

Final Takeaways

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to skincare. Each skin type has its own characteristics and needs, and knowing yours makes everything easier. If you’re unsure, start with simple at-home tests or get personalized guidance.

Skin can shift with the seasons, lifestyle changes, and more, so check in regularly. From selecting the right formulas to tackling specific skin concerns, understanding your skin type is the first step towards achieving hydrated, balanced, and resilient skin.