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To work out your skin type, compare how oily or dry different parts of your face usually feel. Shine across most areas suggests oily skin; persistent roughness or flaking suggests dryness; an oily T-zone with drier cheeks suggests combination skin. Sensitivity describes reactions such as stinging and can occur alongside any oiliness pattern. A home check is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
| Pattern | What to look for | First care decision |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | Roughness, flakes or ongoing tightness | Gentle cleansing and a comfortable moisturizer |
| Oily | Recurring shine over much of the face | Comfortable cleansing; avoid stripping |
| Combination | Oilier forehead, nose or chin with drier cheeks | Adjust the amount or texture by area |
| Normal or balanced | Neither persistent oiliness nor dryness | Maintain a simple routine |
| Sensitive | Burning, stinging or recurring reactions | Identify triggers; seek care for persistent symptoms |
These clues reflect AAD skin-type guidance. Weather, products and treatments can change the pattern. Assess your usual skin rather than a single unusually dry or oily day.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered what kind of skin do I have? The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recognizes five main skin types:
Understanding your skin type can help you find the right products to address your skincare concerns and achieve your #glowyskingoals! We’ve taken a deeper dive into each of the five types below.
Feeling flaky? Your skin could be dry or dehydrated.
Dry skin can feel tight throughout the day, and may also feel itchy, rough, or flaky. Often it’s temporary (caused by cold weather or low moisture in the air), but genetics, hormonal changes, and environmental factors like lifestyle and diet can also contribute.
If your skin is naturally dry, you may experience cracks, rough patches, itchiness, redness, and visible flakes or scales. In severe cases, dry skin is associated with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Dehydration is also a leading cause of dry skin — although this is not the same as having a dry skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water, whereas dry skin is caused by a lack of sebum, the natural oils produced by your skin (check out our deep dive on sebum production here!). Dry skin is a skin type, while dehydrated skin is considered a concern or condition.
A cheek-pinch test cannot reliably separate a dry skin type from dehydration or explain a persistent skin problem. Look at the overall pattern of tightness, surface roughness and comfort, and review recent changes in cleansing, weather or treatment. Oily skin can also feel dehydrated.
If you’re still unsure, a dermatologist or aesthetician can help you figure out if your skin is dry or dehydrated.
Tips for dry skin types: When it comes to caring for dry skin, moisturizer is your BFF (check out our complete guide to all things moisturizer here!). Apply it several times a day to seal in moisture and keep water from escaping. You’ll also want to limit water exposure (keep bath or shower time to 10 minutes or less) and avoid harsh soaps and alcohol-based personal care products. Alcohol can have a serious drying effect and it depletes vital substances needed for healthy skin.
Drinking enough fluid supports general health, but extra water is not a substitute for topical moisturization or a treatment for every cause of dry-feeling skin. Fluid needs vary; follow individual medical advice when relevant. For product decisions, compare dry-skin moisturizer criteria rather than relying on a fixed daily water target.
Shop products for dry skin types.
There’s more to this skin type than just a bit of extra shine. Oily skin types exhibit the following:
For oily skin, choose comfortable removal of surface oil without persistent tightness. Oiliness and dehydration can coexist, but a stripping wash does not by itself prove increased oil-gland production. Compare oily-skin cleansers.
Look for lightweight moisturizers (yes, you still need to moisturize daily!) and skincare products labeled “non-comedogenic” (a useful label signal, not a guarantee for every person). Your cleanser should be able to cleanse oil and makeup, but should not leave your skin feeling dry or rough. A toner is optional, and an astringent sensation does not prove that oil production has been corrected. Ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide can be useful to try as well.
Certain foods can offer oil-balancing benefits, too.
Shop products for oily skin types.
Combination skin can be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others. It’s commonly defined by an oily T-zone (the strip across the forehead, down the nose and chin), enlarged pores, and normal-to-dry cheeks. People with this skin type may need slightly different care in different areas.
Tips for combination skin types: The main thing to keep in mind with combination skin is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You’ll have to divide and conquer by using different products to care for different parts of your face. But when you’re armed with the right info and the best products, you can create a beautiful balance! Toners and serums with balancing ingredients like rose and green tea can be a good choice for combo skin.
Shop products for combination skin types.
Common signs of sensitive skin include stinging, burning, itchiness, redness, and tightness, whether the culprit is a skin condition (like eczema or rosacea) or an allergic reaction to certain ingredients. Chemicals, environmental stressors (like weather or pollution), acne, genetics, and immune diseases are all known causes of skin sensitivity.
Tips for sensitive skin: Natural or botanical origin does not guarantee gentleness. Fragrance and plant extracts can trigger reactions in some people. Choose a simple, tolerated formula, introduce changes cautiously, and consult the sensitive-skin guide. AAD guidance for reactive, rosacea-prone skin favors fragrance-free care.
Shop products for sensitive skin types.
If you have normal skin, you’re likely dealing with few imperfections, no severe sensitivity, and barely visible pores (lucky you!). Your skin can tolerate most ingredients, which means you can have fun experimenting with different products and formulas until you find exactly what works best.
Tips for normal skin types: If your skin isn’t giving you any problems to solve, choosing the right products for your skin type comes down to personal preference. Go with what feels, looks, and smells the best to you!
For normal skin, keep cleansing, moisturization and sun protection consistent. Judge a product by its complete formula and your tolerance; a natural-versus-synthetic label alone does not determine whether an ingredient is irritating.
Shop products for normal skin types.
Some skin types are easy to identify, but if you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought what type of skin do I have?, this is for you! Here are two easy methods to determine your skin type at home.
Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry with a clean towel. Leave skin bare (do not apply any creams, serums, or other treatments) and observe how your skin looks and feels after washing.
After 30 minutes, observe your skin again. Do you notice any shine on your cheeks, chin, nose or forehead? If so, you likely have oily skin. If your skin feels tight, parched, or flaky, it’s likely dry. If you notice a mix of oiliness and dryness, you probably have combination skin. Normal skin will look clear and even, while sensitive skin may sting, burn, or itch after washing.
Another way to quickly determine your skin type is to use blotting sheets. Gently press a clean blotting paper on different areas of your face, then hold the sheet up to the light to see how much oil was absorbed. The more oil you see on the paper, the more likely you are to have oily skin. If the sheet picked up little to no oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet reveals minimal oil from your forehead and nose, your skin is likely normal/combination.
Learning how to properly care for your skin is not an exact science, but it’s something we can all learn! Follow our Botanical Blog for more on harnessing the power of plants in your skincare routine — plus our top botanical beauty picks for each skin type!
Choose the wash for your needs using the facial-cleanser guide. Dermatology guidance recommends gentle fingertip washing and avoiding scrubbing.
The niacinamide skin-type guide explains what the ingredient may contribute without treating a skin-type label as a guarantee. Use the product comparison only if there is a clear reason to add another step.
By Herbal Dynamics Beauty • Updated September 25, 2026
Once you have identified your current skin pattern and tolerance, use the skin-type product-selection guide to choose a comfortable wash, moisturizer and optional targeted steps. This turns the skin assessment into a practical formula decision.
