Your routine can only do so much if you’re using products that don’t suit your skin type in the first place.
That’s where knowing your skin type comes in. It gives you a much better idea of what your skin tends to need, what it probably doesn’t need, and why that product everyone on TikTok is obsessed with might feel amazing on your friend and absolutely chaotic on you.
The good news is, figuring out your skin type doesn’t need to become a full science experiment.
First things first: what does “skin type” even mean?
Your skin type is basically the way your skin naturally behaves most of the time.
Some people produce more oil. Some naturally run drier. Some get a bit of both depending on the area of the face. Genetics play a big part, but your skin can also shift with things like age, hormones, medication, weather and lifestyle.
And this is where things can get confusing.
Having one breakout doesn’t automatically mean you have acne-prone skin. Feeling dry after a freezing week in January doesn’t necessarily mean your skin type is dry either.
You’re looking for your skin’s usual behaviour, not what it’s doing during one particularly dramatic week.
The easiest way to work out your skin type
Try this when your skin is having a fairly normal day.
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry and leave it completely alone for around 30 minutes. No serum. No moisturiser. No mist. Nothing.
Then have a look in the mirror and pay attention to how your skin feels.
If your whole face has developed a noticeable shine, you may lean oily.
If your forehead, nose and chin are shiny but your cheeks feel fairly normal or dry, you’re probably closer to combination.
If your face feels tight, rough or a little uncomfortable, dry skin is more likely.
And if your skin becomes red, itchy, stingy or irritated very easily, sensitivity may be part of the picture.
Now for the slightly more useful bit: what to do with that information.
Combination skin
If your forehead is giving glazed doughnut but your cheeks are asking for moisturiser, you’re probably in the combination skin club. As one of the most common skin types, combination skin is the one that refuses to pick a side.
Your nose might be shiny by lunchtime while your cheeks are quietly asking for moisturiser.
Start with a gentle cleanser that doesn’t leave either area feeling stripped. From there, you can adjust what you use depending on where it’s going.
That could mean using a lighter moisturiser through the T-zone and something richer on drier areas.
You also don’t have to follow the exact same routine every single day. If your cheeks feel drier than normal, give them more hydration. If your T-zone is feeling particularly oily, keep things lighter there.
One of our best products for combination skin is SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule. It’s lightweight, calming and hydrating without feeling heavy, making it a great match when your T-zone gets oily but the rest of your face still needs moisture.
Oily skin
If your forehead is glowing before your highlighter has even entered the chat, welcome.
Oily skin produces more sebum, which can make the face look shiny and pores appear more noticeable. The oil often shows up most around the forehead, nose and chin, although some people experience it across most of the face.
One of the biggest skincare myths is that oily skin should be dried out as much as possible.
Please don't.
Going too hard with stripping cleansers and skipping moisturiser will leave your skin uncomfortable - and will encourage you to pile on even more harsh products.
Instead, think of lightweight remedies.
A gentle gel or foaming cleanser can work well, followed by hydrating serums and a lightweight moisturiser that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. Look for products labelled non-comedogenic if clogged pores are something you regularly deal with. Our SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream is great for Oily skin. This light, gel-like moisturiser gives oily skin the hydration it needs without your face feeling greasy or overloaded.
Oily skin still needs hydration. It just probably doesn’t want to feel like it’s wearing a winter coat.
Dry skin
Dry skin has a habit of making itself known.
Your face might feel tight after cleansing, makeup may cling to certain areas, and you could notice flaking or a rougher texture. Skin can also look a little dull when it’s short on moisture.
For dry skin, the goal is less “scrub everything off” and more “please give this face a drink.”
Look for gentle cream, milk, balm or oil cleansers rather than anything that leaves your face feeling squeaky clean.
Ingredients that attract water to the skin, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, can be useful, while richer moisturising ingredients help keep that hydration from disappearing again five minutes later.
Creamier moisturisers are usually a better match here than ultra-light gels. We recommend Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream, a richer, nourishing cream that helps dry skin feel softer and more comfortable while giving dull-looking skin a brighter, fresher glow.
And if your skin feels tight immediately after washing, that’s often a pretty strong hint that your cleanser may be doing too much.
Acne-prone skin
If blackheads, whiteheads and breakouts keep turning up uninvited, your skin is probably acne-prone.
Acne-prone skin often overlaps with oily skin, but the two aren’t exactly the same thing. You can have dry or combination skin and still experience acne.
The aim here is to keep the routine supportive without throwing every trending acne ingredient at your face at once.
A gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturiser and daily SPF make a solid base. One of the best cleaners out there for Acne-prone skin is SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule. Centella is known for its soothing properties, making this minimalist ampoule a great option when your skin is feeling irritated or in need of a little calm.
Depending on your skin, ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or retinoids may also be useful for managing breakouts.
The important part is introducing stronger active ingredients gradually. More products, more exfoliation and more tingling does not automatically mean better skin.
Sometimes your face would simply like everyone to calm down.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin gets blamed for a lot.
If you use a strong exfoliating acid for the first time and your face protests, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have sensitive skin. Some ingredients are powerful and can irritate pretty much anyone if they’re introduced too quickly or used too often.
Truly sensitive skin tends to react more easily in everyday situations.
You might notice regular redness, itching, burning or discomfort after skincare, hot showers, exercise or changes in temperature.
If that sounds familiar, simpler is usually better.
Look for gentle, fragrance-free formulas and avoid introducing five new products at the same time. Richer, barrier-supporting moisturisers can also be helpful, particularly if your skin feels both dry and sensitive.
One of the best toners for sensitive skin is SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner. Its gentle exfoliating toner helps smooth rough texture and keep skin feeling fresh without turning your face into an aggressive breakout battle.
And remember, when something makes your face burn, you do not need to “push through it” for the sake of the glow.
Your skin type isn’t a lifetime subscription
One last thing to know: your skin can change.
The routine that worked perfectly when you were 19 might make no sense at 29. Seasons change. Hormones change. Your environment changes. Your skin changes too.
So if your usual products suddenly aren’t hitting the same, it might be worth checking in with your skin again instead of immediately buying six new serums.
Skincare gets much easier when you stop trying to force your skin into someone else’s routine.
Figure out what yours likes, keep an eye on how it behaves, and build from there.
Your skin will tell you what it needs. You just have to listen before turning to TikTok.
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