Every person’s skin is unique, but dermatologists generally classify skin into five main types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Identifying your skin type is the first step toward building the right skincare routine. Using products that don’t match your type can lead to breakouts, irritation, or dryness.
Here’s a complete guide to the different skin types, how to identify them, and which products work best for each.
1. Normal Skin – Balanced and Low-Maintenance
Characteristics:
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Smooth and even skin tone.
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Not too oily, not too dry.
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Few blemishes or sensitivity issues.
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Small, barely visible pores.
Care Tips:
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Stick to a gentle cleanser, like a facial kit for gentle cleansing.
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Use a lightweight moisturizer for hydration.
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Always apply sunscreen for dry skin to prevent premature aging.
Normal skin doesn’t usually need targeted treatments, but adding an antioxidant serum like vitamin C serums can help maintain a youthful glow.
2. Oily Skin – Shine and Enlarged Pores
Characteristics:
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Excess oil production, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).
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Enlarged pores.
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Prone to acne, blackheads, and whiteheads.
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Makeup tends to slide off quickly.
Care Tips:
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Use an oil-control cleanser like neutrogena face wash for oily skin.
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Apply oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers.
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Exfoliate gently 2–3 times per week.
Best Product Recommendation: If you struggle with oily skin, a niacinamide serum for oily skin and large pores helps regulate sebum production, minimize pores, and prevent breakouts.
3. Acne-Prone Oily Skin – Breakouts and Sensitivity
Characteristics:
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Frequent pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads.
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Inflammation and redness.
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Oiliness combined with sensitivity.
Care Tips:
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Avoid harsh scrubs that irritate acne.
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Stick to gentle, soothing treatments.
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Always moisturize (even oily skin needs hydration).
Best Product Recommendation: Adding an anti-acne serum with soothing active like mandelic acid serum can fight acne-causing bacteria, calm irritation, and reduce new breakouts.
4. Dry Skin – Flaky and Rough
Characteristics:
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Tightness and rough patches.
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Dull, uneven texture.
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Flakiness, especially in winter.
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Fine lines are more visible due to lack of hydration.
Care Tips:
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Use a hydrating, cream-based cleanser like rice face wash.
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Apply a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid or ceramides.
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Avoid hot water while washing your face.
Best Product Recommendation: For dullness and roughness, a Vitamin C serum for dry skin helps brighten the complexion, reduce dark spots, and supports hydration.
5. Combination Skin – Both Oily and Dry
Characteristics:
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Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).
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Normal or dry cheeks.
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Prone to both acne in oily areas and flakiness in dry areas.
Care Tips:
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Use a balancing, gentle cleanser.
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Apply gel moisturizers on oily zones, creamier products on dry patches.
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Exfoliate once or twice weekly to balance skin renewal.
For combination skin, multi-tasking ingredients like niacinamide work well since they regulate oil while hydrating dry areas.
6. Sensitive Skin – Easily Irritated
Characteristics:
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Redness, itching, or burning after using new products.
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Skin reacts to weather, pollution, or stress.
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May be linked to eczema, rosacea, or allergies.
Care Tips:
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Use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic products.
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Avoid alcohol-based toners and harsh scrubs.
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Always patch-test new skincare items.
Ingredients like cicaplas, aloe vera, chamomile, and ceramides for sensitive skin can help calm sensitive skin and reduce irritation.
How to Identify Your Skin Type at Home
If you’re unsure which type you have, here’s a simple test:
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Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.
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Leave it bare (no moisturizer or serum) for 1–2 hours.
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Observe the results:
Shiny all over → Oily skin.
Tight and flaky → Dry skin.
Shiny T-zone, dry cheeks → Combination skin.
Even and balanced → Normal skin.
Redness, itching, irritation → Sensitive skin.
Final Thoughts
So, what are the main skin types? Normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Each skin type has its own challenges and needs. By knowing your type, you can choose the right cleansers, moisturizers, and serums to achieve healthy, radiant skin.
Understanding your skin type isn’t just about beauty—it’s the foundation of a skincare routine that works.
