Determining your skin type isn’t something that comes easily. How do you know if your complexion is oily, dry/sensitive, normal, or a mix of everything? Chances are, you’re miscasting your own personal skin type. Read up on these skin classifications (and take this quiz) to figure out where your skin falls, once and for all.

Oily
Your face looks and feels oily, mainly on your chin, nose, and forehead. You notice a shiny complexion right when you wake up and in the afternoons (when oil production is at its peak, according to Women’s Health magazine). You also have larger pores, which makes you more prone to acne.

Tips:
Real Simple states that moisturizing is key for oily skin types (contrary to popular belief) because it keeps your skin from overproducing oil. Elle UK recommends oil-free moisturizer: slather it on at night, then use one with SPF in the morning before applying makeup. They also recommend cleansing your face with a creamy cleanser (to eliminate excess oil buildup) and keeping your pores clear by using products with salicylic acid.

Dry/Sensitive
Your skin tends to feel tight and dry in the morning, at night, and immediately after cleansing. You might also have visibly red, flaky patches of skin that burn or sting upon contact with misused products.

Tips:
Moisturizing is the best way to cure dry skin (as well as prevent it). Real Simple recommends exfoliating once per week to help moisturizer soak into pores, but make sure you’re not scrubbing too hard – it could worsen your condition. Use gentle, creamy cleansers and creams with emollient ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and skip foaming face washes since they strip away lipids.

Combination
You have a little bit of everything – your forehead, nose, and chin tend to be oily while your cheeks, eyes, and temples are dry. You also fall into this category if your skin changes according to the season.

Tips:
Livestrong.com advises exfoliating with a face scrub once or twice a week to get rid of flaky skin, which clogs pores and makes skin oilier in the T-zone. Elle UK also suggests using a thick moisturizer at night on dry areas only and a light, oil-free moisturizer all over in the morning to keep skin looking radiant.

Normal
Your complexion is even and your skin is neither too dry nor too oily (lucky you). You don’t typically break out and your pores are minimally visible.

Tips:
Elle UK‘s advice? Don’t skip on skin care, even though your skin is naturally healthy. Use a light moisturizer with SPF in the morning and before applying foundation, and use a moisturizer without SPF at night. Stick to basic, gentle skin cleansers with antioxidants to fight aging.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

What are your go-to skin secrets? Share them in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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