Find your skin type and ideal products

What is the difference between skin type and skin condition?

Knowing the difference between skin type and skin condition is important and is the basis for choosing skincare products for your skincare routine.

Skin type is something we are born with and does not change. Your skin type is determined by the natural moisture balance of your skin. This can help you choose the right skincare products to care for your skin according to your skin type. Your skin type helps determine your daily skincare routine, the makeup you use and can influence your diet. Your basic skincare needs are affected by your skin type.

A skin condition changes throughout life and can be treated. It can be caused by both internal and external factors, such as environment, your diet, stress levels, medication, hormones and age. Skin conditions can be temporary and can usually be treated with care and diet. You can have multiple skin conditions at once and include dehydrated skin, acne-prone skin and sensitive skin.

Normal Skin type

Normal skin is the term used to describe a balanced moisture balance that is not noticeably oily, dry or sensitive. This skin type produces enough sebum to keep the skin evenly hydrated without becoming oily.

The following describes a normal skin type:

• Skin does not feel dry or oily
• My skin condition does not change much
• Rarely get pimples
• My skin tolerates a lot of products

Oily Skin type

Oily skin occurs when there is an overproduction of sebum, which can result in a shiny, greasy appearance, blemishes and acne. People with oily skin types can also experience large pores and a rough texture, so care should be taken not to use products that can clog pores as this can worsen the condition. To control sebum production, it can be helpful to use products with salicylic acid, which can help exfoliate the skin and reduce impurities. It’s also important to use a good sunscreen as the sun can aggravate oily skin and increase the risk of blemishes.

The following describes an oily skin type:

• My skin feels oily and it shines
• I can’t use thick creams
• I have very visible pores
• I easily develop pimples all over my face

Dry Skin type

Dry skin lacks moisture and thus has a weakened skin barrier. Dry skin is characterized by a lack of sebum and moisture, resulting in flaky, itchy and dry skin with fine lines and wrinkles. Dry skin can also be more sensitive to external influences such as wind and cold. To help restore balance to the skin, it’s important to use products that are rich in moisture and nourishing ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. It’s also important to stay away from products that can dry out the skin, such as alcohol-based toners.

The following describes a dry skin type:

• My skin feels tight
• My skin is sometimes rough
• My pores are very small
• Make-up can look flaky

Combination Skin type

Combination skin tends to have a mix of two skin types across the face, which is typically normal to dry skin around the cheeks and chin and oily skin around the T-zone on the forehead and nose. To achieve balanced skin, it’s important to use products that are adapted to the specific skin type in the area it’s being used in. This means that you could apply a drying lotion in the T-zone to control shine while applying a moisturizer to the cheeks to add moisture.

The following describes an oily skin type:

• My skin is different between the T-zone and cheeks
• I have enlarged pores around my nose
• I typically get pimples around my nose
• I don’t get pimples on my cheeks