What’s Your Skin Type?

Posted on August 5, 2023

What Is Your Skin Type and How To Care For It

Unlike your blood type which is the same from the day you are born, your skin type is something that will change throughout the different stages of your life.

If you think about it, your skin type is not even the same for all of the areas of your body.

The skin on your face is different from the skin on your hands, which is different from the skin on your back which is different from the skin on your feet ...etc.

Your skin type will change throughout the different stages of your life young and old

Your skin type will inevitably change over time. As a teenager it is common to have oily or blemish-prone skin and as you get older skin often becomes tighter and drier.

In truth, people of all ages can struggle with oily skin and breakouts or dry flaky skin.

Aging absolutely affects the skin. As I look in the mirror I see more wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and a definite loss of elasticity and firmness. But at what age does aging begin for our skin? Age is not a skin type.

Other factors, like the climate you live in, may also influence your skin type. While cold, dry air is often associated with dryness, hot weather and humidity can be linked to oilier skin.

Since skin care products are not one-size-fits-all magic potions, understanding your skin type is a good place to start especially before trying or switching to natural products.

Often products will be categorized by skin type, but even if a product is labeled for a specific skin type, it may work just as well for other types depending on the individual.

Your skin type is genetically determined and unique to you, but your skin condition and needs can change depending on a number of factors. Some are:

Diet
Age
Hormone Cycles
Exposure to Irritants
Allergies/sensitivities
Stress
Seasons
Weather
Medications

There are five main skin types: normal, oily, dry, sensitive, and combination. Each skin types comes with its own set of benefits and challenges.

I’m going to share a few characteristics of the most common skin types which may help you decide which products may work best for you. I will also share a couple simple methods for identifying your skin type at home.

But please keep in mind what I said before-- that everyone is unique, so a product that works well for one person with “normal” skin might work just as well for someone with dry skin or combination skin.

For example, my dry (old) skin loves some products that we know work best for oily skin. For me, it seems like I am more often looking for products based on my "skin preferences" rather than my actual "skin type."

We have a nice resource on our website called the "Product Knowledge Base" where you can find help with products based on a specific skin condition or sensitivity.

The key is to test different products and find out what works best for you!

Normal/Balanced Skin

What is Normal Skin?

Natural Organic Soap with Aloe Vera

While I would argue that all skin is normal, in the realm of skin care normal refers specifically to skin that is well-balanced.

“Balanced” means that the skin is not experiencing any extreme issues and is neither too oily nor too dry. While there may be some occasional oiliness, dryness or breakouts, it goes away quickly.

Normal skin seldom experiences reactions to products.

Characteristics of Normal Skin

Not too dry, not too oily
Barley visible fine pores
Few to zero imperfections or blemishes
Few or no breakouts
Smooth texture
No extra sensitivity
Radiant complexion
No sensitivity

How To Care For Normal Skin

If you have normal skin, the goal is to maintain that balance and care for it so that it stays healthy. Keeping normal skin clean and hydrated is vital. Choose a mild natural soap and massage your skin to help stimulate circulation.

Moisturizing is always important regardless of your skin type. Choose a natural moisturizer made with wholesome ingredients that will nourish your skin.

Use a natural exfoliator as needed, but remember is important to understand the needs of your own skin.

Oily Skin

What is Oily Skin?

Oily skin is the result of excessive secretions of sebum, an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads, acne, and excessive shine.

Oily skin usually appears shiny and is characterized by a thicker feeling texture and large pores that may clog easily leading to blemishes. People with oily skin struggle with keeping shine down during the day and often want to wash their faces often.

Characteristics of Oily Skin

Large, more visible pores
Shiny complexion
Blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes
Oiliness can vary depending on: time of year, weather, hormones

How To Care For Oily Skin

Natural Organic Bamboo Charcoal Soap for Oily Skin

Many people with oily skin tend to over-clean and over-exfoliate which does not lessen oil production.

Be gentle - sebum is natural, and is not your enemy.

In fact, over-cleaning can dry out your skin, cause skin surface damage, and can create a vicious cycle in which your skin actually produces more oil to compensate for the dryness.

Moisturizing is important. While many folks with oily or acne-prone skin tend to shy away from moisturizing, it is actually a very important step. Even though our skin produces natural oil, it is not the same as hydration.

A moisturizer helps increase the water content in the skin and prevents further moisture loss. Again, when oily skin is dry, it can trigger even more oil production, thereby exacerbating the problem. But a moisturizer that slows the evaporation of moisture, actually causes sebum-producing cells to shut down.

Wash your face at least two times a day to remove dirt and bacteria that may clog your pores. But be careful not to over-wash. Use a mild natural soap because soaps made with synthetic chemicals, alcohol, or sulphates can strip natural oils from your skin and contribute to more oily skin.

To encourage healthy skin turnover and growth, use gentle exfoliants. Exfoliating sloughs away dead skin cells unclogs pores and removes the extra buildup that comes with oily skin.

It is important to choose a gentle scrub that doesn’t dry out or aggravate the skin. Read our blog, "The Nitty Gritty of Exfoliation."

Clay face masks can also work wonders for your skin. Activated Charcoal Clay Face Mask is especially good for oily and blemish-prone skin.

For more information see, Help Me Choose Products for Oily Skin

Dry Skin Type

What is Dry Skin?

Dry skin is a result of a decrease in sebum production, the natural skin oil necessary to keep the skin moist and lubricated. Since dry skin has a decreased oil barrier, water easily evaporates through the skin. A lack of moisture results in skin that is flaky and has a rough appearance.

The words "dry skin" and "dehydrated skin" are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. When skin is dry it needs oil. When skin is dehydrated it needs water. Dehydrated skin is can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type and is often a temporary skin condition due to climate, environmental factors or not drinking enough water.

Even though dryness and dehydration are two different things, the lack of oil present in dry skin makes it less able to retain water. As a result the natural moisture barrier of the skin can not work as effectively as it should.

While most people with dry skin have fewer breakouts and less unwanted shine than other skin types, dry skin can become uncomfortable, look dull, and feel itchy and tight. Severe dryness can cause the skin to crack, flake, or peel.

Dry skin is more common during cold winter months, in dry climates, in individuals with a history of eczema, and it increases as we age.

Characteristics of Dry Skin

Small or invisible pores
Dull, rough complexion
Red patches
Less elasticity, more visible lines
Often be made worse by weather, hormones, medications, indoor heat, ingredients in soaps, other products
Itchy and easily irritated skin
Skin looks rough with fine flakes and dry patches
Skin may appear red, or gray and ashy
Skin is more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and cracks

How To Care For Dry Skin

It is very important to make sure the products you use will not strip your skin’s natural oils even further like alcohol and sulfate-based products. Do not to use super hot water when showering or bathing since it wicks moisture from skin. If you live in dry climate or use dry heat to keep warm in winter consider getting a humidifier for your home or bedroom.

A moisturizing, mild, natural soap is recommended for dry skin. Dry skin conditions are often exacerbated by harsh detergent soaps that contain fragrance oils and synthetic chemicals that wash off natural skin-protecting oils.

Moisturizing is the best treatment for dry skin. Daily lubrication with a pure and natural emollient helps decrease the evaporation of moisture from the skin. The main goals for dry skin treatment are to stop the itching and prevent moisture loss.

Exfoliation for those with dry skin is very important. When our skin feels dry we too often slather on heavy creams to compensate for the dryness. Dry skin flaky skin means you have a build-up of dead, dry skin cells. You need to exfoliate those dead skin cells away and then moisturize the skin.

For more information see, Help Me Choose Products for Dry Skin

Sensitive Skin Type

What is Sensitive Skin?

Many people tell us they have sensitive skin. The question is...sensitive to what?

Some people have thin or fine-textured skin that is often dry, delicate, and prone to allergic or stress reactions.

Other people have skin that is sensitive to the environmental stressors or products that come in contact with the skin. Seasonal temperature and humidity changes, very hot water, detergent soaps, synthetic fragrances and colors, preservatives, alcohol (used on the skin), and other artificial additives cause irritation or inflammation, which leads to red, blotchy, and itchy skin. It is important to try to find out the triggers so you can avoid them.

The degree to which each person reacts to stressors varies. Some people only experience mild irritation, while others struggle with redness, itching, and discomfort regularly. Sometimes a sensitivity is not even visible, it is just about how the skin feels.

Characteristics of Sensitive Skin

Easily irritated, itchy, or inflamed
Reacts quickly to both heat and cold
Sunburns and windburns easily
It is often dry, delicate, and prone to allergic reactions
Responds to ingredients in skincare products
Reacts easily to new products
Reactions produce redness, itching, burning, and dryness
May experience conditions such as eczema or rosacea

How To Care For Sensitive Skin

When caring for sensitive skin, your priority is to be as gentle with it as possible.

Simple, wholesome skin care is best. Choose skin and hair care products carefully. Read labels and choose products that have simple, natural ingredients.

While any ingredient may cause a flare-up for someone with very sensitive skin, the fewer ingredients in a skincare product, the better.

Avoid products made with artificial fragrance, dyes or other synthetic chemicals.

All of the items in our "Baby" product line are excellent for sensitive skin.

Organic Adzuki Bean Micrograin Face Scrub

Choose a cleanser that is gentle, and that won’t strip out all the natural oils in your skin. A gentle simple, natural soap is best.

Sometimes even sensitive skin needs exfoliation, but delicate skin types can be easily damaged by ingredients in some scrubs. Avoid scrubs with harsh acids, salt, nut shells, or large particle ingredients.

Choosing a simple natural exfoliator like Adzuki Micrograin Scrub will gently exfoliate without irritating sensitive skin.

Old-fashioned ointments or salves are great for spot treatment of sensitive skin areas. Natural salves help soothe, protect, or promote the healing of the skin.

The concentrated organic formulation of nourishing oils and the healing power of herbs acts as a barrier on the skin’s surface.

Sensitive skin is also often dry. Moisturizing helps protect skin from water loss and maintains a healthy barrier from environmental factors.

It is important to choose moisturizing products with simple, natural ingredients that will hydrate and soothe skin. Gentle natural creams and body and face oils are calming and kind to sensitive skin.

Products with lots of synthetic fragrance, heavy dyes or harsh chemicals. Anything that contains ingredients that might inflame potential allergies or irritations. It’s best to stick to basic ingredients which means, yes, some days you might just want to use a little coconut oil as a moisturizer.

We suggest that folks with sensitive skin do a patch test before trying any new product. This is really important if you want to avoid your skin reactions and irritation.

For more information see, Help Me Choose Products for Sensitive Skin

Combination Skin Type

What is Combination Skin?

The most difficult issue with combination skin is the struggle to find products that are just right for you. This skin type features two or even more different skin types on the face which can change with the seasons.

Your skin can be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others, such as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Many people have this type of skin and it often needs slightly different care in different areas.

Characteristics of Combination Skin

dry, flaking skin on the cheeks
excessive oil on the T-zone
larger pores on your nose than your cheeks
dry patches and acne breakouts at the same time

How To Care For Combination Skin

Every skin type, including combination skin, needs moisturizing and the key here is balance.

Natural Organic Facial Sugar Scrub

Find gentle natural products that offer enough moisture to dry areas, without increasing shine and oil in others.

Use a mild natural soap twice a day to cleanse away dirt, excess oils, and impurities.

Exfoliation can help open up and clear out the clogged pores in oily sections of the face while at the same time allowing moisture to penetrate the skin in dry areas. Be sure to use gentle exfoliators and be careful not to over-exfoliate.

Using a natural clay face mask is a great way to take care of combination skin especially if you do Multi-Masking or Targeted Application.

Multi-masking involves applying different face masks to different areas of your face to address different issues at the same time, making it the perfect technique for combination skin types.

Everyone’s skin is unique, so it may take some trial and error to determine which products work best for your combination skin.

**We have a nice resource on our website called the "Product Knowledge Base" where you can find help with products based on a specific skin condition or sensitivity.

How To Determine Your Skin Type

Identifying your skin type is not always easy. As I said skin will change over time and can even change seasonally.

Not sure about your skin type? You can find many online quizzes that may help you learn about your skin type. Unfortunately, I tried a few and discovered that I have normal, combination, and dry skin. It was not very helpful but it may be helpful for you.

Here are a two simple methods that may help you identify your skin type at home.

Three women with different skin types

Do a Simple Test and Look at Your Skin

This may sound silly, but the easiest way to determine your skin type is to carefully study your bare naked skin.

Wash your face with a gentle soap to remove all makeup, oil and dirt.
Pat face dry with a clean soft towel.
Leave skin bare. Do not apply anything to your face.
Wait about 1 hour and during this time do not touch your face.
After an hour take note of how your skin looks and feels.

Dry Skin: Skin looks dull, feel tight, uncomfortable, or itchy, and may have some dry, flakey patches.

Oily Skin: Skin looks excessively shiny or oily and often feels greasy.

Combination Skin: You have both oily and dry areas. Your t-zone is oily but the rest of your facial skin is dry or normal.

Normal: Skin feel just right with no issues. Not too dry and not too oily.

Blotting Method

Press a sheet clean blotting paper (a plain clean tissue will also work) against different areas of your face. Hold the paper up to a light to see how much oil has been absorbed. It is best to do this at least a few hours after cleansing and when you have not used any moisturizer or other face products.