Know your skin. Choose products that truly suit it.

Your skin type describes how your skin naturally behaves—how much oil it produces and how well it retains moisture. It's largely determined by genetics, although it can change over time due to age, hormones, climate and lifestyle.

Your skin type is different from a skin concern, such as acne, pigmentation or redness. Skin concerns are specific issues that can affect any skin type and often improve with the right skincare routine.

Understanding your skin type is the first step towards choosing products that work with your skin, rather than against it.

How to Identify Your Skin Type

A simple way to assess your skin at home is the bare-face test.

  1. Cleanse your face using a gentle cleanser.
  2. Do not apply any skincare products.
  3. Wait 30–60 minutes.
  4. Observe how your skin feels and looks.

Your results may indicate:

  • Shiny all over → Likely Oily Skin
  • Tight, flaky or rough → Likely Dry Skin
  • Shiny in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), but normal or dry elsewhere → Likely Combination Skin
  • Comfortable with little shine or tightness → Likely Normal Skin
  • Stinging, redness or irritation during the test → You may have Sensitive Skin, which can occur alongside any skin type.

Please note: This simple test is intended as a general guide. Your skin can change with the seasons, hormonal changes, certain medications and age.

Normal Skin

What is it?
Normal skin is naturally well balanced, producing enough oil to maintain hydration without becoming excessively oily or dry.

How to recognise it

  • Smooth, even texture
  • Few breakouts
  • Small pores
  • Little excess shine
  • Rarely feels tight or flaky

Care Tips

  • Cleanse gently morning and evening.
  • Use a lightweight to medium moisturiser.
  • Apply sunscreen every day.
  • Maintain your skin's natural balance rather than trying to correct problems that aren't there.

Dry Skin

What is it?
Dry skin naturally produces less oil (sebum), making it more prone to tightness, roughness and moisture loss.

How to recognise it

  • Tightness after cleansing
  • Flaking or rough patches
  • Dull-looking complexion
  • Fine lines appear more noticeable
  • Skin may feel uncomfortable during colder months

Care Tips

  • Choose a cream or lotion cleanser rather than a foaming cleanser.
  • Use hydrating ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin.
  • Lock in moisture with a Ceramide-rich moisturiser.
  • Avoid very hot water, which can strip the skin's natural oils.

Oily Skin

What is it?
Oily skin naturally produces more sebum than average, often resulting in visible shine and enlarged-looking pores.

How to recognise it

  • Shine across the face, particularly the T-zone
  • Enlarged pores
  • Blackheads
  • More frequent breakouts
  • Makeup may wear off more quickly

Care Tips

  • Use a gentle gel or foaming cleanser.
  • Choose oil-free, non-comedogenic products.
  • Moisturise daily—even oily skin needs hydration.
  • Avoid over-cleansing, which may leave skin feeling stripped and encourage more oil production.

Combination Skin

What is it?
Combination skin has both oily and dry areas, most commonly an oily T-zone with normal or dry cheeks.

How to recognise it

  • Oily forehead, nose and chin
  • Dry or normal cheeks
  • Breakouts mainly in the T-zone
  • Skin feels different depending on the area

Care Tips

  • Use a gentle, balanced cleanser.
  • Apply lighter products to oilier areas if needed.
  • Use richer moisturisers on drier areas.
  • Adjust your routine as your skin changes throughout the year.

Sensitive Skin

What is it?
Sensitive skin reacts more easily than average to skincare products, weather or environmental factors. Sensitivity can occur alongside any skin type.

How to recognise it

  • Redness
  • Stinging or burning after applying products
  • Itching
  • Skin reacts easily to fragrance or weather changes
  • Products frequently cause irritation

Care Tips

  • Choose fragrance-free skincare where possible.
  • Introduce new products one at a time.
  • Always patch test before using a new product on your face.
  • Look for calming ingredients such as Ceramides, Centella Asiatica and Panthenol.

Can Your Skin Type Change?

Although your skin type is largely influenced by genetics, it isn't always the same throughout life.

Factors that can affect your skin include:

  • Age
  • Hormonal changes
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Climate and seasonal changes
  • Certain medications
  • Lifestyle and stress

It's completely normal for your skincare routine to change over time as your skin's needs evolve.

Dry Skin vs Dehydrated Skin

These terms are often confused, but they describe different things.

Dry Skin is a skin type that naturally produces less oil.

Dehydrated Skin is a temporary condition where the skin lacks water. Even oily skin can become dehydrated.

Understanding the difference can help you choose products that address the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms.

Not Sure What Your Skin Type Is?

If you're still unsure, don't worry. Many people find their skin changes throughout the year or experience more than one skin type at once.

If you're experiencing persistent irritation, severe dryness, ongoing breakouts or other skin concerns, it's always worth seeking advice from a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist.