Before embarking on the quest for the perfect beauty routine, you need to know your skin type. Dry, oily, combination or sensitive? Discover yours and learn how to pamper it. 

It's important to know your skin type, so you can choose the skin care products best suited to your specific needs, and avoid little worries such as minor imperfections and more serious skin irritations. It's important to remember that every skin type has its own particular characteristics that require appropriate care! For example, if you have dry skin, you can opt for moisturizing creams rich in nourishing ingredients. If you have oily skin, you can choose products formulated to control excess sebum... and so on. 

Be careful, however, to distinguish between skin type, which is genetic and unchangeable, and skin condition, which is the result of a particular moment, a particular action, and can be reversible. 

What are the different skin types? 

There are (generally speaking) five main skin types. 

Normal skin

Normal skin is balanced, with regular sebum production. It has a smooth texture, a healthy appearance and no major problems such as blemishes or excessive dryness. Pores are generally of normal size, and the skin has good elasticity.

Dry skin

Dry skin tends to lack moisture and can be prone to flaking, itching and tightness whenever it comes into contact with any kind of external aggression. It can appear dull and rough. Pores are generally less visible, and the skin may be prone to early fine lines and wrinkles, which can give it a rapidly advanced, mature-skin appearance.

Oily skin

Oily skin produces excessive sebum, giving it a shiny, oily appearance. They are prone to enlarged pores, blackheads, pimples and acne. Oily skin can also have a thick texture and a tendency to shine during the day.

Combination skin

Combination skin has characteristics of both oily skin and dry or normal skin. Generally speaking, the T-zone of the face (forehead, nose and chin) tends to be oilier, with dilated pores and acne problems, while the cheeks may have drier skin.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is delicate and reactive, reacting easily to products and environmental factors such as the sun, cold, wind or certain aggressive ingredients. It can experience redness, itching, irritation and discomfort.

How do you determine your skin type? 

There are many ways to determine your skin type. Here are some of the approaches commonly used: 

1. Visual observation: observe your skin carefully in front of a mirror. Normal skin will have a smooth texture and a healthy appearance, without excessive shine or pronounced dryness. Oily skin may appear shiny, with enlarged pores, blackheads or acne. Dry skin may appear dull, rough and show signs of desquamation. Combination skin may show oily areas in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and drier areas on the cheeks.

2. Skin feel: touch your skin with clean hands to assess its texture and moisture level. Normal skin will feel smooth, supple and elastic. Dry skin feels rough, tight and lacking in moisture. Oily skin feels greasy to the touch. Combination skin may have oily areas and others that are drier or normal.

3. Blotting paper test: clean your face, then dab it gently with a piece of blotting paper or tissue on different parts of the face. If the paper absorbs little or no oil, your skin is probably dry. If the paper is oily all over, your skin is likely to be oily. If the paper absorbs oil mainly in the T-zone, but is relatively dry on the cheeks, you probably have combination skin.

4. Consult a skin care professional: if you have any doubts or specific problems, it may be useful to consult a qualified dermatologist or aesthetician for a skin diagnosis. They can carry out a more detailed evaluation of your epidermis and help you determine your skin type.

Knowing how to take care of your skin type

As you can see, each skin type requires its own specific care to tackle the problems that plague it. Fortunately, it's not a matter of state, and once you've found your perfect routine, it's easy to keep your skin healthy, whatever your skin type. 

Care for normal skin 

• Cleanse your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
• Moisturize your skin with a light cream.
• Use sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.
• Exfoliate your skin once or twice a week to remove dead cells.

Dry skin care 

• Use a gentle cleanser and avoid products that further dry the skin. In the shower, use shower oils, for example.
• Moisturize dry face and body skin daily with a rich, nourishing cream.
• Opt for fragrance- and alcohol-free products, as these can irritate the skin and are not permitted. 
• Limit hot showers and long baths, as they can dry out the skin.
• Use oils, moisturizing serums and lip balms for extra hydration.

Oily skin care :

• A facial routine for oily skin really can't do without this step. Cleanse your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser specifically for oily skin.
• Use non-comedogenic, water-based products. If in doubt, ask a professional for help in a store or parapharmacy.
• Avoid touching your face with your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria.
• Use clay masks or specific treatments to control excess sebum.
• Exfoliate regularly to unclog pores and prevent breakouts. Some gentle scrubs can be applied daily.

Combination skin care 

• Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser suitable for combination skin. A foam, gel or soap according to your preference.
• Use light moisturizers for dry areas and avoid oily areas, or apply a suitable treatment.
• Apply mattifying products to the T-zone to control shine.
• Use non-comedogenic products to avoid clogging pores, especially when applying make-up. Choose fluid textures.
• Avoid harsh cleansers or products that can unbalance the skin.

Care for sensitive skin 

• Choose gentle, hypoallergenic products specifically designed for sensitive skin.
• Avoid irritating ingredients such as perfumes and dyes.
• Moisturize your skin with soothing, hydrating products such as vegetable oils and butters. 
• Use physical rather than chemical sunscreens.
• Test a small area of skin before introducing new products.

It's important to personalize your skincare routine according to your skin type, but above all to monitor your skin's reactions to different products. If you have persistent skin problems or concerns that are a little more specific than normal, it's advisable to consult a skin care professional for advice tailored to your situation.