How to Determine Your Skin Type, According to a Derm

How to Determine Your Skin Type

To help you determine what your skin type is, we tapped Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com expert. Keep scrolling to find the indicators of each skin type, as well as the best products to use for each type.

Normal Skin

Normal skin is often balanced (read: not too oily, not too dry) throughout the day, though it can still show signs of occasional oiliness or dryness.

Skincare Tips for Normal Skin

If you have normal skin, chances are you’re not dealing with too many concerns, like acne or dry patches. Still, cleansing with a gentle cleanser, using moisturizer and applying sunscreen are daily essentials. You can also try incorporating a daily antioxidant serum and an exfoliating product into your routine a few times a week.

The Best Skincare Products for Normal Skin

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser

A basic, no-frills cleanser is a must for this skin type. We recommend this one from Youth To The People, with an ingredient list that reads like a green juice for your face. Packed with kale, spinach and green tea, it helps cleanse the surface of your skin while balancing its pH and whisking away makeup and impurities. The rich, gel-like consistency produces a satisfying and non-stripping lather. 

Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer

Normal skin needs moisture, but not necessarily a rich, heavy cream. That’s why you’ll love this unique liquid moisturizer, which penetrates the skin with long-lasting hydration and helps retain water. Made with 97% natural origin ingredients, the formula features snow mushroom, hyaluronic acid and shea butter.

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum

If you’re looking to add an antioxidant to your skincare routine, we recommend this serum. Vitamin C helps even out your skin and neutralize damage from free radicals, along with fellow antioxidant ferulic acid and skin-smoothing salicylic.

Oily Skin

The easiest way to spot an oily complexion? Shiny skin. Because sebaceous glands among oily skin types are more active, the skin may be more prone to breakouts and blemishes.

To help you determine if you fall into this category, Dr. Bhanusali recommends trying this quick test: “Grab a blotting paper and gently dab different areas of your face,” he says. “If the sheet becomes translucent, it’s indicative of oil absorption.”

Skincare Tips for Oily Skin

When it comes to taking care of your oily skin, “cleansing two to three times per week with an exfoliating cleanser can be helpful,” says Dr. Bhanusali. “Look for products formulated with ingredients like glycolic acid or salicylic acid.” 

Just be careful not to overdo it, as over-exfoliating can lead to hypersecretion of oil. “In other words, your skin can become even more oily than when you started,” explains Dr. Bhanusali. To complete the routine, stick to lightweight, oil-free moisturizers, antioxidants serums, and, of course, daily sunscreen.

The Best Skincare Products for Oily Skin

Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel

We recommend this exfoliating cleanser, which is made with salicylic acid to reduce acne blemishes, clogged pores and blackheads. Over time, it also helps to even out your skin’s texture and tone.

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel

Moisturizer is still an essential step for oily skin, but you have to be careful to choose a lightweight, oil-free formula that will help balance your skin. This refreshing, water-based gel layers seamlessly under SPF and makeup and keeps skin hydrated without the added shine.

Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum

This serum works to visibly reduce excess oil and redness, as well as provide skin with a boost of antioxidants. Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, helps brighten your skin and make it appear more even-toned. 

Dry Skin

Dry skin can appear flaky. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), dry skin may also appear dull and occasionally feel itchy.

Skincare Tips for Dry Skin

The AAD recommends that dry skin types reach for a gentle or creamy cleanser and steer clear of foaming cleansers, which may be formulated with ingredients that could strip the skin of moisture.

When the skin is slightly damp, apply moisturizer to help lock in hydration and follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, making sure to reapply as needed throughout the day. 

It is worth mentioning that there’s a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin (the skin type) is what you deal with year-round. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, can be a temporary result of exposure to a number of factors, including winter weather, strong cleansers, hard water and more.

Dehydrated skin can affect all skin types. In fact, you may even suffer from dehydrated skin and dry skin at the same time. If your skin looks drier than usual in the winter, for instance, this may be a sign that your skin needs more attention.

The Best Skincare Products for Dry Skin

CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser

Made specifically for dry to very dry skin types, this foaming oil face wash cleanses and comforts skin. The formula is rich with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane and triglycerides. 

Thayers Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Face Cream

Dry, flaky patches are no match for this ultra-nourishing face cream. Packed with sugarcane squalane and ceramides, it focuses on repairing your skin’s moisture barrier and retaining long-lasting hydration. The non-greasy, fragrance-free formula is a soothing choice for dry and sensitive types. 

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

Give your skin a boost of glow and hydration with this creamy overnight mask. Enriched with vitamin C and a proprietary superberry blend, it helps to hydrate and plump while seriously brightening your complexion.

Combination Skin

“Combination skin is by far the most common skin type I see in my patients,” says Dr. Bhanusali. “They come in with an oily T-zone (nose, eyebrows and chin) and dry skin at the periphery.”

Skincare Tips for Combination Skin

Dealing with two opposite skin personalities can be a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible. Try exfoliating a couple of times a week to help keep excess oil at bay and when it comes to moisturizing, stick to a hydrating yet lightweight formula.

The Best Skincare Products for Combination Skin

SkinCeuticals Replenishing Cleanser

This dual-action face wash was made specifically with combination skin types in mind. It features a blend of ceramides and amino acids that clean skin deeply while locking in moisture and maintaining its balance. Plus, it quickly and easily takes off your makeup at the end of the day. 

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum

Antioxidants provide a defense against free radicals and keep your skin looking even and bright. This serum in particular helps fade the look of dark spots and gently exfoliates your skin, revealing a new radiance. 

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer

A simple, gentle moisturizer will keep your dry patches hydrated without encouraging excess shine in your oily areas, like the T-zone. We love this moisturizer for its oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic formula. 

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, then you probably experience frequent irritations or redness to skincare ingredients like acids, retinol, essential oils and even fragrances.

Skincare Tips for Sensitive Skin

The key to caring for sensitive skin is to reach for gentle skincare products with as few ingredients as possible. Avoid over-exfoliating your face (one to two times a week is fine), and always perform a patch test before introducing new products into your routine. 

If you need a recommendation, CeraVe is a great brand for sensitive skin types as it’s developed with dermatologists and is fragrance-free and allergy-tested.

The Best Skincare Products for Sensitive Skin

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Go back to the basics with this ultra-mild cleanser that hydrates skin with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. The gentle, lotion-based formula softens skin and provides 24-hour hydration while still effectively cleaning makeup and impurities. A stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association (NEA) makes it a reliable choice for very sensitive skin.

Tower 28 SOS Intensive Redness Relief Serum

Dealing with redness, sensitivity and irritation? This NEA-accepted serum deserves a spot in your skincare routine. It helps to visibly calm and hydrate skin, thanks to an ingredient called hypochlorous acid, a soothing antidote to redness and stress.

Vichy Minéral 89

Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin in this gentle, NEA-accepted serum. Formulated with just 11 ingredients, it’s a gentle formula that gives your skin an extra dose of hydration without triggering irritation.