How to find your skin type

Not sure what your skin type is? We’re here to help! Take our free skin quiz to get free personalised skincare advice!

The first step in your skincare journey starts here, by answering the age-old question: What is my skin type?

When it comes to skincare, one of the biggest challenges tends to be how to get started. With so many different products out there catering to all kinds of skin types and it can start to feel...well, complicated! There is a lot to choose from, and sometimes none of it feels like it’s quite right for you.

Once you know what skin type you have, it becomes easier to filter out products. You can learn more about the ingredients that work for your skin type and those that don’t, making selecting products much easier.

In this article, we’ll go through each skin type and identify its broader characteristics to help you narrow down your options.

If in the end, you're still a little confused, don’t worry, we got you. You can always take our free skin type quiz. At MyGloww, we believe that skincare should be as unique as you. Take our free skin analysis quiz and get comprehensive results to help you find your gloww!

How do I know if I have oily skin?

Oily skin occurs when your body produces a bit more sebum, a natural oil, than it actually needs, leading to your face becoming shinier and/or greasy.

You might notice more greasiness or shininess on certain parts of your face, such as the forehead, nose, and chin (also known as the T-Zone). You might also experience more acne and blackheads if you have this type of skin.

How do I know if I have acne-prone skin?

Acne-prone skin tends to have similar features to oily skin, but acne-prone skin doesn’t automatically equal oily. Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with impurities like oil, dirt, and dead skin cells.

There are many differing opinions around why acne occurs, but even dry skin or other types of skin can still lead to acne on the face, shoulders, chest, and back. Acne can occur for a variety of reasons, such as diet, lifestyle, genetics, and hormonal fluctuations.

How do I know if I have dry skin?

If you find your skin feeling tight, itchy, and/or deal with skin peeling off, it’s likely that you have dry skin. You might also experience scaling or cracking as well.
Dry skin occurs when your skin lacks moisture in the most superficial layer of the skin, causing your skin to feel less soft.

Dry skin can occur due to various lifestyle and environmental or reasons, or there might be a genetic component as well. You can read more about dry skin and skincare routines that help with hydration and moisture retention here.

How do I know I have combination skin?

Combination skin can be a bit harder to determine because you’re likely experiencing so many different things that you are not sure what category you fall in!

With combination skin, the tendency is to have an oily T-zone (i.e., forehead, nose, and chin) and cheeks feeling more on the dry side. Combination skin also tends to be more seasonal than other skin types, as your skin may feel oilier in the summer and dry in the winter.

How do I know I have sensitive skin?

If your skin tends to react every time you try new types of products, you likely have sensitive skin. That includes feeling particularly dry, skin going red, or experiencing flakes or rashes. Sensitive skin also tends to be itchy, especially if you don’t properly cleanse or leave products on for too long before washing up.

However, if you are currently managing dermatological conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and atopic dermatitis, you have hypersensitive skin. Because your skin might trigger easily, it is extremely important to talk to your dermatologist before starting any new skincare product and do some detective work on what ingredients will work best for your skin. We’ve broken down the best skincare routine for sensitive skin in our previous blog post here if you’re curious to learn more.

How do I know I have inelastic skin?

As we get older, our skin naturally loses its elasticity, leading to wrinkles. Also, as you age, your skin will start to lose its firmness, and the texture may change as your skin lacks the ability to use elasticity and go back to what it is.

The skin tissue degenerates, leading to aging skin. To retain your skin’s natural moisture and elasticity, it’s crucial to hydrate, eat well, and ensure that you begin to use the right skincare products immediately. You can find out more about the best skincare routine for inelastic and wrinkled skin in our previous blog post here.

How do I know I have dull or discoloured skin?

Dull skin can often come about in different ways, depending on your circumstances. For example, you might experience dull skin as a loss of texture, or you might feel like your skin isn’t quite glowing or feel as supple as it should.

You might also experience dull skin as a result of discoloration from acne or hyperpigmentation that might also lead to duller skin. Dull skin is often caused due to dehydration, lifestyle choices, or skipping crucial parts of your skincare routine. You can learn more about discolouration and hyperpigmentation in our previous blog post here.

How do I know I have balanced skin?

If you’ve gotten this far and none of the skin types discussed feel close to yours, that means your skin is balanced or normal. Your skin likely doesn’t get too dry or too oily, and you don’t experience breakouts. Skin feeling tight or flaky from dryness is also something you probably haven’t experienced; instead, it tends to feel smooth to the touch.

Still not sure about your skin type?

If you’re still not feeling absolutely confident about what your skin type is - that’s where we come in! We’re offering a skin type analysis quiz that gives you comprehensive results about your skin type and what you should be looking for, which you can access here.

It can be difficult to pin down skin types and feel confident that the products you are buying can help address your specific issues. It can be difficult to discern what the ingredients are that will support your skin and whether they will work for your skin type.

MyGloww is on a mission to change all of this. Each person is unique, so your skincare should be too! We personally craft and design each product based on your unique skin profile, selecting nourishing, plant-based ingredients that will help you gloww!

Take our skin quiz and start your custom skincare journey with us today!