How to Identify Your True Skin Type: A Holistic Esthetician's Guide
I remember chatting with a client who felt completely defeated by stubborn acne, even though she was following all the right steps from a popular skincare routine. She’d done her homework, but there was one piece missing: understanding her unique skin type. When we shifted her routine to match what her skin actually needed, everything started to change. Here’s the real secret. Knowing both your skin type and your skin condition is what makes a routine truly work for you. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the five skin types, the most common skin conditions, how to spot each one, and how to tell them apart.
Type or Condition? Here’s How to Tell
Let’s clear up something that confuses a lot of people: the difference between your skin type and your skin conditions. Your skin type is basically your skin’s personality. How much oil it makes, how it feels most days. That part usually stays pretty steady. Skin conditions, like acne or dehydration, are more like guests that show up when something’s off inside your body or in your environment. The real progress happens when you choose products that support both your skin type and whatever your skin is dealing with right now.
What’s Your Type?
Your skin type comes down to how much oil your skin makes, which shapes how it looks and feels day to day. Genetics set the stage, but things like seasons, climate, medications, lifestyle, diet, stress, and hormones can all nudge your skin in different directions. That’s why it’s so helpful to check in with your skin and see what it needs right now, so you can choose products that actually work for you.
There are five skin types:
Dry Skin: What it Needs
If your skin doesn’t make much oil, you might notice it looking a little dull, feeling rough, or even flaking. Dry skin just needs some extra care when it comes to hydration and moisture.
Use creamy or gentle cleansers, like Face Reality Ultra Gentle Cleanser hydrating toners, and rich moisturizers with ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
Choose hydrating serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or beta glucan.
Oily Skin: Finding Balance
Oily skin is all about that extra oil production, which can show up as larger pores, shine, and sometimes blackheads or breakouts. (But here’s something a lot of people miss: acne isn’t just for oily skin, it can happen to anyone.) If you’re nodding along thinking, ‘Yep, that’s me,’ here’s how you can help your skin feel more balanced:
Don’t skip moisturizer just because your skin is oily. In fact, oily skin can still get dehydrated, which makes it pump out even more oil to compensate. Look for lightweight, oil-free, or gel-based moisturizers. They’ll hydrate without feeling heavy.
Be gentle with cleansing. Overdoing it can actually dry out your skin and kick off that cycle of even more oil production.
If you’re dealing with breakouts, gel cleansers or ones with gentle acids like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can help. iSCLINICAL Cleansing Complex is a great option. Just don’t go overboard. If you’re using active serums, keep your cleanser gentle and gel-based to help your skin stay balanced.
Combination Skin: The Best of Both Worlds (and How to Handle it)
Combination skin is a little bit of everything. Your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) might be shiny or oily with larger pores, while your cheeks or jawline feel drier or just normal.
If you think you have combination skin, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Keep it simple. Lightweight, oil-free basics are your friend, and you can always spot treat certain areas if you need to.
You can use two different moisturizers: one for dry spots and another for oily areas, applying each only where you need it.
Stick with gentle products so you don’t end up over-drying or over-hydrating your skin.
When it comes to targeted products, look for mild ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or salicylic acid. You can alternate or spot treat as your skin needs.
Normal Skin: Keep it Simple
Normal skin is pretty balanced. Not too oily, not too dry. It usually feels and looks healthy and well-hydrated. If this sounds like you, here’s what to keep in mind.
Stick with a simple routine to keep your skin balanced. Only add extra steps if you’re working on a specific condition, which I’ll talk about next.
Focus on keeping your skin clean and hydrated. Gentle cleansers, hydrating or balancing toners, and lightweight moisturizers with ceramides or hyaluronic acid are great options.
Sensitive Skin: Handle With Care
Sensitive skin reacts easily, no matter how much oil it makes. Any skin type can be sensitive. You might notice itchiness, burning, stinging, redness, or warmth if your skin is sensitive.
If you have sensitive skin, here are a few things to note:
Keep your routine simple and treat your skin gently. Calming products can help you steer clear of irritation.
Creamy cleansers like Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser, soothing toners, and hydrating moisturizers are all good choices for sensitive skin.
If you’re trying new active ingredients, go slow and test for reactions before making them a regular part of your routine.
Sensitivity can be triggered by genetics, medications, diet, lifestyle, stress, or even things in your environment.
The 30-minute Test
Here’s a simple way to figure out your skin type: wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, and wait about 30 minutes. Then take a look at your skin.
If your skin looks shiny or feels oily, you’re probably an oily skin type.
If you notice flaking, roughness, or a tight feeling, you’re probably a dry skin type.
If you see a shine in your T-zone, you’re probably a combination skin type.
If your skin feels hydrated and doesn’t seem dry or oily, you’re likely a normal skin type.
If you experience tingling, stinging, or redness, you might have sensitive skin.
You can’t change your skin type, but you can work with it. Embracing your skin type is the first step toward healthy skin.
You’ve identified your skin type, that’s step one. But if your products still aren’t working, the problem might not be topical at all. Next Wednesday, I’m breaking down the gut-skin connection and why internal wellness is the missing link in most skincare routines. Subscribe so you don’t miss this one!
Beyond Skin Type: Understanding Conditions
Skin conditions are usually temporary and can be triggered by what’s happening inside or outside your body. Unlike your skin type, which stays pretty consistent, things like acne or pigmentation can pop up because of your environment, diet, stress, hormones, genetics, or even vitamin deficiencies.
Skin conditions usually show up when your skin is damaged, stressed, or irritated. You can help your skin by using the right products, getting professional treatments, and cutting back on things that might be making the problem worse.
There are a ton of different skin conditions out there, but here are some of the most common ones I see as an esthetician:
Acne
Is it just me, or does it feel like acne is becoming more and more common in women? It’s something so many of us struggle with. Those deep, red, painful bumps or those stubborn little ones can really take a toll on your confidence. While acne is actually a genetic condition of the pore, it usually gets triggered by something going on inside your body. Hormonal changes or imbalances can play a big role, but don’t underestimate the impact that stress and nutrition can have on acne, too.
When it comes to acne, looking for the root cause is the most effective way to see real, lasting improvement. Figuring out what’s triggering your breakouts, addressing it, and treating your skin on the surface is how you’ll finally see clear skin again.
Aging and wrinkles
We all notice it sooner or later. Aging is part of life, but seeing those fine lines around your eyes or wrinkles on your forehead can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not expecting them. It’s a sign of a life well-lived, but it can still be tough to see. As we get older, we’re exposed to more things that create oxidative stress in our bodies, which can damage skin cells and lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
With filters everywhere, it can feel like we’re always fighting to look younger. Keeping your skin hydrated and using a vitamin A product are tried-and-true ways to help your skin stay youthful. And if you want to prevent more signs of aging, wearing daily SPF is one of the best things you can do to protect your skin from UV rays.
Pigmentation
From melasma to sun spots, pigmentation can be so frustrating when all you want is even, healthy-looking skin. If you have it, you probably notice it every time you look in the mirror. Those brown spots or splotchy areas show up when your skin makes more melanin, usually triggered by sun exposure or hormones (often during or after pregnancy).
The best way to tackle pigmentation is to prevent it in the first place. Daily SPF is your best friend for blocking UV rays and protecting your skin cells from damage.
“Your skin type is your skin’s personality. Your Skin conditions are like guests that show up when something’s off.”
Supporting Your Skin From the Inside-Out
Besides targeting the condition on the surface, supporting your skin from the inside out can make a meaningful difference. Here’s how you can help prevent trouble before it starts:
The best way to handle skin conditions is to learn about your specific issue or work with a professional who can help. Prevention is always easier than trying to fix things later. Here are some of my top ways to help prevent skin conditions:
Protect yourself from sun exposure. Daily SPF helps prevent most skin conditions.
Suitable skincare products
Maintaining a nutritious diet.
Proper vitamin supplementation
Sufficient hydration.
Daily movement.
Stress management.
Other wellness habits.
Skin conditions are your body’s way of letting you know something is out of balance. When you notice changes, it’s a good time to check in with your habits or what your skin is coming into contact with, and make gentle adjustments.
When you’re building a skincare routine or trying to solve skin conditions, knowledge really is power. I love seeing women share what works for them, but it’s so important to figure out what’s right for your own skin. That’s why I’m here: to share what I’ve learned so you can feel confident taking care of your skin. The first step is understanding what your skin truly needs.
Imagine waking up to a morning routine that sets a calm, confident tone for your whole day. Picture yourself taking clearer selfies with a glowing complexion that needs fewer touch-ups. Think about how satisfying it would feel to pick the right products from the start. This journey of understanding your skin leads to real, lasting changes.
Understanding your skin type is just the beginning. Next Wednesday, we’re going deeper: I’m revealing the gut-skin connection and why internal wellness might be the missing piece in your skincare puzzle. Subscribe so you don’t miss it. This one’s a game-changer.
