What Skin Type Are You? The Tissue Test

I bet you have been asked hundreds of time what kind of skin type are you? If you think it’s a weird question- it isn’t. Did you know that it is important to get a skin care regimen appropriate to your skin type? The wrong skin care can not only make your skin feel gross, but can actually make your problems worse. In general there are five basic skin types (Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination and Sensitive).

Now let’s help you figure out which one you are! When you wake up in the morning look at your face. Do you see any shine? Where do you see it? Pay close attention to your T-Zone (fore head, nose, upper lip and chin). Now here’s how I learned it way back when. Take a clean tissue paper and wipe it on your forehead. What do you see? Are there traces of oil (does your paper get spots that appear translucent?) Or does it look like you have nothing? Now do the same thing but wipe the paper on your cheek.

If you see a shine on your face in the morning and on both tissue paper have spots of oil on it. This means you have Oily skin. It’s possible that your pores look enlarged and you are prone to break outs. On the bright side, this is the skin type less likely to get wrinkles! Avoid rich moisturizing creams. These creams might make you feel great for a few minutes, but, in the end only worsen your skin.

If you see shine on your T-zone but your cheeks feel like they are dry. Also if you have oil spots on only the forehead tissue, and not the cheeks, you have Combination Skin. This is the most common type of skin but one of the most problematic. It combines the negative aspects of both types of skin. Don’t worry you don’t need to buy two types of products, you can by one for combination skin and if you want a little extra umph apply a rich moisturizer on your dry areas.

If you have no shine anywhere, and both your tissues are clean, but you start to feel your skin tighten, than you have Dry Skin. This is one of the reasons for irritation and red spots, flakiness and even aging. Butter yourself up with some rich moisturizers that well help give your skin the necessary oil it needs to maintain healthy.

Sensitive skin can also appear Dry but it reacts quickly to products (often you think your face is on fire). It has a tendency to become red and flaky. Here it is Dry Skin kicked up a few notches. This is by far the hardest and most problematic skin. Finding the right product that doesn’t react can take time, but it’s Doable. Start with products that are hypo-allerginic and designated for sensitive skin. Do not risk it. For this type of skin it is essential to try the product on your wrist, or neck, before trying it on your face. See how it reacts with your skin, give it 24-48 hours then make a decision if that cream is right for you.

Now you can be one of the lucky ones that has no shine, no oil on the tissues and feel like your skin is Normal (trust me- you will know if you have normal skin). Think of it this way a wise man once said, “You only know you have it when you feel it”. For example, when you have cramps you only realize your stomach hurts because you feel the cramps. So if your face hasn’t called out to you saying, “I’m dying of thirst here” or “I feel like a frying pan” then you probably have normal skin.