Skincare Types: Find Your Skin Type and What Really Works

When it comes to skincare types, the category that groups skin based on oil production, moisture levels, and sensitivity. Also known as skin types, it isn’t about trends or fancy bottles—it’s about understanding what your skin actually needs to stay balanced and healthy. Most people think they have "normal" skin, but that’s rare. The truth? You’re likely dealing with one of four main types: oily, dry, combination, or sensitive. And mixing them up is why so many products fail.

Your oily skin, skin that produces too much sebum, leading to shiny areas and clogged pores. Also known as greasy skin, it often shows up on the T-zone and responds best to lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas. If your face looks shiny by noon and your makeup slides off, you’re probably oily. On the flip side, dry skin, skin that lacks natural oils and feels tight, flaky, or rough. Also known as dehydrated skin, it needs richer creams and gentle cleansers to rebuild its barrier. You might notice redness or peeling after washing. Then there’s combination skin, skin that’s oily in some areas (like the forehead and nose) and dry or normal elsewhere. Also known as mixed skin, it’s the most common—and the trickiest to manage. You can’t use the same product everywhere. And sensitive skin, skin that reacts easily to products, weather, or stress with redness, burning, or itching. Also known as reactive skin, it doesn’t always fit neatly into the other categories. It’s not an allergy—it’s a nervous system response. The wrong scrub, fragrance, or even hot water can trigger it.

Knowing your type isn’t about labeling yourself. It’s about stopping the cycle of buying the wrong stuff. A moisturizer for dry skin will clog oily pores. A foaming cleanser for oily skin will strip sensitive skin bare. And using actives like retinol or AHAs without knowing your skin’s tolerance? That’s how you end up with irritation, peeling, or worse. The right routine doesn’t need ten steps—it needs the right first step: knowing your skin type.

Below, you’ll find real answers from people who’ve been there. No fluff. No marketing. Just what works—and what doesn’t—based on actual skin behavior, not Instagram trends. Whether you’re confused by a breakout, stuck with flaky patches, or tired of products that promise the world but deliver nothing, the posts here will help you cut through the noise and find what your skin actually needs.