Do you know your skin type?

We're all individuals — individual in how we look, how we think, in our talents, our hobbies, even our nutrition — and our skin is no different. It deserves to have its individuality respected. So today I want to take a minute to talk about skin types. We all know our own skin type… or do we?

There are four main ones: normal, oily, dry and combination.

Normal skin

Normal skin has a clear, even appearance with small pores and a healthy glow. It has good elasticity and moisture, doesn't feel tight, and isn't easily bothered by everyday external stimulation.

Oily skin

Oily skin is caused by an over-secretion of sebum from the sebaceous glands. We do need sebum — it helps moisturise and protect our skin — but too much gives a shiny appearance, sometimes with spots or blackheads, and the pores look visible and large. And you can have oily skin at any age, not just as a teenager.

Dry skin

Dry skin has visibly small pores and looks, well, dry. It feels tight to the touch, can look a little flaky, and may show fine lines. It's producing sebum only slowly.

Combination skin

Combination skin is when you have two different types on your face at once. The most common mix is normal or oily through the T-zone (nose, forehead and chin) and dry or normal around the U-zone (cheeks, mouth and eyes).

And remember — your skin type can change

It really can, with age, hormonal changes, the environment, your diet, medication or your general health. I'm in my forties now and, honestly, I'm finding my own skin's needs change from week to week — some weeks it wants a lot more nourishment, other weeks it's perfectly happy with my twice-a-day routine. I do think stress plays a big part too. And then there's sensitive skin — which becomes irritated and red after products, or after heat or cold — and you can have that alongside any of the types above. (I'll go through skin conditions in another piece soon.)

A little at-home test

If you're not sure which type you are, here's an easy way to check. Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser, then leave it for about an hour and come back to the mirror. Is it dry? Oily? Red or irritated? Flaky? What size are your pores? Those are the clues that tell you your type — and how to adapt your routine. If your skin's dry, it'll want extra nourishment and moisture. If it's shiny, have a look at whether you're using a toner to balance it and lift away excess oil. And do know you can have oily skin that breaks out and still be dry on the surface. If you're still stuck, ask your beauty professional — they'll be more than happy to help.

And if you'd like some advice from me on your skin type, or you've a skincare issue you'd like a hand with, just message me at steph@stephkilkenny.com or call me on 087 132 8323 to book a consultation. I'm always happy to help. 🤍

Steph