What's my skin type?
Six quick questions, instant result. No email required.
The four skin types, explained
Dermatologists group skin into four main types based on how much sebum (oil) it produces: normal, dry, oily and combination. Knowing yours matters because it decides which cleansers, moisturisers and actives will actually work for you, and which will cause irritation or breakouts.
Dry skin
Produces too little sebum. It feels tight after cleansing, can look dull or flaky, and fine lines show more easily. Dry skin does best with cream cleansers, hydrating serums and richer moisturisers with ceramides. See our picks of the best moisturisers for dry skin.
Oily skin
Produces too much sebum. Expect all-over shine by midday, visible pores and a higher tendency to break out. The fix is not stripping it dry; that backfires. Lightweight gel moisturisers, niacinamide and salicylic acid are your friends. Start with our guide to the best serums for oily skin.
Combination skin
The most common type. Your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) gets oily while your cheeks stay normal or dry. Treat each zone on its own terms: mattifying products where you shine, hydration where you don't.
Normal skin
Balanced oil production, few breakouts, barely visible pores. The goal is maintenance: gentle cleanser, light moisturiser, daily SPF, and actives introduced one at a time. Our guide to simplifying your skincare routine is a good template.
How to test your skin type at home (without a quiz)
The classic method is the bare-face test. Cleanse with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and apply nothing. After an hour, check in a mirror: tightness or flaking points to dry skin, shine everywhere points to oily, shine only in the T-zone points to combination, and none of the above means normal. Our quiz above asks about the same signals, plus pore visibility, makeup wear and breakout patterns, to make the call more reliable.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 4 skin types?
Normal, dry, oily and combination. They are defined by how much oil your skin produces and where it produces it. Sensitivity is a separate trait that can apply to any of the four.
How do I know my skin type?
Watch how your bare skin behaves an hour after cleansing: tightness suggests dry, all-over shine suggests oily, T-zone shine suggests combination. The quiz above walks you through six of these checks in about a minute.
Can my skin type change?
Yes. Seasons, hormones, age, medication and your routine all shift oil production. Many people are oilier in summer and drier in winter, so re-test when things change. More on this in does your skin type change?
Do I still need SPF if my skin is oily?
Yes. UV damage affects every skin type. Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic SPF 30+, and see our roundup of the best SPF for oily skin if shine is a concern.