You can do a physical test to check your skin type. A home test measures sebum production. Sebum is a waxy, oily liquid that comes from your pores. The amount of sebum your skin produces can determine if your skin is:
- dry
- oily
- normal
- combination
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Testing sebum production on a clean face is the most accurate way to determine what kind of skin you have. Follow these steps
Wash your face and pat it dry. Wait 30 minutes.
Gently press oil blotting paper or tissue on your face. Press the paper on different areas of your skin, such as your forehead and nose, cheeks, and chin.
Hold the sheet to the light to see how transparent the paper is. If there is no transparency, but with flakes or tight skin then your skin is dry.
If the tissue is soaked through then your skin is oily. Different levels of absorption on different areas of the face then you have combination type of skin. Not too oily and no flaky skin its normal.
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Along with the above skin types, you can also have sensitive skin, which doesn’t follow the sebum criteria. Sensitive skin depends on:
- how fast your skin reacts to product application
- how well your skin protects itself
- how easily your skin turns red
- likelihood of skin allergy
