Every individual person has a unique skin type with its own set of care requirements and challenges. Identifying your particular skin type is an imperative first step before making any decisions on which skincare and makeup products to apply. Whether you’re blessed with perfectly balanced skin or dealing with the trickier aspects of oily, dry, sensitive, or mature skin, there’s a tailored routine for you to follow for optimal results. Let’s walk through how to take care of your own particular skin and how to choose the best makeup products that will work in harmony with it.
Normal Skin: The Goldilocks Of Skin Types
It’s Time to Celebrate!
You’ll know if you have a normal skin type, as it will feel not too dry and not too oily, but just right! If you have normal skin, you can pretty much use any product without worrying about adverse reactions. However, it's still important to maintain a good routine to keep your skin looking its best.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt and makeup residue.
Moisturise: Only if needed. Opt for lightweight, hydrating formulas.
Prime: Before applying makeup, use a primer to even out your skin texture and ensure your makeup lasts longer.
Makeup Choices
Foundation: Any type—liquid, cream, stick, or mousse. Your skin can handle it all. Check out our recent blog post on how to choose the best foundation and our blog post on how to choose the correct foundation colour.
Powder: Both pressed and loose powders work well. Apply as much or as little as you like to achieve your desired coverage.
What Not to Do
Avoid products designed specifically for oily or dry skin, as these can disrupt your skin’s natural balance.
Dry Skin: Hydration Is Key
Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise
Tight, flaky, itchy and uncomfortable skin is a sure-fire sign of a dry skin type. The goal here is to keep your dermis hydrated and moist at all times.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use a cream cleanser to avoid stripping away natural oils.
Exfoliate: Once a week, to remove dead skin cells and promote new growth.
Moisturise: Use rich, nourishing creams, especially at night.
Makeup Choices
Foundation: Oil-based liquid foundations provide much-needed moisture.
Crème Foundations: These offer good coverage and additional hydration.
Pressed Powder: Contains moisturising oils, better than loose powders for dry skin.
What Not to Do
Avoid facial toners and astringents, which can further dry out your skin.
Limit the use of face powders, as they can highlight dry patches.
Oily Skin: Shine Control
Embrace the Slick
Oily skin can be identified by its shiny look and greasy feel, which usually worsens as the day goes on. The key is to control the oil without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. You will also need to engage extra strategies to ensure your makeup lasts all day.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use a foaming or gel cleanser with salicylic acid to control oil and prevent breakouts.
Tone: Apply a toner or astringent to remove excess oil.
Moisturise: Use a light, oil-free moisturiser, but only where needed.
Mattify: Apply a mattifier cream to help control the shine.
Makeup Choices
Foundation: Cream-to-powder or water-based liquid foundations are best. Look for ‘aqua’ on the ingredient label of liquid foundations as the tell-tale sign it’s water-based.
Powder: Use loose translucent powder (avoid pressed powders that may contain oils). Rice powder is an excellent choice for absorbing excess oil.
Blotting Papers: Keep these handy to remove excess oil throughout the day.
What Not to Do
Avoid rich, heavy creams and products containing oil.
Sensitive Skin: Handle With Care
Survival Guide for Delicate Complexions
If you fall into the sensitive skin category, you might experience redness, itching, or even allergic reactions to common skincare ingredients. Sensitive skin requires a gentle touch and careful product selection to avoid irritation.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free cleansers.
Moisturise: Opt for products specifically designed for sensitive skin.
Identify Irritants: Pay attention to which ingredients trigger reactions and avoid them at all costs.
Makeup Choices
Hypoallergenic Products: Stick to non-fragranced, chemical-free products.
Natural Makeup: Choose products with all natural ingredients. Try organic coconut oil as an effective natural makeup remover and moisturiser in one.
Mineral Makeup: 100% pure mineral makeup is often a safe option for sensitive skin.
What Not to Do
Never try new products right before a big event. Test them first to ensure they don’t cause a reaction.
Combination Skin: The Best (and Worst) Of Both Worlds
T-Zone Troubles
Combination skin is typically oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and normal to dry elsewhere. The challenge is balancing these contrasting areas.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser suitable for all skin types.
Tone: Apply toner only in the T-zone area to manage oil.
Moisturise: Lightly moisturise the T-zone with oil-free products and use richer creams on drier areas.
Prime: Apply a primer to create a smooth, even base for makeup.
Makeup Choices
Foundation: Water-based liquid foundation works well.
Powder: Use loose powder on the T-zone to control shine.
Blush: Powder blush is better than cream or liquid blush for combination skin.
What Not to Do
Avoid heavy creams and oily products, especially on the T-zone.
Mature Skin: Aging Gracefully At 40+
Adapt to Your Changing Skin
Mature skin needs extra care to maintain elasticity and moisture. Fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots are common concerns.
Skincare Routine
Cleanse: Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser.
Moisturise: Apply an intensive, age-specific moisturiser regularly.
Eye Cream: Use a quality eye cream to combat crow’s feet.
Prime: Before makeup, apply a primer to smooth the skin’s texture.
Makeup Choices
Foundation: Use an oil-based foundation with sheer to medium coverage.
Powder: Set foundation with a loose translucent powder to prevent it sliding around and pooling in wrinkles throughout the day.
Concealer: Liquid concealers work best. Pink concealers can neutralise and help hide brown age spots.
Lip Liner: Line lips first to prevent lipstick seeping into lip lines.
Less is More: Apply makeup sparingly to avoid accentuating fine lines and wrinkles.
What Not to Do
Avoid pink-based foundations, which can have an aging effect.
Don’t use makeup in lined areas, to prevent it from settling into wrinkles.
Keep highlighters away from ‘crepey’ or wrinkly skin as it will only accentuate the texture.
Skin Type vs. Skin Care At a Glance
Skin Type | Traits | Skin Prep | Makeup Products |
Normal | Well-balanced, neither too oily nor too dry | Use a gentle cleanser and a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser; regular exfoliation | Any products will work but avoid those specifically formulated for dry or oily skin types |
Dry | Flaky, tight, rough texture | Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser and rich moisturiser; apply hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid | Hydrating oil-based foundation, cream blush, and moisturising lipsticks |
Oily | Shiny, greasy, large pores, prone to acne | Use a foaming cleanser, lightweight moisturiser, and oil-free primer; apply salicylic acid treatments | Matte water-based foundation, powder blush, loose translucent or rice powder, and long-wear lipstick |
Sensitive | Redness, irritation, prone to reactions | Use a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free cleanser and moisturiser; avoid alcohol-based products | Mineral foundation, all natural and hypoallergenic products |
Combination | Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with dry or normal cheeks | Use a gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturiser on oily areas and richer moisturiser on dry areas, and oil-control products on the T-zone | Balanced water-based foundation, dual-finish powder, loose translucent powder focused on the T-Zone area and powder blush |
Mature | Fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity | Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser, anti-aging serum with retinol or peptides, rich moisturiser and night cream | Sheer-medium cover oil-based foundation (avoid wrinkled areas), translucent powder to set foundation, lip liner to avoid lipstick seeping into lip lines |
Final Thoughts: Now You Can Identify Your Skin Type
Every skin type has its own unique needs, but with the right care and makeup products, you can ensure your skin looks its absolute best at all times. The basic takeaway is this: Add moisture and oil to dry areas, avoid moisture and oil in oily areas, tread carefully with sensitive or aging skin, and use neutral products to maintain already balanced skin. When you break it down like this, seeking out the perfect skincare and makeup products becomes a breeze. As always in beauty, these rules are just a guideline. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what results work best for you.
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