Understanding Your Skin Type

The Five Main Skin Types

1. Normal Skin

Balanced oil production, good hydration, and minimal sensitivity.
Common signs:

  • Rare breakouts

  • Smooth texture

  • Pores appear small

  • Skin feels comfortable, not tight or greasy

What it needs: Consistent maintenance both with suitable a suitable home routine and clinical treatments that focus on hydration, antioxidants and sun protection.

2. Oily Skin

Higher sebum (oil) production, often linked to hormones, genetics or stress.
Common signs:

  • Shine throughout the day

  • Enlarged or more visible pores

  • Frequent blackheads or breakouts

  • Makeup slides off easily

What it needs: Oil-regulating ingredients (niacinamide, salicylic acid), lightweight hydration, non-comedogenic formulas.

3. Dry Skin

Underproduces natural oils; often feels tight or rough.
Common signs:

  • Flakiness or dullness

  • Rough texture

  • Tightness after cleansing

  • Fine lines appear more pronounced

What it needs: Barrier support (ceramides, fatty acids), richer moisturisers, gentle cleansers, no stripping products.

4. Combination Skin

A mix of oily and dry areas - usually an oily T-zone with normal or dry cheeks. One of the most common skin types.


Common signs:

  • Breakouts in the T-zone

  • Visible pores in central areas

  • Dryness or flakiness on cheeks

  • Skin behaves differently across zones

What it needs: Targeted routines - oil-control for the T-zone/oily areas, hydration for dry areas. Multi-masking can be helpful.

5. Sensitive Skin

Reacts easily to products, weather changes, or friction. Can overlap with any of the above types.
Common signs:

  • Redness or stinging after products

  • Flare-ups in cold or windy weather

  • Skin feels easily irritated

  • Conditions like rosacea or eczema may be present

What it needs: Minimalist routines, soothing ingredients (centella, panthenol), fragrance-free products, barrier support.

Knowing your skin type is the foundation of choosing the right treatments, products, and routines. It helps prevent flare-ups, irritation, and wasted money on products that don’t suit your skin. Below is a simple, reliable way to understand the different skin types and how to tell which one you have.

Why Skin Type Matters

Your skin type is determined by genetics, but it’s also influenced by hormones, stress, medication, environment, and age. Using skincare that doesn’t align with your skin’s needs can:

  • Worsen breakouts

  • Increase sensitivity

  • Disrupt your skin barrier

  • Trigger unnecessary dryness or oiliness

  • Slow down treatment results

Understanding your baseline skin type allows us to tailor a routine that supports long-term skin health.

Skin Type vs. Skin Condition - They’re Not the Same

Many people confuse their skin type with a temporary condition.

Skin Type (genetic/baseline):

  • Oily

  • Dry

  • Normal

  • Combination

  • Sensitive

Skin Conditions (change over time):

  • Dehydration

  • Acne

  • Pigmentation

  • Rosacea

  • Barrier damage

  • Breakouts before a period

  • Sun damage

  • Ageing-related texture changes

You can be oily AND dehydrated, or dry AND acne-prone. This is why proper assessment matters.

How to Identify Your Skin Type at Home

1. Cleanse your face with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser.
2. Leave the skin bare. No moisturiser or treatments for 60 minutes.
3. Observe how your skin feels and looks:

  • Shiny everywhere → Oily

  • Shiny T-zone / in some areas only → Combination

  • Tight, dull, or flaky → Dry

  • Feels comfortable with no major changes → Normal

  • Red, hot, itchy, or easily irritated → Sensitive

When to Seek a Professional Assessment

If you find your skin:

  • Reacts unpredictably

  • Breaks out despite doing “everything right”

  • Looks dull, red, or textured

  • Isn’t improving with over-the-counter products

  • Feels irritated often

A professional skin consultation can identify underlying causes, assess the barrier, review dietary or lifestyle triggers, and tailor treatments that match your skin’s needs.

Next Step: Personalised Consultation

Understanding your skin type is the first step but getting results comes from a personalised plan.

A consultation lets us build a targeted routine and treatment plan based on your skin type, condition, goals, and lifestyle.

Our Halo Skin and Scalp Clinic can help you take your first step into understanding your skin. If you’d like to chat about your skin goals and treatment options, please feel free to get in touch. There is absolutely no pressure or obligation to book.

Start Your Skin Journey