What Are the Different Skin Types and How to Identify Yours?

December 12 | 2025

14 Min Read

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What Are the Different Skin Types and How to Identify Yours?

Skin is our first line of defence against the world, so we need to keep it healthy. But did you know that everyone’s skin type is different? And, more importantly, that the products you should use will vary depending on your skin type?

Knowing your skin type helps you understand which active ingredients and routines are the best for you. For example, certain ingredients or textures may be perfect for oily skin, but could cause more problems for sensitised skin.

To help you make the best choices for your skin, we’ve put together a guide on how to identify your skin type, what that means, and what ingredients you should look out for…

Why are there different skin types?

Skin types are defined by a range of criteria, depending on how it’s being assessed. Here at Sculpted, we’re happy to leave the diagnoses to the professionals. But, we do have some qualities you can look out for to help determine your skin type.

For most of us, we look at our skin by how it feels and reacts to day-to-day life. This is split into three main categories, which are:

Sebaceous secretion (a fancy way of saying how much oil your skin produces).
Hydration level (whether your skin gets dry a lot or not).
Barrier sensitivity (or, basically how affected you are by irritants like pollen, dirt, and skincare ingredients).

These will all affect how your skin looks and feels, how it responds to external or environmental stressors, and what kind of routine will benefit your skin the most.

Pro tip: although your skin type is largely inherited through genetics, it is not fixed. Your skin type can evolve over time due to hormonal shifts, age-related changes, climate, stress, and lifestyle adjustments.

For example, most of us remember the breakout prone skin we had as teenagers. This is usually caused by all the hormone changes we go through. As you get older, you may find your skin gets drier, because it’s not as good at retaining moisture. Environmental transitions, such as travelling to a new climate or spending more time outdoors, can also influence how your skin feels from day to day.

Exploring skin types

Taking all of these factors into account, healthy skin generally falls into five broad categories: normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive. Each type has unique traits and care needs, which will change which products are best for your skincare routine.

Normal skin

Normal skin is generally fuss-free, managing to never be too oily, or too dry.

If you have normal skin, it’ll usually have a smooth texture and small pores, which gifts you with a healthy-looking complexion. Normal skin is also less prone to sensitivity or breakouts, making it the least bothersome of all skin types. (No, we’re not jealous).

Characteristics

Balanced oil and water levels, giving a comfortable, healthy feel.
Fine, barely visible pores and smooth texture.
Even colour with good circulation.
Rare breakouts or sensitivity.

Normal skin care

Of course, “normal” doesn’t mean “invulnerable.” Pollution, UV rays, travel fatigue or hormonal shifts can still tip the balance, leading to subtle dehydration, dullness or a stray blemish. To look after your skin, we recommend that you:

Cleanse daily with a 2-step gentle cleanser. Double cleansing is perfect to give you a clean base for the rest of your skincare ingredients.
Hydrate & Moisturise using ingredients like Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid to support a healthy skin barrier.
Protect with broad-spectrum SPF every morning. We have a super range of Sun Protection products for use under and over makeup, so you can stay protected all day.

Pro tip: look for non-comedogenic formulations so you stay clear without clogging pores.

Consistency is the secret to sustaining that enviable balance for normal skin. Even when life gets hectic, five minutes in the morning and night keeps normal skin looking its best. Ignoring daily care can let environmental stressors build up, dulling that natural glow.

Why it works: normal skin benefits from hydration, gentle exfoliation and consistent sun protection keeps your skin’s barrier strong and your glow intact.

Sensitive skin

Having sensitive skin can feel like you’re on a roller-coaster; one day everything is calm and comfortable, the next you’re faced with red, itchy or burning skin.

This reactivity stems from a compromised skin barrier. Whether triggered by fragrances, harsh weather or an enthusiastic exfoliating product, sensitive skin can flare up easily, leaving your skin feeling red raw and stinging.

But what does this mean for you?

Sensitive skin basically means you have a lower threshold for irritation. Genetics might predispose you to conditions like rosacea or atopic dermatitis, while long-term barrier damage amplifies every irritation you feel. Environmental culprits like pollen, pollution, UV rays, and temperature extremes can all act like sneaky invaders taking advantage of your barrier’s weakness, while stress, diet, and hormones can also make matters worse.

Characteristics

A tendency to sting, burn or flush in response to products, ingredients, or the environment.
Prone to developing redness, itching, or tightness.
The skin barrier is easily compromised, raising the risk of irritation or infection.

Sensitive skin care

For sensitive skin, the mission is to repair your skin barrier and provide gentle protection. To look after sensitive skin, you we recommend that you:

Avoid AHAs/BHAs, retinoids, fragrances, alcohol and strong exfoliants. These can be too strong for your skin to handle and make any issues worse.
Choose fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas that are gentle on the skin.
Spot-test every new product on your inner forearm for 24 hours before using it on your face. This allows you to assess if it’s right for you.
Look for soothing ingredients like Niacinamide to support your natural skin barrier. Glycerin, Ceramides, Chamomile or Aloe Vera are also perfect for gentle hydration to look after your skin.
Take simple steps. Overcomplicating your skincare routine can make your skin more sensitised to new or additional ingredients. A few simple steps can help you make the most of your products without irritating your skin.

Why it works: calming, fragrance-free formulations rebuild a weakened barrier, while minimal steps in your routine can help to reduce the risk of flare-ups.

A supportive lifestyle can make all the difference. Try to keep stress in check with mindfulness practices, avoid anything that might trigger your skin, and slather on barrier-repair creams post-shower for maximum protection.

Pro tip: maximise the value of each ingredient you use with our LiquidGlo Brightening Essence. Packed with a Unique Fermented Ingredient Blend, this absorbs deep into the skin to prepare it for other ingredients.

Dry skin

Dry skin can feel like a desert. It’s often itchy, uncomfortable, and feels like your skin is crying out for some water. Dry skin tends to happen when your sebaceous glands (the ones we mentioned before that make oil under the skin) don’t work as well as they should. Your skin actually needs some oil to provide a protective barrier and help keep moisture in. Without that natural oil layer, too much water leaves your skin, so your complexion is more prone to cracks or painful red patches.

You may also find your skin getting drier as you age. After you turn 30, sebum production drops by roughly 24% every decade. Cold winters, indoor heating and long, hot showers can also dehydrate your skin, stripping away precious Ceramides, Cholesterol and free amino acids. These are collectively known as natural moisturising factors (NMFs) and are important for making sure your skin stays hydrated.

Characteristics

Low oil production leaves the skin tight, flaky or rough.
Dull, ashy appearance and visible fine lines.
Red patches, itching or small cracks in your skin.

Dry skin care

If you have dry skin, the first rule of your skincare needs to be hydration. You want to replenish and hold onto as much moisture as possible to protect the health of your skin. As part of your skincare routine, we recommend:

Cleanse with a mild, oil-based or cream cleanser that won’t strip away too much oil from your skin. You might even want to skip a morning cleanse, and stick to washing your face in the evening when you need to get rid of makeup, SPF, sweat, and more.
Hydrate with humectants like Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, or Urea to draw as much water into your skin as possible.
Moisturise with richer creams or occlusives to lock in moisture. Our CloudCream™ is packed with Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Shea Butter for all-day hydration and protection from environmental damage.
Some lifestyle changes to consider include keeping showers short and lukewarm, investing in a bedroom humidifier to maintain indoor humidity around 50%, and swapping harsh towels for ultrasoft cotton.

Why it works: rich emulsions and occlusives lock in lasting moisture, and reduce transepidermal water loss increased by cold, dry air.

If you have dry skin, you should resist the temptation to over-exfoliate. Instead, once weekly, use a mild PHA-based exfoliant to remove dead cells without harming your skin barrier. With consistent barrier repair, dry skin should finally find its comfort zone.

Pro tip: if you are intending to use them, introduce AHAs or retinoids slowly (once or twice weekly) and always follow with a rich moisturiser to prevent flare-ups.

Oily skin

The opposite of dry skin? Oily skin. Oily skin carries a shine that’s hard to ignore, especially down the T-zone (across your forehead and down your nose and chin). In this case, your sebaceous glands run hot, churning out excess oil that can pool in enlarged pores. This creates the perfect environment for blackheads, whiteheads and inflammatory blemishes, which is why oily skin tends to be prone to breakouts.

For oily skin, hormones are the primary drivers. Hormones called androgens ramp up lipid synthesis (the scientific term for fat production) during puberty, menstrual cycles or times of stress. This means your skin starts producing a lot more oil, which can linger on the skin and clog your pores.

External factors, such as humidity, or a diet high in refined carbohydrates and dairy can also worsen overproduction, making your skin even oilier and potentially increasing the risk of acne flare-ups.

Characteristics

Excess sebum production gives the skin a shiny or “greasy” look, especially in the T-zone.
Pores often appear enlarged and may clog, leading to blackheads, whiteheads, or breakouts.
Acne and blemishes are more common, though wrinkles tend to form later than with drier types.

Oily skin care

Stripping away oil with harsh cleansers may feel satisfying, but it’s actually not always for the best. It creates a bit of a paradox for your skin: removing oil signals the skin to produce yet more, which you then strip away again, creating a cycle.

Plus, while breakouts can be frustrating, oily skin may also mean better natural moisturisation and often a delayed appearance of fine lines.

So, the key to smart oily-skin care focuses on balance, not eradication. To look after your oily skin, we recommend:

Double-Cleanse each evening to manage oil clean-up. Our DuoCleanse Cleanse & Clarify combines an excellent all-round cleanser with our clarifying formula, enriched with Salicylic Acid. This is an exfoliant that helps to remove excess oils, remove congestion in your pores, and calm existing spots or breakouts.
Choose lightweight hydration with a non-comedogenic, oil-free moisturiser that instantly mattifies while supporting your skin health.
Look for targeted treatments. The right ingredients can help you to manage oil production, including Salicylic Acid to reduce breakouts and refine texture, or Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to regulate sebum and soothe inflammation.
Use SPF daily, as even oily skin needs sun protection. Choose a mattifying SPF 30–50.

Why it works: combining BHA exfoliation with oil-regulating ingredients keeps pores clear and shine at bay, while still looking after your skin.

Counterintuitively, skipping moisturising only worsens your oiliness. By respecting your skin’s need for balanced hydration and barrier support, you prevent cycles of over-stripping and rebound sebum. You can always keep blotting papers close for midday touch-ups, and stick to non-comedogenic formulations to avoid clogging your pores.

Over time, excess shine can recede, giving clearer, refreshed, and glowing skin a chance to emerge.

Combination skin

Combination skin is nature’s hybrid, often feeling oilier around the T-zone, with cheeks that tend toward normal or dryness.

This mix can feel like caring for two faces at once. One area battles excess shine and oil production, while another begs for moisture and comfort. Seasonal swings often enhance the differences; with summer humidity spiking T-zone oil, while the chill of winter can leave your cheeks feeling too dry.

Combination skin exists because the sebaceous gland distribution is usually uneven across your face. Genetics set the density, while hormonal changes and environment dictate activity. Basically, you’re born that way.

When it comes to combination skin, balance is key to preventing both breakouts and dehydration.

Characteristics

Oily in the T-zone, but normal or dry elsewhere. You might see shine and large pores down the centre of your face, while the cheeks feel tight or flaky.
Some areas of sensitivity, leaving redness or tight skin.

Combination skin care

When it comes to combination skin, using a single, “one-size-fits-all” routine is not the one. This approach could mean you’re over-hydrating oily zones (which clogs pores), while focusing too heavily on shine control could worsen dryness elsewhere.

Instead, this skin type means embracing targeted multi-masking and zonal care.

Use a gentle, balancing cleanser with mild exfoliants like PHA (polyhydroxy acids) to soft-lift dead cells without stripping hydration from the rest of your face.
Choose zone-specific moisturisers. For your T-zone, a lightweight gel or lotion, such as our Beauty Base Oil Control, can help to reduce oiliness. For drier skin, use a thicker moisturiser for maximum hydration.
Consider serum layering by applying a universal hydrating serum including Hyaluronic Acid all over, then follow with a Niacinamide serum in oily zones for shine control.
Commit to regular exfoliation where needed. Gently exfoliating once or twice a week can help to clear congestion in the T-zone. Just make sure to avoid sensitive or dry patches.
Finish with SPF such as a fluid or spray formula which works well to give both zones balanced protection.

Why it works: targeted care per zone prioritises each area’s needs; hydration where it’s dry, lightweight support where it’s oily.

By addressing its needs, looking after combination skin can transform from a juggling act to easy-breezy care.

Pro tip: map your face into zones and keep two separate skincare “stations” in your cabinet to avoid mixing products.

How to identify your skin type

Knowing what to look for, and the best products to use, is one thing. But, getting to grips with your skin type is the first step in creating a routine that works. Without knowing whether your skin is dry, oily, sensitive or somewhere in between, it's easy to choose products that don’t suit your skin’s needs.

Thankfully, there are simple and effective at-home methods to help you figure it out.

The bare-faced method

As the name suggests, this technique relies on observing how your skin behaves when stripped of all products. It’s often referred to as the “watch and wait” approach.

For this, start by washing your face with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser that doesn’t contain active ingredients like exfoliating acids or retinoids. Pat your skin dry with a soft towel, then leave it untouched for 30 to 60 minutes.

During this time, avoid applying any moisturisers, serums, or sunscreen. The goal is to let your skin settle so you can observe its natural state.

After half an hour, examine your skin under natural daylight and ask yourself: is there visible shine across your face, or just in the forehead and nose area? Do your cheeks feel tight or look flaky? Is your skin calm, comfortable and balanced? The answers to these questions will help you tell what’s going on with your skin.

Shine across the entire face may suggest oily skin.
Tightness or flakiness indicates dry skin.
Shine only in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) points to combination skin.
No shine or dryness suggests normal skin.
Redness, itching, or discomfort may reflect sensitive skin.

The blotting sheet method

The blotting sheet method is a more practical approach that helps measure oil production directly. Follow the first steps for the bare-faced method, then after cleansing and waiting 30 minutes, press blotting paper or oil-absorbing sheets gently onto different areas of your face.

Carefully inspect each sheet for oil residue to help to identify your skin type.

Oil on every sheet suggests oily skin.
Oil mainly on the T-zone sheets indicates combination skin.
Little or no oil collected points to dry or normal skin.

Visual and sensory inspection

Beyond surface shine, take note of the overall appearance and texture of your skin. Look for clues like enlarged pores, dry patches, redness or overall tone.

Run your fingers gently across your face. Does it feel slick and greasy in places? Is it rough or tight in others? Pay attention to how your skin reacts to light touch or changes in temperature.

Oily skin often appears shiny, with visible pores and frequent blemishes.
Dry skin may show dullness, fine lines, and rough texture.
Combination skin typically has visible oil in some areas and dry patches in others.
Sensitive skin may flush or sting in response to products, pressure, or weather.
Normal skin tends to feel smooth, even, and calm without obvious shine or dryness.

When to seek expert advice

Self-testing is useful, but it has its limits.

If you’re struggling with persistent redness, painful breakouts or chronic sensitivity, booking a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist can give you clearer answers. They may carry out patch testing, hydration-level analysis or transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements to identify underlying issues such as eczema, rosacea or allergic reactions.

These assessments go beyond surface observation and provide medical insights to guide your treatment plan.

Pro tips for year-round skin care

Great skin doesn’t come from quick fixes. You need to build on simple habits repeated consistently. These everyday practices support the skin’s long-term health and help it stay balanced through every season, lifestyle change, and phase of life.

Sleep and skin: rest is when the skin gets to work, repairing damage and reinforcing its natural defences. A lack of sleep has been shown to reduce hydration levels and weaken the skin barrier, making it more prone to irritation and dryness. Aim for 7–9 hours per night to allow your skin its full recovery cycle.
Mind your diet: diets rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to stronger elasticity and reduced inflammation, offering natural support for collagen production and moisture retention. Even small changes to what’s on your plate can help your skin look brighter and feel more resilient.
Consistent routine: skin thrives on predictability. Sudden switches in products or excessive experimentation can trigger sensitivity or disrupt the skin’s rhythm. Consistency, even with a basic routine, helps strengthen and stabilise your skin over time.
Patch-test new products: whenever you try something new, patch-testing is essential, especially for sensitive skin. Apply the product to your forearm and wait 24 hours before using it on your face.

Get the perfect care for your skin type at Sculpted by Aimee

Regardless of your skin type, at Sculpted by Aimee, you can find the products to enhance your radiant complexion. Everything in our Skincare range is backed by scientific expertise to give you the best products to suit any skin type.

Explore the collection today, or check out another article from The Sculpted blog for more tips, advice, and ingredient know-how…

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