How To Work Out What Skin Type You Have

If you find yourself asking, “What is my skin type?” or “What skin type do I have?”, the first thing to know is that your skin typically falls into one (or maybe even two) of these five categories: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. Each skin type has its own needs and potential downfalls, which can be addressed with the right products and a more tailored routine.

Not sure which skin type you have? Try our skin type quiz: The Elemis Virtual Skin Analysis Tool. We use comprehensive technology to analyse wrinkles, firmness, expression lines, dark spots, oiliness, visible pores, radiance, and texture.

Based on this, we can deliver you a recommended personalised skincare routine based on your needs in just a few minutes!

The normal skin type is often considered the gold standard for general skin health. With balanced hydration, smooth texture, and minimal blemishes, normal skin is typically not too oily or dry. However, like all skin types, it still needs an element of care.

Features of Normal Skin:

• Balanced moisture levels
• Few visible pores
• Even texture and tone
• Radiant complexion

Normal skin benefits from a balanced production of sebum (the skin's natural oil), which acts as a protective barrier against environmental pollutants and moisture loss. Sebum also helps maintain the skin's acid mantle — a slightly acidic layer that protects against harmful bacteria and regulates skin pH levels.

In normal skin, this barrier functions efficiently, preventing the skin from becoming too oily or too dry. Normal skin has optimal hydration levels, leading to fewer visible pores and a naturally radiant complexion.

Potential problems with a normal skin type

While normal skin is considered well-balanced, it can still be prone to environmental damage from UV exposure and pollutants.

Over time, without proper care, even normal skin may lose its elasticity and develop fine lines or discolouration due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin — two proteins that provide structure and firmness.

Using protective products that shield against environmental stress and maintain hydration is important for this reason.

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30: Infused with powerful marine and plant actives, this anti-wrinkle day cream helps to firm and smooth the skin while protecting it from harmful UV rays. Perfect for maintaining hydration and preventing premature ageing.

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: A nourishing and hydrating cleansing balm that effortlessly melts away makeup and impurities while leaving the skin soft and supple.

If your skin feels tight, rough, or flaky, it likely falls under the dry skin type. Your complexion may lack moisture, requiring deep hydration to restore softness and elasticity.

Features of Dry Skin:

• Dull complexion
• Rough patches or flakiness
• Fine lines can be more prominent
• A tight feeling, especially after cleansing

In dry skin, the lipid matrix (which includes skin-loving ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol) often becomes compromised. Without these essential lipids, the skin struggles to retain moisture, leading to dehydration.

The lack of water within the epidermis can cause the skin to appear dull, flaky, and prone to forming fine lines. Without sufficient moisture, you may also find that shedding dead skin cells slows down, leading to rough patches and tight skin.

Potential problems with a dry skin type

Ongoing skin dryness can weaken the skin barrier, making it feel more sensitive. As the skin ages, it naturally produces less oil, increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dry skin can also become hypersensitive to environmental changes like cold, wind, and low humidity. For this reason, we always recommend deeply nourishing and hydrating skincare products to replenish and protect your skin.

Pro-Collagen Morning Matrix: Formulated with powerful Probiotic Lipidic Ferment, our nourishing day cream supports the skin’s production of lipids and ceramides, while deeply hydrating the skin by boosting its moisture barrier.

Superfood Facial Oil: This facial oil is rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids, it helps to replenish dry skin with a radiant glow.

Don’t forget to browse our full dry skin skincare range for more products.

Do you find your complexion looks somewhat greasy, no matter how often you wash your face? Oily skin can occur due to an overproduction of sebum, leading to a shiny complexion and clogged pores. This skin type requires products that balance oil production without stripping the skin of essential moisture.

Features of Oily Skin:

• Enlarged pores
• Shiny or greasy appearance
• Prone to blemishes
• Makeup may not stay in place

Sebaceous glands — located in the dermis — produce sebum to lubricate and protect the skin. In oily skin, these glands are overactive, leading to an excess of sebum on the skin’s surface.

This can clog pores, trapping dead skin cells and debris inside, which provides an ideal environment for bacteria. You may also have enlarged pores as the excess sebum stretches the pore openings.

Potential problems with a oily skin type

Oily skin can lead to clogged pores, which, in turn, can mean your skin is more prone to blemishes. Your complexion may also appear greasy or shiny — especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). While it may be tempting to use harsh cleansers to strip away the oil, this can have an adverse effect.

Stripping the skin of too much sebum signals the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil, making the issue even worse. As such, we recommend looking for skincare products that balance oil production without triggering over-compensation. Not sure where to start? We have a variety of gentle face cleansers for you to choose from that clear away daily grime and impurities without removing that all-important natural sebum.

Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser: Supercharged with a trifecta of skin-loving minerals and acids, this luxurious gel cleanser will leave your skin looking revived and rejuvenated.

Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads: Our skin smoothing pads are powered by our Tri-Enzyme Technology, delivering Lactic Acid and Probiotic Ferment Complex with every application. The result? Smoother, brighter skin.

For more targeted solutions, browse our oily skin skincare collection.

Combination skin has a mix of dry and oily areas, often with an oily T-zone and drier cheeks. Balancing these contrasting needs can be tricky at first, but with the right products, it’s possible to keep combination skin happy, healthy, and glowing.

Features of Combination Skin:

• Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin)
• Dry or normal cheeks
• Visible pores on the nose and forehead
• Occasional breakouts

In combination skin, the sebaceous glands in the T-zone are more active, producing excess sebum. On the other hand, your cheeks may have fewer active sebaceous glands, meaning the skin there feels and looks drier.

Having both oily and dry areas can make it tricky to treat your skin — but don’t worry, it can be done. You just need the perfect skincare products for your combination complexion.

Potential problems with a combination skin type

The challenge with combination skin is that it requires a multi-faceted approach. Treating the oily areas with harsh products can aggravate dryness on the cheeks, while overly hydrating the dry areas can lead to excess oil production in the T-zone. Over time, an imbalance in skincare can result in compromised barrier function.

The key here is to use lightweight products for the oily areas and richer products for the drier sections, maintaining balance across your face.

Superfood Midnight Facial: This prebiotic overnight cream replenishes dry skin with glow-giving moisture throughout the night. Made from a blend of energising camu camu and cocoa butter, it’s perfect for all skin types.

Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash: Balance your skin with the help of an enzyme gel cleanser. It gently exfoliates, removing pollutants from the skin to reveal a more radiant complexion.

Sensitive skin reacts easily to external factors such as harsh ingredients, weather changes, and stress. Gentle and soothing skincare products are the best way to keep this skin type calm and healthy.

Features of Sensitive Skin:

• Feels sensitive to environmental changes
• Feels tight or itchy
• Reactions to certain skincare ingredients

Sensitive skin often results from an impaired barrier function. The stratum corneum — the skin’s primary defence barrier — may be thinner or be unable to retain moisture and keep irritants out.

Potential problems with a sensitive skin type

Sensitive skin can easily react to harsh ingredients or changes in the environment — such as shifts in temperature, pollution, or sun exposure. When this happens, your skin can become more vulnerable, making it harder to stay balanced. Because of this, sensitive skin may show signs of ageing more quickly, as it can affect the natural strength of collagen and elastin. To care for sensitive skin, it's important to use gentle products that support and calm your skin, helping it stay nourished and protected.

The best products for sensitive skin types help protect your skin barrier and provide a soothing effect.

Pro-Collagen Naked Cleansing Balm: Perfect for sensitive skin types, our Pro-Collagen Naked Cleansing Balm includes all of the nourishment of our original formula — without the fragrance.

Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream: A soothing rose marine cream, featuring our best-loved superhero algae, Padina Pavonica. Designed to improve firmness and deliver instant hydration with the aromatics of a tranquil rose garden.

Discover more from our sensitive skin skincare range to keep your skin balanced and happy.

Knowledge is power, and now that you know a bit more about your unique skin type, it's time to explore the complete ELEMIS skincare collection and find the best skincare products for your needs. 

Whether you're looking to hydrate, balance, or soothe, we have a range of high-performance products backed by nature and science, designed to deliver clinically- proven results.