Skincare Basics: Understanding Your Skin Type
Learn about different skin types and their care methods to build a solid foundation for your skincare journey.

Written by skin_diary
Start Your Skincare Journey by Understanding Your Skin
The first step in skincare is understanding your skin, then choosing products based on your specific needs, and finally learning daily care routines. Cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, whitening, anti-aging - these are all essential lessons. But before everything begins, you need to understand: what type of skin do you have?
What Type of Skin Do You Have?
Different skin types require different care approaches. The right treatment for the right condition can make your efforts twice as effective. Common skin types mainly include the following:
Dry Skin
- Characteristics: Fine, thin texture with less visible pores
- Sebum condition: Low and even sebum production, no oily feeling
- Moisture content: Skin barrier water content below 10%, relatively dry skin
Oily Skin
- Characteristics: Rough texture with enlarged pores
- Sebum condition: Excessive oil production, face and nose sides often appear shiny
- Problems: Prone to blackheads and acne
Normal Skin
- Characteristics: Smooth and elastic to touch
- Sebum condition: Normal oil production, neither oily nor dry
- Advantages: Ideal skin type, but not very common
Combination Skin
- Characteristics: Different areas of the face have significantly different skin conditions
- Distribution: T-zone (forehead, eyebrows, and nose area) shows oily skin characteristics, while cheek areas are normal or dry
Sensitive Skin
- Characteristics: Thin skin, naturally fragile and lacks elasticity
- Sensitivity reactions: More sensitive to environmental changes, skin reddens during seasonal changes or temperature fluctuations, prone to small bumps
- Vascular issues: Shallow capillaries that break easily, forming small red blood vessels
Simple Test for Your Skin Type
Cleansing Test Method
Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, then observe your skin's condition after 30 minutes without applying any products:
- Tight feeling all over: Dry skin
- Shiny T-zone, normal cheeks: Combination skin
- Shiny all over: Oily skin
- Comfortable feeling: Normal skin
Blotting Paper Test
In the morning after waking up, use blotting paper to gently press different areas of your face:
- No oil absorption: Dry skin
- Light oil absorption: Normal skin
- Heavy oil absorption: Oily skin
- T-zone oil, cheeks no oil: Combination skin
Basic Skincare Routine
Morning Routine
- Gentle cleansing: Use lukewarm water and gentle cleanser
- Toner: Balance skin pH and prepare for subsequent products
- Serum: Target specific skin concerns
- Moisturizer: Lock in moisture and nutrients
- Sunscreen: Essential step for skin protection
Evening Routine
- Makeup removal: Thoroughly remove makeup and sunscreen
- Deep cleansing: Use cleanser for secondary cleansing
- Toner: Prepare skin for night care
- Treatment products: Such as retinol, vitamin C, etc.
- Night moisturizer: Provide intensive overnight repair
Skincare Tips
- Be consistent: Skincare results require time and patience
- Start simple: Begin with basic products, gradually add according to needs
- Patch test: Test new products on a small area first
- Listen to your skin: Adjust routine based on skin's response
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to maintain skin hydration from within
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-cleansing: Can damage the skin barrier
- Using too many products: Can burden the skin
- Frequent product changes: Doesn't give products time to work
- Ignoring sunscreen: UV damage is the main cause of skin aging
- Touching face frequently: Can introduce bacteria and cause breakouts
Remember, everyone's skin is unique. What works for others may not work for you. The key is to understand your skin type, choose appropriate products, maintain consistency, and be patient. Skincare is a long-term journey, not a quick fix.