The 5 Skin Types Explained: How to Find Yours
Knowing your skin type is the single most useful thing you can do before buying any skincare product. It decides which textures feel comfortable, which ingredients your skin welcomes, and which routine actually fits your daily life. In this guide you will learn the five main skin types, a simple way to identify your own, and how weather, the changing seasons, and even what you eat can influence how your skin behaves.
What "skin type" actually means
Your skin type is mostly determined by genetics and describes how your skin naturally behaves over time — specifically how much oil (sebum) it produces and how well it holds on to moisture. It is different from a temporary skin condition such as dehydration, sensitivity flare-ups, or breakouts, which can come and go regardless of your underlying type. A good routine starts with your type, then adjusts for whatever condition your skin is in that week.
The 5 skin types at a glance
Most people fit into one of five categories: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. The table below summarises how each one typically looks and feels.
| Skin type | How it feels | Typical signs | Common needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Balanced, comfortable | Small pores, even tone, rarely reactive | Maintenance & protection |
| Dry | Tight, sometimes flaky | Dull look, rough patches, fine lines more visible | Richer moisture, barrier support |
| Oily | Shiny, especially midday | Visible pores, shine in T-zone, prone to congestion | Lightweight hydration, balance |
| Combination | Oily T-zone, drier cheeks | Shine on forehead/nose, tightness on cheeks | Zone-specific care |
| Sensitive | Easily reactive | Redness, stinging or warmth with certain products | Gentle, fragrance-light formulas |
Normal skin
Normal skin is well balanced: not noticeably oily, not tight, with a smooth texture and pores that are small and even. It tolerates most products well. The goal here is simply to keep that balance with gentle cleansing, daily hydration, and consistent sun protection.
Dry skin
Dry skin produces less oil, so it can feel tight, look dull, and occasionally flake. It often benefits from richer, more nourishing textures and ingredients that support the skin barrier and help skin hold on to water, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane.
Oily skin
Oily skin makes more sebum, which can leave a shine (especially across the forehead, nose, and chin) and make pores look larger. A common mistake is over-stripping it — lightweight, water-based hydration usually keeps oily skin more comfortable and balanced than harsh products do.
Combination skin
Combination skin behaves differently in different areas: usually an oilier T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with normal-to-dry cheeks. The trick is to treat each zone for what it needs rather than applying one heavy or one drying product all over.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin reacts easily — with redness, warmth, or a stinging feeling — to certain ingredients, fragrance, or environmental triggers. It tends to do best with short, gentle routines built around soothing, minimal-fragrance formulas, introducing new products one at a time.
A simple at-home test to find your type
The classic "bare-face" method takes about 30 minutes:
- Cleanse your face gently and pat dry.
- Apply nothing — no moisturiser, no serum.
- Wait about 30 minutes and observe how your skin feels.
- Tight all over? Likely dry. Shiny all over? Likely oily. Shiny T-zone, comfortable cheeks? Combination. Comfortable and even? Normal. Red or stinging easily? Sensitive traits.
If you would like a more guided result, our AI skin coach, Lumi, can walk you through a few questions and suggest a starting routine based on your answers.
How weather affects your skin
Your skin type stays fairly constant, but its day-to-day behaviour shifts with your environment. Cold, windy air and low humidity tend to draw moisture away from the skin, which can leave even normal skin feeling tighter in winter. Hot, humid weather often increases oil production and sweating, which can make oily and combination skin feel shinier. High altitude, air conditioning, and indoor heating are all low-humidity environments that can leave skin feeling drier than usual.
The practical takeaway: your type tells you your baseline, but you may need to adjust textures — lighter in humid heat, richer in cold and dry air — as conditions change.
How the seasons change your routine
Because weather shifts with the seasons, many people find their skin needs change through the year:
- Autumn & winter: cooler, drier air often calls for richer moisturisers and extra barrier support, even for oily skin.
- Spring: a transition month — a good time to gradually lighten heavier winter textures.
- Summer: heat and humidity usually mean lighter, water-based hydration and, always, daily sunscreen.
One constant across every season and skin type: daily sun protection. UV exposure is one of the most significant environmental factors influencing how skin ages over time.
Does diet influence your skin?
Skincare works from the outside, but research suggests that overall nutrition and hydration also play a supporting role in skin health. A few well-studied associations are worth knowing:
- Hydration: studies have explored links between water intake and skin hydration, particularly in people with lower baseline intake.
- Antioxidant-rich foods: diets rich in vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats provide nutrients that research associates with skin health.
- Glycaemic load: some studies have investigated associations between high-glycaemic diets and certain skin concerns, though findings vary between individuals.
Everyone responds differently, and diet is only one of many factors. A balanced diet, good hydration, and a consistent skincare routine work best together — and for any specific skin or dietary concern, it is always sensible to speak with a dermatologist or healthcare professional.
Now you know your type — what's next?
Once you have identified your skin type, the next step is a routine that suits it. We have a dedicated guide for each type:
- Best routine for normal skin
- Best routine for dry skin
- Best routine for oily skin
- Best routine for combination skin
- Best routine for sensitive skin
If you would prefer a ready-made starting point, our Start Here routine sets are matched to each skin type, so you can build a complete K-beauty routine in one step.
Quick recap: The five skin types are normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. Your type is your baseline — but weather, seasons, and lifestyle all influence how your skin behaves day to day. Start with your type, protect your skin from the sun every day, and adjust textures as the conditions around you change.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. For persistent or specific skin concerns, please consult a dermatologist or qualified healthcare professional.
References: Palma L. et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol (2015), PMID: 26345226 (skin hydration & water intake). Cao C. et al., Nutrients (2020), PMID: 32213934 (diet & skin health). Bhattacharya N. et al., studies on glycaemic load and skin (see PubMed for current literature). Krutmann J. et al., J Dermatol Sci (2017), PMID: 28325533 (environmental factors & skin ageing).