How to Identify Your Skin Type

Skin can basically be classified into four types: Dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, and combination skin. With the amazing range of products available for the care of each type of skin, it is important to know what kind of skin one has in order to effectively take care of it. Dr. Shehla Agrawal of Mehak: The Derma and Surgery Clinic in New Delhi, suggests that you take this quick quiz to analyse your skin type:

Answer these simple multiple choice questions and tally the answers to know what type of skin you have.

Ques:1  How does your skin look during the day?

a.       Flaky and chapped

b.      Clean and fresh looking

c.       Shiny

d.      Shiny in the T-zone (forehead nose & chin)

Ques:2            After cleansing, how does your skin feel?

a.       Tight and rough

b.      Smooth and supple

c.       Slightly oily

d.      Oily in some areas, tight in other.

Quest:3           How after does your skin break out in spots(acne, pimples)?

a.       Almost never

b.       Rarely

c.       Often

d.       Only in T-Z zone

Quest:4           Do people who meet you and friends comment on the pores showing on your face?

a.       Never

b.       Rarely

c.       Always

d.       Only on nose and chin

Quest:5           Which of the following describe your skin texture

a.       Smooth and transparent

b.       Firm and even

c.       Smooth but uneven

d.      A mixture of above.

Quest:6           With time and age the craw feet (fine lines near the eyes) have started making their appearance.

a.       Many in number and also are present near month

b.      Very few fine lines are present

c.       No they are not there

d.      May be one or two

Quest:7           After being in a dry environment like air-conditioned rooms the whole day, you feel

a.       Skin is almost stretching

b.       I am touching my skin more

c.       You feel better

d.       Stretching at places and normal at some.

Quest:8           On a humid day and after taking steam you feel

a.                  Soft and supple

b.                  Soft but sticky

c.                   Dripping with oil

d.                  Nose and chin are shining rest normal.

Quest:9           Winters are announced to you by mother nature

a.                   Earlier than other people

b.                  When everyone starts shivering

c.                   Even in biting cold skin is soft

d.                  Some parts feel colder

Quest:10         When you clean your face with wet cotton it shows

a.                   Very less dirt

b.                  Dirt is there but in limits

c.                   Looks like you bring the whole lot of pollution home.

d.                  Nose and chin are the reservoir of dirt.

If majority of your answers are:-

a’s   -               Your skin is dry. This means that your skin lacks moisture. People whose skin is dry tend to feel their skin stretching and tightness around the face. Care for dry skin includes using a soap free cleanser and regular moisturising. Moisturising once a day may not be enough and it is advisable to carry your moisturises along with you so that you can apply it whenever you need throughout the day.

b’s  -                Your skin is normal. Most people have this kind of skin. Such skin has a good balance of moisture, small pores and an even tone. In order to maintain it, it is important to take adequate measures like always wearing sunscreen to minimise damage by exposure to the harsh sun.

c’s  -                Your skin is oily. This means that your skin secretes an excess of sebum (the oil secreted by the skin), and your skin could start feeling sticky or oil within a few hours of having washed it. People with such skin do not need moisturisers, but should still wear an oil-free sunscreen.

d’s  -                Your skin is combination type. This means that your cheeks could be dry and your T-zone is oily. This type of skin requires different treatments in the different zones. Your cheeks may require a mild moisturiser but not your T-zone.