In order to create an effective skincare routine, it's important to understand
your skin's individual needs. This will help you determine which products can improve your skin and which products may damage it. The first step in working out what your skin needs is to determine your skin type. At a basic level, there are four main skin types; normal, oily, combination, and dry. Although you're likely to only fall into one category, your skin type may change over time. For example, your skin tends to get drier as you age. Your skin type is determined by how much or how little sebum (oil) your skin produces.
HOW ACCURATE ARE THESE SKIN TYPES?
These five basic skin types are just that, basic. They are a useful guide towards working out which skincare products are right for you but they don't take into consideration the degree of your skin type (e.g. dry or very dry), nor do they take into account various skin conditions. For example, you can have dry skin that is acne-prone, or dehydrated, oily skin that may mimic a dry skin type. Therefore, they should only be used as a guide.