How to determine your skin type at home
Understanding your skin type is one of the easiest ways to build a routine that truly supports your skin. Skin behaves differently depending on weather, hydration, lifestyle and even stress, and your skin type can change throughout the year. Knowing how it naturally behaves helps you choose the textures and formulas that keep it feeling balanced, hydrated and comfortable.
Below, discover the main skin types, how to identify yours, and the Clarins care that can help support each one.
Why knowing your skin matters
Your skin type guides everything from the cleanser you choose to the texture of your moisturiser. When you understand your skin’s natural tendencies, whether it leans dry, oily, combination or normal, it becomes much easier to choose products that support its comfort and glow.
What are the different skin types
Everyone’s skin is unique, but most people fall into one of these categories. It’s normal for your skin type to shift with seasons, travel, hormones or environmental changes.
Normal skin
How it typically feels: Soft, smooth and generally comfortable throughout the day.
Signs you may have normal skin:
- Even texture
- Little to no shine
- No tight patches
- Comfortable after cleansing
What it needs: Light, everyday hydration to maintain balance and comfort.
Clarins recommends:
A gentle, refreshing post-cleanse step that supports balance.
Dry skin
How it typically feels: Tightness after cleansing, flakiness in cold weather, and a lack of suppleness.
Signs you may have dry skin:
- Rough or flaky patches
- Dullness
- Fine, dry lines
- Makeup absorbing quickly
What it needs: Richer, nourishing textures that help restore comfort and softness.
Clarins recommends:
A formula that brings comfort and softness to dry skin. Choose the Rich Cream texture if your skin feels very dry or stressed by winter weather.
Oily skin
How it typically feels: Shiny throughout the day, especially on the forehead, nose and chin.
Signs you may have oily skin:
- Shiny skin, especially in the T-zone
- Pores that appear more visible
- Occasional congestion or excess sebum
What it needs: Lightweight, balancing textures that help reduce excess shine while maintaining hydration.
Clarins recommends:
Helps refine the look of pores and reduce surface shine while respecting the skin’s natural balance.
Combination skin
How it typically feels: Oily in some zones, tight in others.
Signs you may have combination skin:
- Oily forehead, nose or chin
- Drier cheeks
- Makeup behaving differently across areas
- Two “skin behaviours” at the same time
What it needs: A personalised mix of textures: hydration for drier zones, balancing care for the T-zone.
Clarins recommends:
- Hydrating Toning Lotion with Aloe Vera for gentle rebalancing
- Pore Control Serum on the T-zone when needed
- Hydrating fluids or light creams on drier zones
- This personalised approach helps maintain overall balance.
Sensitive skin: what does it really mean?
Skin sensitivity isn’t a skin type in itself. It’s a common concern that can affect any skin, whether dry, normal, oily or combination. Many people notice periods when their skin feels more reactive, often due to weather changes or by certain products in their routine.
Signs you may experience sensitive skin:
- Redness or visible flushing
- Tingling, warmth or general discomfort
- Reactivity to certain ingredients or fragrances
- A feeling of fragility or reduced tolerance
What sensitive-feeling skin needs: Gentle, soothing care that supports comfort and reinforce the skin’s balance.
Clarins recommends:
Created for delicate, reactive-feeling skin to help comfort, hydrate and support improved tolerance.
How to test your skin type at home
You can check your skin type in just a few steps:
- Cleanse with a mild, non-stripping cleanser
- Leave your skin bare for about one hour
- Observe how it naturally behaves
If your skin feels tight: likely dry
If it looks shiny all over: likely oily
If the T-zone shines but cheeks feel tight: likely combination
If it feels comfortable and balanced: likely normal
This test works at any time, especially useful when seasons change or your routine stops feeling effective.
How to care for your skin
- Normal skin: Fresh, lightweight creams and hydrating fluids
- Dry skin: Rich balms, comforting creams and nourishing oils
- Oily skin: Mattifying gels, purifying cleansers and balancing treatments
- Combination skin: Hydrating fluids on cheeks + targeted care for the T-zone
- Sensitive skin: Calm-Essentiel textures created for delicate, easily-reactive skin
For personalised guidance, try the
FAQ
Can my skin type change throughout the year?
Yes. Weather, travel, hormones and lifestyle shifts can all influence how your skin behaves. It’s normal to notice your skin feeling drier in winter or oilier in warmer months, so your routine may need small adjustments over time.
Can I have more than one skin type?
Yes. Many people experience combination skin, with an oilier T-zone and drier cheeks. This is very common and simply means you may benefit from using different textures on different areas of the face.
Does sensitive skin always mean allergies?
No. Sensitive skin isn’t the same as allergic skin. It simply means your skin reacts more easily to external factors such as weather changes, fragrance or certain activities. Gentle, soothing care helps support comfort and tolerance.
Do all skin types need moisturiser?
Yes. Every skin type, even oily skin, needs hydration. The key is choosing the right texture: light fluids for oily or combination skin, richer creams for dry skin, and soothing formulas for sensitive skin.
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