How to Identify Your Skin Type and Build the Right Skincare Routine – A Complete Guide by NIVEA India

1. Several factors like hormones, environment, genetics, age, stress, diet and the climate you live in play a role in determining your skin type.
2. There are five major skin types, including normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive.
3. Identify your skin type at home by cleansing your face, patting it dry and observing it for the next few hours.
4. When it comes to skin types, Nivea has something for everyone, and the products include lip balms, face creams, moisturizers, sunscreens, deodorants and a whole lot more.

Your skin is considered the largest organ in your body. Every human being possesses different skin types. Not only does it protect you, but it also enables you to feel sensations. There are a great number of factors that play a role in determining your skin type, such as age, genetics, stress, hormones, diet and environmental conditions. The climate you live in may influence your skin type. Normal, combination, dry, oily and sensitive are the different skin types you can have. After learning this, you must ask yourself, ’How to know your skin type?’

It is important to know your skin type if you want to have healthy skin. Knowing this empowers you to understand what kind of skincare might be best for it. The market is flooded with a wide range of skin care products made up of impressive ingredients. However, how do you know which product will be the most effective on your skin? To determine this, you will need to need to pick skin care products that best suit your skin type.

Primarily, the different skin types in human beings can be divided into five sections. Read on below to learn more about them.

1. Normal Skin:

   People with no major skin concerns are regarded as those with normal skin. If you do not have oily or dry skin, it is deemed normal skin. This lucky skin type is rather low maintenance. A good quality sunscreen like the Nivea Sun Protect & Dry Touch Invisible Spray is a great pick if you have normal skin. It provides instant protection on the skin, and its transparent formula immediately absorbs into the skin. Moreover, the fact that it is a spray makes it easy to use.

2. Dry Skin:

   If the answer to the question, ‘What skin type do I have?’ is dry skin, then it could be because you produce less sebum than your skin requires. Apart from sebum production, your age can affect the moisture level in your skin, making it look dry. As you age, the production of sebum in your body decreases. Furthermore, if you live in a colder climate, then it could contribute to your skin’s dryness. Changing seasons affect your skin too. A good moisturizer can be your skin’s best friend if you struggle with dry skin. The Nivea Soft is an effective moisturizing cream that makes your skin feel soft and supple. It is dermatologically approved and suitable for all skin types, including dry skin.

3. Oily Skin:

   You have sebum that is working overtime to blame if you struggle with oily skin. People who have oily skin may have enlarged pores, a greasy face and are possibly marred with pimples or blackheads. Another grief oily skin brings is clogged pores that could result in acne. So, using appropriate products for oily skin and following a good oily skin routine is an absolute essential when it comes to combating oily skin.

4. Combination Skin:

   If you feel like your face is actively trying to confuse you by being dry in certain areas and oily in others, then you might just have what is called a combination skin type. If you have this particular skin type, then you need to pick products accordingly. Skin care products for combination skin types are similar to those for oily skin. The percentage of ingredients could differ. For instance, a product for people with oily skin may have 10% benzoyl peroxide; however, a product for people with combination skin types may only have 2% benzoyl peroxide.

5. Sensitive Skin:

   If you have asked yourself, ‘How do I know my skin type?’ and it has led you to the answer that your skin type is sensitive, then first and foremost, you have our heart. Having sensitive skin is not the easiest thing in the world. This means you must be uber careful when it comes to applying products on your skin. People with sensitive skin are more likely to experience itchiness, redness, burning and dryness.

You can identify your skin type at home by following a few simple tests. Firstly, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. The Nivea Milk Delights Saffron Face Wash is a worthy pick as it is suitable for all skin types, and it removes dirt and impurities. Then, proceed to pat your face dry using a clean towel. Notice how your skin appears and feels as soon as you wash it. Observe any changes that may take place over the next few hours. If you have dry skin, it will feel dry for a while after washing. Oily skin may look normal after washing but may soon appear greasy or shiny.

If you have combination skin, your t-zone may be oily, and the rest of your face may be normal. Those with normal skin will feel no change during the course of the day. Lastly, people with sensitive skin may burn, sting or itch after washing.

While people with normal skin have the least number of issues, the other skin types are not as privileged. People with combination skin can have pores, blackheads and shiny skin. Meanwhile, people with dry skin types have red patches, less elasticity in their skin, more visible lines, a dull or rough complexion and pores that are almost invisible. To remedy this situation, you need to use skincare products that best suit your skin.

Moreover, people with dry skin should take shorter baths and showers and limit them to just once a day. Mild, gentle soaps and cleansers are the best. Avoid scrubbing and use a good, rich moisturizer after bathing. A humidifier could help you if you have dry skin. People with oily skin should use a gentle cleanser and avoid scrubbing. Avoid picking, popping or squeezing pimples as they prolong healing. Noncomedogenic skin care products are your best bet. If you have sensitive skin, find out what your triggers are so that you can avoid them like the plague.

At Nivea, there is something for all skin types. From face care to shaving products for men, forgive the cliché, but there truly is something for everyone. The Luminous630 Oil Control Serum is specially designed for the benefit of people with oily or combination skin. It mattifies your skin for 12 hours and makes your skin soft and smooth. Meanwhile, the NIVEA Men Active Lip Balm is suitable for all skin types. It keeps your lips moisturized and protects your lips against dryness and chapping. Moreover, its SPF protection shields you from the harsh sun. Its effects last for up to 24 hours!

The climate you live in is incredibly important when it comes to your skin’s condition. Read on to learn about the same:

1. Hot and humid:

   If the weather is hot and humid where you live, then you should stick to gentle foaming cleansers 2 times a day to rid yourself of oil, sweat and dirt. Cleansers with salicylic acid can help prevent clogged pores, and do not over-dry your skin. Choose chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or glycolic acid to exfoliate and clear dead skin cells and oils. A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer is your friend. Gel-based moisturizers are great for hot climates as they save your skin from being greasy. Make sure you do not skip sunscreen.

2. Cold and Dry:

   If you live in a cold Indian climate, you can use a hydrating, cream-based cleanser that will not strip your skin of its essential nutrients. This helps maintain your skin’s moisture and keeps your skin clean. Thereafter, a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week ought to do the trick. A good moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid and ceramides is good for you. Do not be under the impression that winters do not require sunscreen. Knowing your skin type is the first step when it comes to deciphering your skincare routine. An oily skin routine will differ from a dry skin routine. It helps you pick the correct products for your skin, which, if not done, could further complicate your skin’s condition. If you found this article helpful, feel free to pass it on to anyone who might wonder, ‘How to know skin types?'.