How can I identify my skin type?

Figuring out your skin type is probably the single best thing you can do for your skincare routine. Seriously, it's the first step to making anything work. The easiest way to check? Just do a simple test at home. Here's what you do:

First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser - just whatever you normally use. Pat it dry with a towel, and then don't put anything else on. No moisturizer, no serums, nothing. Just wait for about an hour. Go do something else, like make a cup of coffee or scroll through your phone.

When you come back, take a really good look at your skin:

• If you have oily skin, your face will look super shiny, and it'll feel kind of greasy all over. The T-zone (that's your forehead, nose, and chin) will be especially noticeable. You might also see bigger pores and have to deal with breakouts more often.
• If you have dry skin, it'll feel tight and maybe even a little flaky or rough. Your face might look dull, and you might notice fine lines more easily. It can just feel uncomfortable, you know?
• Combination skin is probably the most common. With this one, your T-zone will be all shiny and oily, but your cheeks will feel pretty normal or even a little dry. It's like you're dealing with two different skin types at once.
• If your skin is normal, you're one of the lucky ones! It'll feel balanced, not oily and not dry at all. Your skin texture will be smooth, and you won't have too many imperfections to worry about.
• Sensitive skin can actually happen with any of the other types. You'll know if you have it because your skin gets red, itchy, or irritated really easily. Sometimes it's from a new product, or just when the weather changes. It's just reactive.

Once you know what you're dealing with, you can finally pick the right products and ingredients that'll actually make your skin happy. It makes all the difference.