Skincare basics
Dry, Oily or Combination? Understanding Your Skin Type
2 min read
Lifestyle photo — illustrative only, not a treatment result.
Knowing your skin type makes shopping far easier. Instead of guessing, you can choose textures and cleansers that feel comfortable. Your skin type is not a label for life, and it is not a medical diagnosis. It is simply a helpful way to describe how your skin usually behaves.
The four common skin types
Most people recognise themselves in one of these descriptions:
- Normal: skin feels comfortable most of the day. It is neither very tight nor very shiny.
- Dry: skin often feels tight, rough or flaky, and may look dull or ashy, especially after washing.
- Oily: skin looks shiny, often across the whole face, and may feel greasy by midday.
- Combination: some areas are oily, usually the forehead, nose and chin, while the cheeks feel normal or dry.
Gentle ways to observe your skin
Wash your face with a mild cleanser, pat it dry and leave it bare for about an hour. Then notice how it feels. Tight all over suggests dryness; shine everywhere suggests oiliness; shine only in the centre of the face suggests combination skin.
Also notice how your skin behaves across a normal week, in hot or humid weather and in air-conditioned rooms. These observations are a guide, not a diagnosis.
Sensitivity can come with any type
Sensitive skin is not a separate type in the same way. Dry, oily, combination and normal skin can all be sensitive. If products often sting, burn or leave your skin red or itchy, choose simpler, fragrance-free options where possible and introduce them one at a time.
Dry skin versus dehydrated skin
Dry skin describes skin that tends to lack oil and often feels rough. Dehydrated skin lacks water and can happen to anyone, even people with oily skin. It may feel tight while still looking shiny. Hot showers, harsh cleansers, sun and dry indoor air can all leave skin feeling dehydrated. Gentle cleansing and a suitable moisturiser can help it feel more comfortable.
Your skin can change
Skin needs can shift with the seasons, climate, age, hormones, stress and the products you use. The rainy season in Limbe may feel very different from a dry, dusty trip up north. It is worth checking in with your skin every few months and adjusting your routine.
Use our filters to explore
In our shop, open Filters and choose a skin type such as Dry, Oily or Sensitive. We only tag a product where its information supports that skin type, so some products will not appear under every filter. You can combine filters with price or concern to narrow the list.
If your skin often feels painful, cracked, very itchy or looks inflamed, please speak with a pharmacist or doctor rather than relying on a skin-type guess.
Explore relevant products
Choose based on your own skin. You don't need every product listed here.
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
May suit normal, oily or combination skin that feels comfortable with a foaming wash.
CeraVe
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
A light, fragrance-free lotion that may suit normal or combination skin.
CeraVe
Moisturizing Cream
A richer, fragrance-free cream that may feel better on dry skin.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology — Face washing 101
- American Academy of Dermatology — Dermatologists' tips to relieve dry skin
- American Academy of Dermatology — How to test skin care products
General information only, not medical advice. Results vary from person to person. For painful, persistent or worsening skin problems, speak with a pharmacist or doctor.