The first step towards beautiful skin is working out what your skin type is. This is necessary so that you can work out how to care for your skin, and what products you should use.

Below are the features of the five main skin types which you can compare to your own skin type. Once you have decided what type your skin is you can find out what the best way is to look after your skin.

Which of these do you think is the closest match to your skin?

Normal skin

Normal skin does not feel dry or oily and pores are visible but not large or clogged. After a wash it normal skin feels smooth and comfortable. And at midday it still looks fresh and clean. Lucky for those with this kind of skin, it only occasionally breaks out in spots.

Caring for normal skin

To care for normal skin you should start with a gentle foaming facial wash. Massaging it into your face will give you a rosy complexion. Cool your skin with a refreshing toner. To finish, dot moisturiser onto your skin and massage it with your fingers in light upward strokes.

Dry skin

Dry skin has a thin and papery texture and feels dry to touch. The pores are very fine. After a wash it feels tight, almost as though it is too small for the face and by midday flaky patches appear. People with dry skin rarely break out in spots.

Caring for dry skin

For dry skin use a creamy cleanser to melt away dirt. Leave it on your skin before sweeping it away with cotton wool. Splash cold water onto your face to clean and refresh your skin. Use a thick cream moisturiser to seal in as much moisture as possible.

Oily skin

Oily skin feels very greasy while the texture is often very thick and coarse and pores are large and visible. After a wash skin feels fine and by midday it looks shiny. Oily skin often breaks out in spots.

Caring for oily skin

To care for oily skin you should start with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture. Soak cotton wool in a gentle astringent lotion and sweep it over your skin to refresh and cool it.

Even oily skin needs a moisturiser, but chose a light, watery fluid; this will be enough for your skin. Allow the moisturiser to sink in and then absorb the excess with a tissue to prevent shine.

Combination skin

Probably the most common, combination skin is normal with a few dry patches and a few oily patches. Dryness is usually on the cheeks while oiliness is usually on the T-zone (across the forehead, nose, and chin).

After a wash some areas feel dry and some smooth and by the midday the T-zone is shiny. Often break out in spots in the T-zone.

Caring for combination skin

If you have combination skin use a foaming facial wash in the mornings to cleanse your skin. This will keep the oily areas clean to prevent blackheads. In the evening use a cream cleanser to soothe your dry areas.

This will keep a balance between excess dryness and excess oiliness. Use a strong astringent for your oily areas and a mild skin freshener for the dry areas.

This is not an expensive option, as you will only need a little of each. Use moisturiser on your whole face, but make sure you concentrate on your drier areas.

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