If your skin is low-maintenance and rarely gives you trouble, congratulations - you have normal skin. While it’s not immune to occasional dryness or breakouts, it’s generally well-balanced.

Signs you have normal skin:

• Your skin feels comfortable - not too oily or too dry.
• Breakouts are rare, and your pores are small or barely visible.
• Your skin looks smooth and healthy with minimal effort.

If blotting papers are your best friend and your forehead seems to shine by lunchtime, welcome to the oily skin club! This skin type produces excess sebum (oil), especially in the T-zone, which makes your skin look shiny and can clog pores.

Signs you have oily skin:

• You notice a shine on your face within hours of washing it.
• Your makeup slides off or looks greasy by midday.
• Pores on your nose, forehead, and chin look larger or more pronounced.
• You’re prone to blackheads, whiteheads, and frequent breakouts.

If your skin feels tight and flaky no matter how much moisturizer you apply, chances are you have dry skin. It often looks dull, rough, or even cracked due to a lack of moisture. Dry skin can also make fine lines and wrinkles appear more quickly and prominently.

Signs you have dry skin:

• Your skin feels tight or rough, especially after cleansing.
• Flaky patches appear on your cheeks, forehead, or around your nose.
• Your skin can feel itchy, especially during the colder months.
• Fine lines may be more visible, especially around the eyes and mouth.

If you’re torn between deciding whether your skin is oily or dry, chances are you have combination skin! Your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) tends to be oily, while your cheeks are dry or normal. It can also fluctuate depending on the day or even the season.

Signs you have combination skin:

• Your forehead and nose feel oily by midday, but your cheeks remain dry or balanced.
• You notice breakouts in the oily areas but dryness or flakiness on your cheeks.
• Pore size varies - larger in the T-zone, smaller elsewhere.
• Seasonal changes affect your skin: oilier in summer, drier in winter.

Sensitive skin is easily irritated and reactive, which can make choosing skincare products feel like a minefield. You may feel nervous or hesitant when trying new products, always worried about potential reactions. Triggers can include fragrance, harsh chemicals, extreme weather, or even stress. Finding the right products is crucial to keeping your skin calm and comfortable.

Signs you have sensitive skin:

• Your skin turns red or feels itchy after using certain products.
• You often experience burning or stinging sensations.
• Your skin reacts quickly to environmental changes, like cold winds or heat.
• Conditions like eczema or rosacea may be present.

Mature skin naturally develops as we age, typically becoming thinner, drier, and more textured. Your skin starts to produce less elastin and collagen, causing you to notice fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of firmness over time. Mature skin often feels drier due to a decrease in natural oil production, and it may show uneven tone or age spots.

Signs you have mature skin:

• Fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and mouth.
• Loss of firmness and elasticity.
• Drier, thinner skin with a rough texture.
• Uneven skin tone or age spots.
• Increased sensitivity or slower healing.

Acne-prone skin can occur with any skin type, but it’s most common with oily or combination skin. It’s characterised by frequent breakouts, clogged pores, and inflammation, often leading to deeper, more painful pimples or cysts that take longer to heal. Unlike occasional breakouts, acne-prone skin may leave scars and involve more severe, persistent acne that requires targeted treatment.

Signs you have acne-prone skin:

• Frequent breakouts, especially deep, painful pimples or cysts.
• Clogged pores, blackheads, and whiteheads.
• Inflammation and redness, often around breakouts.
• Scarring or uneven skin tone from past breakouts.

Eczema-affected skin is prone to flare-ups of redness, itching, and irritation. It can appear anywhere on the body, but common areas include the face, hands, and inside elbows or behind knees.

Signs you have eczema-affected skin:

• Red, itchy, and inflamed patches.
• Skin feels dry, rough, and sometimes cracked.
• Flare-ups triggered by stress, weather changes, or allergens.
• You may notice small blisters or thickened skin in chronic cases