Confused on Skin types

[Pancua]

This is probably a really ignorant question but I'm confused when it comes to skin types. I understand the concept of oily, dry and normal but I'm not sure which applies to me or if they all do.

For instance, I just got up from bed and my face doesn't feel slick or overly dry, just feels like my face so people have told me I have normal skin. There have been times though that people have said I have oily skin because I tend to get a lot of sheen on my make up when I do use it. Mostly on my nose and forehead. Of course, because I have no issues ever with my cheeks, I'm told I have combination skin

Argh! Which is it? Do they all apply? If so, which one should I cater to the most?

 

[Dragonfly]

This comes from Dr Leslie Baumann:

The Skin Type Solution 2006 by Dr Leslie Baumann MD Dermatologist

Which of the 16 skin types are you?

Dry (D) vs. Oily (O)
Oily skin appears shiny, and those who have it may prefer gel- or powder-based cosmetic products, as moisturizers feel greasy. Dry skin may appear dull and rough; dry skin types find moisturizer soothing and gravitate toward creamy makeup. Many people assume this parameter is solely affected by oil production, but the condition of your skin barrier - the moisture-retaining outer layer of skin - is equally important.

Sensitive (S) vs. Resistant ®
Sensitive skin flushes easily and may become red and irritated at the slightest deviation from its standard routine; it may also be prone to acne and eczema. While resistant skin sounds like an unqualified blessing, people with this type often need to use stronger products to penetrate their skin and achieve the desired effect.
 

Pigmented (P) vs. Non-Pigmented (N)
Some people believe that pigmented types are always dark-skinned, which is absolutely not the case. Anyone who experiences unwanted dark spots - melasma, sun spots, or freckles for example - is a pigmented type - in fact, 21% of visits to the dermatologist are for treatment of dark spots.
 

High pigment levels can lead to unsightly dark spots that don’t fade for months.

Dark spots can develop from cuts, inflammation, acne and increased Estrogen levels.

Examples are: Melasma (mask of pregnancy), Solar Lentigo (sun exposure and sun burns) and Ephelides (freckles).

Sun exposure accelerates skin’s tendency to produce pigment that creates dark spots, Melasma, sun spots and freckles.

As well, excessive heat/sun tanning can result in inflammation – which leads to dark spots where acne once was.

Avoid waxing, depilatories (Nair), peels, razors, spicy foods, saunas and tanning.

Wrinkled (W) vs. Tight (T)
Short of a crystal ball, this parameter is the best indication of how your skin will age, based on both genetic tendencies and lifestyle. You can't do much about your genes,     but your daily routine can significantly affect your score on the wrinkled-tight scale:    sun exposure, smoking, and poor nutrition, for example, all contribute to skin aging.

Two examples:

OSNW

Oily, sensitive, non-pigmented and wrinkled skin is characterized by acne breakouts or facial redness and flushing, or frequent skin rashes and irritation. This skin type has less protective skin pigmentation and therefore has a tendency to wrinkle due to current or past lifestyle habits that may include sun exposure or cigarette smoking. Recommended skin care products should contain sunscreen, retinoids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

OSPT - Oily, Sensitive (acne subtype) Pigment, Tight
Cycle of blemishes, followed by brown spots, followed by blemishes again.

Oil production helps preserve skin’s hydration.

Tight skin ages better than wrinkle prone skin

From mid-life on, skin can age better than most other skin types.

Pick up her book at your local library to say what she recommends for your skin type.

 

[Caryatid]

I would say in general that it's combination. The nice thing about this is that you can use most cosmetics (I have the same type) but you just need to carry around some oil blotting sheets to get rid of the nasty sheen. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[khoobsurati]

I think you have normal skin as you have said that you don't feel that it is overly dry in the morning. The sheen you are getting on your makeup might be because either you are using greasy products or you are not applying the make-up properly around your nose and forehead. 

 

[Firefox7275]

That sounds most like combination skin to me. Skin type is a funny one because part of it depends on what products you use - if anything irritates, even slightly, it can cause some areas of your skin to dry out OR to produce more oil. Cheeks and the eye area don't have many sebaceous glands so they are less likely to become oily compared with the T-zone. Sulphate surfactants in foaming cleansers is a classic irritant as are any ingredients that promise to mattify in foundations and powders. You may even find your make up application technique, residues on applicators, make up that has gone off or even rough brush bristles are irritating your skin. IMO treat your skin gently as if it was sensitive with products with very few ingredients, after all our skin has not evolved to come into contact with hundreds of chemicals each week.