How to Find Your Skin Type
If you feel as though you fit into more than one of the skin type categories, you're not alone! This is common, and just as we are all unique human beings, our skin is unique to us as well.
You may also notice that your skin type and your skin's needs change throughout the year. For example, you may have normal skin during the spring and summer months, and drier skin during the colder fall and winter months. This is also common, and it just means that you'll need to adapt your skincare routine accordingly throughout the year.
Prefer a shortcut? Take our 2-minute Skin Quiz for a personalized routine matched to your skin ~ or read on to identify your type yourself.
Not sure which type is yours? Here's how to tell:
NORMAL SKIN: Lucky you! Normal skin is naturally well balanced - not too dry, not too oily, often free of acne, and pores are normal in size. Most of Fawn Lily Botanica's product line can be used by those with normal skin to help keep their skin nourished, balanced, healthy, and glowing.
Daily Care: For normal skin types, we recommend washing twice per day (once in the morning and once before bed) with a facial wash and silk sea sponge, then spritz with a facial toner or hydrosol, and once the toner/hydrosol has dried, apply facial serum. You can also apply a facial balm over the serum for a little extra skin protection and nourishment (especially before bedtime or during the cold winter months).
Weekly Care: Once per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores and keep your skin healthy and balanced.
OILY SKIN: If you have medium-large pores in your T-zone, your face feels oily within a couple hours of washing, your pores clog easily, and you may be prone to acne, then your skin type is likely oily. The good news is that your skin is not prone to fine lines and wrinkles like other skin types (hurray!).
Daily Care: For oily skin types, we recommend washing twice per day (once in the morning and once before bed) with a facial wash and silk sea sponge, then spritz with a facial toner, and once the toner has dried, apply facial serum. We've designed a line of products specifically to balance, tone, and assist with oily skin types.
Weekly Care: Once or twice per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores, help keep skin looking clear, and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.
DRY SKIN: Dry skin often becomes tight after washing, has small pores, may contain flaky patches, develops fine lines and wrinkles more quickly than other skin types, may feel itchy or irritated at times, and is especially vulnerable to colder temperatures and harsher weather conditions. Those with dry skin need to use delicate, nourishing, and gentle products which moisturize, hydrate, and protect.
Daily Care: For dry skin types, we recommend washing twice per day with plain water. After washing, spritz with a facial toner or hydrosol, and once the toner/hydrosol has dried, apply facial serum. During the winter months, before bedtime, and if skin needs extra protection and moisturization, then we recommend sealing the serum in with facial balm. Herbal salve, facial serum, or facial balm may also be used on flaky and dry spots throughout the day as needed.
Weekly Care: Once per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores, gently buff away dead skin cells so your moisturizer absorbs better. For dry skin, the clay mask and exfoliating grains can be mixed with coconut milk, yogurt, honey, oil, or half and half to help moisturize and prevent over drying.
SENSITIVE SKIN: Sensitive skin can be reactive to many ingredients, and may develop a rash, irritation, or redness after using common ingredients and products. Those with sensitive skin often also have dry skin, their skin is greatly affected by weather conditions, dry air, and colder temperatures in addition to being sensitive to many ingredients. Sensitive skin requires gentle and non-irritating ingredients, and products without artificial fragrances and synthetic ingredients are best.
Daily Care: For sensitive skin types, we recommend washing twice per day with plain water. After washing, spritz with a facial toner or hydrosol, and once the toner/hydrosol has dried, apply facial serum. During the winter months, before bedtime, and if skin needs extra protection and moisturization, then we recommend sealing the serum in with facial balm. Herbal salve, facial serum, or facial balm may be used on flaky and dry spots throughout the day as needed.
Weekly Care: Once per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores, and gently buff away dead skin cells so your moisturizer absorbs better. For dry skin, the clay mask and exfoliating grains can be mixed with coconut milk, yogurt, honey, oil, or half and half to help moisturize and prevent over drying.
MATURE SKIN: Mature skin often contains fine lines and wrinkles, tends to be dry but can also be normal or oily, and is especially vulnerable to colder temperatures and harsher weather conditions. For those with mature skin, you'll want to use products which nourish, moisturize, and protect the skin.
Daily Care: For mature skin types, we recommend washing twice per day (once in the morning and once before bed) with plain water and a silk sea sponge for dry skin or a facial wash and silk sea sponge for normal-oily skin. After washing, spritz with a facial toner or hydrosol, and once the toner/hydrosol has dried, apply facial serum. During the winter months, before bedtime, and if skin needs extra protection and moisturization, then we recommend sealing the serum in with facial balm. Herbal salve or facial balm may be used on flaky and extra dry spots as needed.
Weekly Care: Once per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores, and gently buff away dead skin cells so your moisturizer absorbs better. For dry skin, the clay mask and exfoliating grains can be mixed with coconut milk, yogurt, honey, oil, or half and half to help moisturize and prevent over drying.
COMBINATION SKIN: If you have areas which feel dry and other areas which are oily, then you likely have combination skin. Often, the T-zone will be oily, contain larger pores, and will be more prone to acne, whereas the cheeks will feel dry. Combination skin can be tricky, but we've formulated a line of gentle, nourishing, and balancing products to assist.
Daily Care: For combination skin types, we recommend washing twice per day (once in the morning and once before bed) with a facial wash and silk sea sponge, then spritz with a facial toner, and once the toner has dried, apply facial serum.
Weekly Care: Once or twice per week, use a facial steam, exfoliating grains, and apply a clay mask to deeply cleanse pores, help keep skin looking clear, and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.
Ready to find the ideal products for your skin type? We've made it simple to shop our top picks for your skin type by organizing our products by skin type. However, our entire line has been formulated to be gentle and nourishing for all skin types, so don't be afraid to try something different!
Frequently asked questions about skin types
How do I know my skin type?
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and wait about an hour without applying anything. Then notice how your skin feels. If it feels tight or flaky, you likely have dry skin. If it looks shiny across your forehead, nose, and chin, you lean oily. Shiny in the T-zone but dry on the cheeks suggests combination. Comfortable and balanced points to normal, and skin that reddens or reacts easily is sensitive. Fine lines and dryness together often indicate mature skin.
Can your skin type change over time?
Yes! Skin type can shift with the seasons, your age, hormones, climate, and even stress. Many people have normal skin in warm months and drier skin in cold months, so it helps to adapt your routine throughout the year rather than treating your skin type as fixed.
Can you have more than one skin type?
Absolutely, and it's very common. Combination skin is the clearest example, with an oily T-zone and dry cheeks. Sensitive skin also often overlaps with dry, normal, or oily skin. If you feel you fit into two categories, you're not alone, and you can care for each area according to its needs.
What's the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin?
Dry skin is a skin type that lacks oil and tends to feel tight or flaky over time. Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition where skin lacks water, and any skin type can become dehydrated, even oily skin. Dry skin benefits from nourishing oils and balms, while dehydrated skin benefits from added hydration like a hydrosol layered under your serum.
What skin type is most prone to sensitivity?
Dry skin is often more reactive because a compromised moisture barrier lets irritants in more easily, but sensitive skin can occur alongside any skin type. The gentlest approach is to avoid synthetic fragrances and harsh ingredients, keep your routine simple, and choose naturally-derived, non-irritating products.
How do I care for my skin type naturally?
Start with a gentle cleanse suited to your type, tone or hydrate with a hydrosol, treat with a facial serum, and seal with a balm when your skin needs extra nourishment. Adjust weekly care like steams, exfoliation, and masks to your skin type, and lean toward gentle, naturally-derived ingredients.
SHOP RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS BY SKIN TYPE: