Understanding Your Skin Type: Why It Matters

Alice Luu
Nov 6
3 min read

Every person’s skin is unique, but one of the main factors that defines it is the level of sebum (oil) production. Sebum helps protect and moisturize skin, but when the balance is off, it can affect how skin looks and feels. Knowing your skin type is the first step toward healthier skin and better beauty results — and it’s something we focus on at Advance Beauty College.

The Different Types of Skin

Oily: This type produces excess sebum, leaving skin shiny and prone to clogged pores or breakouts.
Dry: With underactive oil glands, dry skin feels tight, looks dull, and can flake easily.

Dry skin and oily skin
Normal: Balanced production of oil keeps skin moisturized without clogging pores — the most low-maintenance type.
Combination: A mix of oily and dry patches, often with oiliness in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).
Sensitive (the odd one out): Easily irritated by products or environmental changes, often showing redness, itching, or stinging.

Sensitive skin

Can Your Skin Type Change?

Yes. Skin type isn’t fixed for life — it can shift due to climate, hormonal changes, age, stress, and even lifestyle habits. That’s why it’s important to reassess your skin regularly instead of assuming it’s always the same.

How to Identify Your Skin Type

Day performance method: Pay attention to how your skin behaves throughout the day. Does it get shiny and oily by noon? Does it feel dry and flaky by evening? Or does only your nose get oily while the rest stays balanced?
Bare-face method: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, and wait 30 minutes without applying any products. Observe your skin’s condition. If it feels tight, it’s likely dry. If it looks shiny all over, it’s oily. If only certain areas shine, it’s combination. If it feels comfortable and looks hydrated, it’s normal.
Blotting paper add-on: If you’re unsure after the bare-face test, press blotting paper on different areas of your face. Heavy oil absorption points to oily skin, light or patchy absorption may suggest combination skin, and little to no oil usually means dry skin.

The Benefits of Knowing Your Skin Type

Understanding your skin type has long-term benefits that go beyond daily beauty routines:

Choosing the right skincare routine: The right cleansers, moisturizers, and treatments are designed for specific skin types. Knowing yours prevents wasted money on products that don’t work — or worse, cause irritation.
Improving skin health: By matching products to your needs, you can reduce breakouts, dryness, or sensitivity, and achieve a healthier, more balanced complexion.
Selecting the right makeup products: Foundations, powders, and primers perform differently on oily, dry, or sensitive skin. Picking products based on your type ensures your makeup lasts longer and looks flawless.
Monitoring your body’s balance: Changes in your skin can reflect what’s happening inside your body. For example, sudden oiliness may signal hormonal shifts, while dryness can point to dehydration or environmental stress. Recognizing these signals helps you take care of your overall well-being.

Learning With Confidence at Advance Beauty College

At Advance Beauty College, students are trained to analyze skin types professionally and recommend the right treatments for every client. By mastering this essential skill, our graduates are prepared to deliver results that truly make a difference. For clients, our affordable student services mean you can experience personalized care and learn more about your own skin — all while supporting the next generation of beauty professionals.