Identifying Your Skin Type : A Comprehensive Guide

Good skincare starts with knowing your skin type. A product that suits oily skin can leave dry skin tight, and a rich cream that rescues dry skin can feel heavy on oily skin.

This guide shows you how to find your skin type in 30 minutes, what each type needs, and the everyday basics that help every skin look its best.

How to find your skin type: the 30-minute test

1. Cleanse. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry.
2. Leave it bare. Don't apply toner, serum or moisturiser.
3. Wait 30 minutes. Then notice how your skin feels, and look closely in the mirror at your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and your cheeks.
4. Blot. For a clearer picture, press a clean tissue or blotting paper on different areas. Oil on the paper shows where your skin is oily.
5. Match the results to the skin types below.

Your skin type can change with age, hormones, climate and the seasons, so it's worth repeating the test now and then. Many people find their skin drier during Highveld winters, for example.

The five skin types

Normal skin

After 30 minutes, your skin feels comfortable and looks even, neither tight nor shiny. You'll notice few or no blemishes, barely visible pores, little sensitivity and a radiant complexion.

What it needs: A light, simple routine that keeps it balanced.

• HD Revitalizing Essence: Niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid keep skin hydrated, smooth and radiant, and it makes a smooth base for makeup.
• HD Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Essence SPF50+: Daily broad-spectrum protection in a weightless, water-based texture.

Combination skin

After 30 minutes, your T-zone looks shiny, while your cheeks and jawline feel normal or dry. This is one of the most common skin types. Pores and blackheads tend to be more visible on the nose and forehead.

What it needs: Balance, with lightweight hydration all over and extra care for the T-zone.

• HD 10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) Serum: 10% niacinamide refines the look of pores and evens out skin tone, while hyaluronic acid hydrates drier areas. Fragrance-free.
• HD Deep Cleansing Magic Mud Mask: Clay and glycolic acid clear excess oil and dead skin cells. Apply it to your T-zone only, once or twice a week.

Dry skin

After 30 minutes, your skin feels tight and sometimes itchy. Pores are almost invisible, the complexion can look dull or rough, and you may notice flaky patches and more visible fine lines.

What it needs: Plenty of hydration, and a cream to lock it in.

• HD Advanced Hydrating Essence: Made for combination-to-dry skin, with hyaluronic acid, sodium polyglutamate and panthenol to flood skin with moisture.
• HD Hydrating Cream: Ceramides and hyaluronic acid help seal in hydration and support the skin barrier. Fragrance-free.

Oily skin

After 30 minutes, your whole face looks shiny and feels greasy. Pores look enlarged, and blackheads, pimples or other blemishes are common.

What it needs: Gentle cleansing morning and evening, help keeping pores clear, and lightweight hydration. Oily skin still needs moisture, so don't skip it.

• HD 2% Salicylic Acid Serum: Salicylic acid works inside the pores to clear congestion and control excess oil, helping reduce the look of blemishes. Use it in the evening and wear sunscreen by day.
• HD Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Essence SPF50+: Water-based and non-greasy, so it protects without adding shine.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin can go hand in hand with any of the types above. Your skin often reacts to products, heat or weather with redness, itching, stinging, burning or dryness.

What it needs: Fewer, gentler products, ideally free of fragrance and alcohol, and a patch test before anything new.

• HD Hydrating B5 Serum: 5% panthenol (vitamin B5), hyaluronic acid and centella (cica) hydrate and soothe, in a formula made for sensitive skin. Fragrance-free.
• HD Mineral Daily Defence Cream SPF50: A 100% mineral, hypoallergenic sunscreen, which sensitive skin often tolerates better. Fragrance-free.

The 8 basics of skin care

Whatever your skin type, these eight habits keep your skin looking its best.

1. Cleanse gently every day, morning and evening, and never sleep in your makeup.
2. Wear sunscreen daily. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and limit direct midday sun. UV exposure is one of the biggest causes of visible skin ageing.
3. Use a face mask regularly, about 2 to 3 times a week, choosing one that suits your skin type.
4. Moisturise after your skincare to seal in hydration and prevent moisture loss. Even oily skin needs it.
5. Choose anti-ageing products that suit you, starting with sunscreen and adding targeted serums as your skin needs them.
6. Use an eye cream. The skin around your eyes is thin and often shows fine lines first, so it benefits from gentle, targeted care.
7. Don't forget your neck. Take your skincare and sunscreen down to your neck and chest, where signs of ageing show too.
8. Apply with gentle upward strokes. Smooth or pat products in from bottom to top rather than rubbing or pulling the skin.

Frequently asked questions

Can my skin type change?

Yes. Age, hormones, medication, climate and the seasons all affect your skin. Many people find their skin drier in winter and oilier in summer, so repeat the 30-minute test every few months.

What's the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry skin is a skin type: it produces too little oil. Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition where skin lacks water, and it can happen to any skin type, even oily skin. Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid help both.

Does oily skin need moisturiser?

Yes. Oily skin still needs water, and skipping moisturiser can leave it dehydrated. Choose lightweight, non-greasy textures.

Which sunscreen should I choose for my skin type?

For normal, oily or combination skin, a lightweight water-based formula such as the HD Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Essence SPF50+ works well. For sensitive skin, or if you'd like light coverage, try the mineral HD Mineral Daily Defence Cream SPF50. Apply generously every morning and reapply every two hours when you're outdoors.

How often should I use a face mask?

Two to three times a week suits most skin types. If your skin is sensitive, start with once a week and see how it responds.

Do I need a completely different routine for my skin type?

No. The basics of cleanse, protect and moisturise stay the same for everyone. What changes are the textures and ingredients, and combination skin may need different products on different areas.

How do I know if it's sensitive skin or a skin condition?

If redness, burning, flaking or breakouts continue despite a gentle routine, see a doctor or dermatologist. Ongoing symptoms can point to conditions such as rosacea, eczema or acne that need proper treatment.

How long before I see results from a new routine?

Hydration can improve within days. Changes in texture and tone usually take several weeks of consistent use, so give a new routine time before switching products.

What makes Fly Up's skincare different?

Fly Up's routine gives you a choice where your skin type matters most, and keeps the rest gentle enough for everyone.

• If you're not sure which sunscreen suits you: There are two SPF50 options with different textures. The water-based Sunscreen Essence suits oily and combination skin, while the 100% mineral, tinted Daily Defence Cream suits sensitive skin and doubles as light coverage.
• If your skin is sensitive: Both sunscreens are hypoallergenic, and the sunscreens, recovery mask and capsule serum are all free of fragrance, alcohol, parabens and MI/MCI.
• If your skin is dry or dehydrated: Hyaluronic acid runs through the routine, from the sunscreen essence to the serum and mask, so hydration builds with every step.
• If you wear makeup: Fly Up began making makeup for HD film and television, so its skincare is designed to give makeup a smooth, hydrated base to sit on.