# Identifying Your Skin Type and Finding Suitable Cosmetics

**By Kim Taehee** · 2025-07-11

_**How to Determine Your Skin Type**_

1.  **Cleanse your face** with a mild cleanser
    
2.  **Wait 30 minutes** without applying any products
    
3.  **Observe your skin** in good lighting:
    
    -   If shiny all over: Oily skin
        
    -   If tight, flaky: Dry skin
        
    -   If oily in T-zone, normal elsewhere: Combination skin
        
    -   If balanced (neither oily nor dry): Normal skin
        
    -   If redness, itching, or burning: Sensitive skin
        

Recommended Products by Skin Type

**Dry Skin** **Characteristics**

-   **Moisturizers**: Hydrating creams with hyaluronic acid and glycerin
    
-   **Cleansers**: Mild acidic cleansers or cream-type cleansers
    
-   **Basic Care**: Serums containing ceramides and squalane Dry skin often has a weakened skin barrier, causing rapid moisture evaporation. Dermatologists recommend products containing ceramides as they effectively restore damaged skin barriers and maintain hydration.
    

**Oily Skin** **Characteristics**

-   **Cleansers**: Foam cleansers with salicylic acid (BHA)
    
-   **Toners**: Alcohol-free toners to control sebum
    
-   **Moisturizers**: Lightweight gel-type moisturizers The main cause of oily skin is excess sebum production, influenced by hormonal changes and stress. Dermatologists recommend using products that suppress sebum production (e.g., niacinamide).
    

**Combination Skin** **Characteristics**

-   **Cleansers**: Mild acidic cleansers suitable for both oily and dry skin
    
-   **Toners**: Multi-functional toners with both hydrating and oil-control properties
    
-   **Moisturizers**: Consider using different products for different areas (gel-type for T-zone, cream-type for U-zone) Combination skin is highly influenced by environmental factors. It's recommended to enhance hydration in winter and use oil-control products in summer.
    

**Sensitive Skin** **Characteristics**

-   **Cleansers**: Mild acidic fragrance-free cleansers with minimal irritation
    
-   **Moisturizers**: Soothing creams containing aloe vera and panthenol
    
-   **Sunscreen**: Use physical sunscreens (based on zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) Sensitive skin may have a damaged skin barrier, so using low-irritation products with minimal chemical ingredients is essential. Getting a dermatological consultation to identify the exact cause can also be helpful.
    

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> Source: [Seoul Luma](https://seoul-luma.com/blogs/k-beauty-insights/identifying-your-skin-type-and-finding-suitable-cosmetics)