Knowing your skin type

Skin is commonly grouped into dry, oily, combination and normal, with sensitive skin often listed as a separate category. The groupings are based on how much oil your skin produces, how hydrated it feels and how easily it reacts. They are rough guides for choosing products, not medical diagnoses.

A common method is to wash with a gentle cleanser, apply nothing, and look at your skin after about 30 minutes to an hour. If it feels tight all over, you may be dry. Shiny all over suggests oily, and shine only in the T-zone suggests combination. It is a rough guide, not a precise diagnosis.

Dry skin often feels tight after washing, flakes easily and looks less radiant. Because it produces relatively little oil, it tends to get rougher in winter or in dry indoor air. Richer creams with good moisturizing power and gentle, non-stripping cleansers usually suit dry skin well.

Oily skin produces more sebum, so the whole face tends to look shiny and pores may be more visible. Makeup can also wear off faster. Oily skin still needs moisture, so lightweight gels or lotions work well. Avoid washing too often or too harshly, which can leave skin feeling uncomfortable.

Combination skin is usually oily in the T-zone (forehead and nose) and drier on the cheeks. You can adjust by using less product on oily areas, or by applying a lighter product to the T-zone and a richer one to the cheeks. There is no need to spread one product evenly over your whole face.

Normal skin has a fairly good balance of oil and moisture, so it causes fewer problems, but it still benefits from care. Consistent basics like cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection help keep it that way. Skin can also shift with the seasons and with age, so keep an eye on changes over time.

Subuji is Korean slang short for "dehydrated oily skin," meaning skin that looks shiny on the surface but feels tight underneath. It is not a medical term, but it appears often in Korean product descriptions. The usual advice is to add hydration with lightweight textures rather than stripping away all the oil.

They are often described separately. Dry skin is a skin type that naturally produces less oil, while dehydration is a temporary lack of water that can affect any skin type. That is why even oily skin can feel dehydrated. Better moisturizing and lifestyle adjustments often improve dehydration over time.

No. Age, seasons, hormonal changes, environment and the products you use can all shift how your skin behaves. It is common for skin that was oily in your youth to become drier later on. Rather than sticking to one label forever, choose products based on how your skin feels right now.

Some cosmetics shops and brand stores offer device-based measurements of things like hydration and oil levels. Whether a store offers this and how it works varies, so check before visiting. Treat the results as general reference only. Any diagnosis of a skin condition should come from a dermatologist.

The T-zone is the T-shaped area across the forehead and down the nose, which tends to be oilier. The U-zone runs along the cheeks and jaw and is often drier. Looking at these two areas separately helps you tell whether your skin is combination and how much product each part needs.

If new products often sting or cause redness, and temperature changes or wind make your face feel hot, your skin may lean sensitive. Similar symptoms can also come from a skin condition, though. If reactions are frequent, long-lasting or severe, do not self-diagnose. Talk to a dermatologist instead.

Yes. Skin type describes how your skin behaves, such as oil and moisture levels and sensitivity. Skin tone describes its color and depth. Skincare products are mainly chosen based on skin type, while color products like foundation are chosen based on skin tone and undertone.

Not directly. Personal color analysis, which is especially popular in Korea, looks at the colors that harmonize with your skin, eyes and hair. It is useful for choosing makeup shades and clothing. For skincare, go by your skin type and concerns instead, since your color season says nothing about oiliness or dryness.

Pores tend to look larger on oily skin that produces more sebum. Genetics, loss of elasticity with age and sun exposure are also thought to play a role. Changing pore size significantly is difficult, but thorough cleansing, moisturizing and daily sun protection can help make them less noticeable.

Generally, oily skin does well with gels and light lotions, while dry skin prefers richer creams or balms. Combination skin may use different textures on different areas. Even within one type, preferences vary, so test how a product feels yourself, ideally with a store tester or a small size first.

Humidity in Korea varies a lot by season. Autumn and winter air can be quite dry, and indoor heating makes it drier still. The low humidity on long flights adds to the effect. Applying moisturizer more generously than usual and drinking water regularly can help your skin adjust during the trip.

Yes, that is quite normal. Sleep, stress, menstrual cycles, weather and whatever you applied the day before can all change how your skin looks and feels from day to day. Checking over several days and going with the pattern you see most often is a more realistic way to decide.

For general skin typing, figuring it out yourself is usually enough. But if acne, strong redness, itching or flaking keep going for a long time, it may be more than a matter of skin type, and seeing a dermatologist is wise. Trying to fix it with cosmetics alone can let the problem drag on.

Treat them as a guide to what the product was designed for. Even something labeled "for all skin types" may not suit everyone. Rather than relying on the label alone, look at the full ingredient list, the texture and user reviews, and try a small amount first before committing to regular use.