How to Identify Your Skin Type: The First Step to Glowing Skin
Understanding your skin type is the first step to building an effective skincare routine. Whether you’re oily, dry, sensitive, or somewhere in between — knowing your skin helps you choose the right products that truly work for you.
Intro
Before you buy that expensive serum or follow a viral skincare trend, there’s one thing you must know first — your skin type. Understanding your skin is the foundation of a good skincare routine. At Pookie Glow, we believe skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s personal, like your glow. So let’s decode it together.
There are five general skin types. Yours could be a mix, but let’s start here:
Five general skin types
1. Normal
- Balanced oil and hydration
- Few breakouts, almost no flakiness
- Barely visible pores
- Rarely reacts to products
Keep it simple. Hydrate, protect with SPF, and don’t overdo actives.
2. Oily
- Shiny T-zone (forehead, nose, chin)
- Enlarged pores
- Prone to acne and blackheads
Go for gel-based products, use a salicylic acid cleanser, and don't skip moisturizer.
3. Dry Skin
- Feels tight, especially after washing
- Rough or flaky patches
- Dull appearance
Creamy, hydrating cleansers and barrier-repairing moisturizers are your besties.
4. Combination Skin
- Oily in T-zone, dry or normal elsewhere
- Might need to treat different areas differently
Multitask. Use gentle cleansers and mix-and-match lightweight and rich products as needed.
5. Sensitive Skin
- Easily irritated
- Redness, burning, or stinging
- Reacts to new products or changes in weather
Patch test everything. Go fragrance-free and avoid alcohol-based products.
Now how can you find out your skin type? Here is a simple and easy way to figure it out
The Bare-Face Test
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser.
- Pat dry and wait 1 hour — no products, no touching.
- Observe your skin and map to type.
- Shiny all over? Likely oily.
- Tight or flaky? Probably dry.
- Shiny T-zone only? Combo.
- No major changes? Normal.
- Itchy/red/tender? Sensitive.
Still Not Sure? Let Pookie Glow Help You.
Sometimes your skin doesn’t fit neatly into one box — and that’s okay! With Pookie Glow, you can:
- Track how your skin behaves through the month
- Log product reactions
- Adjust your routine as seasons change
Because your skin isn’t a label — it’s a living, breathing story. And we’re here to help you tell it beautifully.
Final thoughts
Identifying your skin type is the first act of skincare self-love. Once you know your type, everything else — from cleanser to serum to that 12-step dream routine — becomes simpler, smarter, and glowier.