By Cheyenne Brown

Have you ever tried a product that you just knew was going to work well with your skin, but ended up disappointed? Don’t be so quick to say the product was no good. The product probably did not cater to your skin type.

I never really knew anything about skin types until I started my job at Sephora. There are five different types of skin: sensitive, normal, dry, oily, and combination.

Take this quiz to find out your skin type!

Sensitive Skin:

If you have this skin type, you make experience normally, oily, and combination skin as well. Try to figure out what triggers your skin early, so you can avoid these ingredients when searching for the proper skin care.

• Redness
• Itching
• Burning

How to care for it: Find a skin routine that works for you! Sensitive skin varies per individual, so one routine may not work for the next. Perform patch tests on products before using them all over your face to see if the products will irritate your skin. Avoid using harsh scrubs that contain ingredients such as aluminum oxide and walnuts.

Normal Skin:

Not too dry and not too oily. If dryness or oiliness does occur, it is easy to resolve. Normal skin does not require as much maintenance, but you still have to make sure you are using the proper products to avoid looking greasy or too dry.

• Barely visible pores
• Radiant complexion
• Little to none imperfections

How to care for it: Normal skin types have the easiest job when finding skin care products. In order to keep skin in balance look for light moisturizers to maintain skin.

Dry Skin:

If you have dry skin, your skin may feel a sense of tightness. Premature wrinkles and irritation are common, so moisturizing is a must. You want to search for a moisturizer that gives your skin a vibrant and youthful look. The more oils in moisturizers the better!

• Rough, dull complexion
• Skin may be flaky
• Less elasticity

How to care for it: Moisture is dry skin’s best friend. Use thick lotions and rich creams and massage them into your skin.

Oily Skin:

Depending on how oily you are, your skin can appear very moisturized or very greasy. Oily skin tends to have larger pores therefore pores can be easily clogged. Try to avoid products that are filled with oils. Moisturizing often is also not as necessary as for someone who has dry.

• Enlarged pores
• Thick complexion
• Prone to breakouts
• Prone to PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation): a condition that leaves dark spots after breakouts

How to care for it: Cleansing the face often to avoid product build up in pores is a must! Look for products that are oil-free.

Combination Skin:

THE MOST COMMON SKIN TYPE. Can be oily in some areas and dry in others. The T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is where a lot of people tend to be oily. This type of skin requires you to treat those different areas slightly different.

• Pores that look larger than normal
• Shiny

How to care for it: You may want to consider using different types of products to care for those different areas of your skin, although there are products that work perfectly for both areas. Try to avoid using soaps, they can dry up your skin and cause irritation.

How to Identify you skin type:

Take this skin care quiz to make sure you are taking the proper steps to take care of your skin.