“Normal” skin is well-balanced and free from dryness and oil. It has even moisture and hydration and smooth texture, with small pores and no visible problem areas. Those with normal skin types may experience occasional breakout or some dryness or oiliness. Overall, normal skin looks and feels healthy but may experience mild occasional dryness, oiliness or breakouts, especially when exposed to environmental stress.

If you have a normal skin type, focus on keeping skin healthy and protected. In addition to fortifying the skin with antioxidants, make small adjustments to your routine depending on concerns and conditions of the moment. During times of dryness, opt for products aimed toward dry skin; for oiliness and/or breakouts, choose products that will balance your complexion and target blemishes.

Dry skin types produce less oil than normal complexions so it lacks the lipids needed to retain moisture and keep skin soft and supple. Skin feels dry and tight, and flakes might appear on the cheeks, chin and forehead. Very small pores and fine lines around the eye and lip contour areas are more common with this type.

Use moisture-rich products like oil or cream cleansers and daily moisturizers to replenish skin throughout the day in addition to a rich night cream to repair skin while you sleep. Weekly moisturizing masks are a great way to to plump and soften skin as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Oily skin has overactive sebaceous glands which yield an excess of sebum. While sebum is needed to lubricate skin and keep its moisture barrier intact, overproduction can lead to an oily skin that has enlarged pores and is prone to spots and blemishes. Fine lines and wrinkles are not as apparent on this skin type, but it does need to be maintained to prevent breakouts and control shine.

The goal for an oily skin care routine is to manage excess oil and maintain skin’s hydration. When dehydrated, skin will react by producing more oil; you can counteract this action by hydrating skin with a lightweight moisturizer containing humectants like botanical hyaluronic acid. Consider using an oil cleanser in your skin care routine. While it may seem counterintuitive, the oil in the cleanser will attract surplus sebum, allowing you to rinse it away without drying your skin.

Watch the video below to learn how to add an oil cleanser to your routine skin care routine.

Combination skin is characterized by non-uniform oil production and appears neither overly dry nor oily. With more active oil glands in the T-zone and less active glands elsewhere, combination skin will tend towards oiliness on the forehead, jaw and nose, and dryness on the cheeks, jawline and hairline.

The best approach for combination skin care is often to divide and conquer, treating different parts of the face with different products and techniques. Start with a gentle foaming cleanser to absorb excess oil in the morning and finish with a cream-based cleanser to replenish lost moisture at night. Using multiple masks can be very beneficial for combination skin. This technique involves applying two or more face masks, such as a clay-based mask and a cream-based mask, to different areas of the face so that multiple concerns are addressed at the same time.

Sensitive skin is very common and, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, affects half of all of people. This skin type has small pores, can be easily irritated and is prone to redness. It is common for it to react negatively to poor lifestyle habits, climate and weather changes, hormonal imbalances and harsh cosmetic ingredients.

Sensitive skin does not manifest the same way for everyone, and its severity and frequency can vary. Sensitive skin should be treated with gentle and soothing skin care products that will heal skin and relieve symptoms. Choose gentle peels to exfoliate without irritating sensitivity and calming natural and organic ingredients like chamomile and calendula to comfort reactive skin.