Skin Type Quiz: Dry, Oily, Combination or Normal?

How the skin type quiz works

Each answer adds points to dry, oily, combination or normal skin, and the type with the most points is your result. The first question, how your face feels 30 minutes after washing, carries the most weight because it’s the most direct check. The blotting paper question is optional, but it’s a useful second look, since oil on the paper is easy to see when you hold it up to the light. Midday shine, pores and how foundation wears by the afternoon all point the same way for most people, so answering them steadies the result.

If two types score within a point of each other, the quiz tells you, because plenty of people sit in between, especially with combination skin. Every point is listed in the scoring table further down the page.

The four skin types

Dry skin makes less oil, so it can feel tight, look dull or flake in places, and foundation can cling to dry patches. Oily skin makes more oil, so it looks shiny through the day and pores can look bigger; makeup tends to slide. Combination skin is oilier on the forehead, nose and chin, the T-zone, than on the cheeks, which may be normal or dry. Normal skin is balanced: not noticeably oily, dry or reactive.

Is sensitive skin a skin type?

In this skin type quiz, sensitive skin is a note rather than a fifth type, because it can go with any of the four. Dry skin can be sensitive, and so can oily skin. If products often sting, burn or turn your skin red, or fragrance tends to bother it, the quiz adds a note: choose fragrance-free products, add one new product at a time and patch test it first. If your skin reacts often, a board-certified dermatologist can help you find out why. The quiz doesn’t diagnose anything, and it doesn’t name skin conditions.

A simple routine for your skin type

The routine outline follows the same basic order for everyone, with the products described by type rather than by brand. In the morning: cleanse, moisturize, then sunscreen. In the evening: remove makeup and sunscreen, cleanse, then moisturize. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests washing in the morning, at night and after heavy sweating, with lukewarm water and your fingertips, then patting dry with a soft towel. For sunscreen, it recommends broad-spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher.

What changes by skin type is the texture of each product. Dry skin usually likes a creamy, hydrating cleanser and a richer moisturizer. Oily skin usually likes a gel or foaming cleanser and a light, oil-free gel or lotion moisturizer. Combination skin can use a light lotion all over with a little more on dry cheeks. Normal skin can keep things simple. To put a longer routine with more steps in order, use our skincare routine order planner.

Getting an honest result from the 30-minute check

The wash-and-wait check works best on an ordinary day. Don’t do it right after exercise, a hot shower or time in the sun, when skin is flushed or sweaty, and don’t do it straight after a new product or a facial. Use a gentle cleanser you know, pat your face dry rather than rubbing, and keep your hands off your face while you wait. Check in natural light if you can, since bathroom lighting can hide shine or make skin look drier than it is. If you’re unsure, repeat the check on a different day, or at a different time of day, and see whether you get the same answer.

Skin type in Tampa Bay’s heat and humidity

Climate changes how skin behaves. In a hot, humid summer, many people find their skin looks oilier than usual and makeup slides faster, while air conditioning indoors can leave the cheeks feeling dry at the same time. That’s one reason combination skin is so common. If you live somewhere humid, you may want a lighter moisturizer in summer and a richer one in the cooler months, and your morning routine may need nothing more than a gentle cleanse, a light moisturizer and sunscreen. For a wedding or event outdoors, plan for blotting papers in your bag, whatever your skin type.

How the skin type quiz scores each answer

Skin type and makeup

Your skin type changes how makeup wears. On dry skin, a hydrating moisturizer and a satin or dewy foundation sit more smoothly than a matte one. On oily skin, a mattifying primer on the T-zone, a light setting powder and blotting papers help makeup last. On combination skin, an artist will often prime the T-zone and the cheeks differently, so the shine is controlled without the cheeks looking dry. On normal skin, your usual moisturizer and sunscreen are enough prep.

Can your skin type change?

Yes. Skin can be oilier in summer and drier in winter, it can change with climate and travel, and it often changes over the years. If your skin starts to feel different, or a routine that used to work stops working, take the quiz again. It only takes a couple of minutes, and the result and routine outline update as you answer, so it’s easy to compare a summer result with a winter one. If you’re not sure about your result, or your skin is uncomfortable, a board-certified dermatologist can look at it in person.