How to Find Out Your Skin Type

Understanding your skin type is one of the most important steps in building an effective skincare routine. Using the wrong products can lead to breakouts, dryness, or irritation, and might even worsen underlying issues. At Eterno Clinic, we take the guesswork out of skincare by offering personalised assessments to help you understand what your skin really needs.

Why Knowing Your Skin Type Matters

Your skin type directly affects how it responds to products, treatments, and even environmental factors. Using the wrong skincare products can lead to breakouts, irritation, dryness, or sensitivity. On the other hand, choosing treatments that align with your skin type can dramatically improve your skin’s texture, tone, and resilience.

Whether you’re aiming to reduce breakouts, maintain hydration, or target signs of ageing, knowing your skin type helps you make informed, confident choices.

The Five Main Skin Types

1. Normal Skin

Balanced in both oil and moisture. Pores are not enlarged, texture is smooth, and sensitivity is rare. Normal skin may still need protection and hydration, but generally doesn’t struggle with extremes.

2. Oily Skin

Often shiny, particularly in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), with enlarged pores and frequent breakouts. Caused by overactive sebaceous glands, oily skin requires balancing products that don’t strip the skin and trigger more oil production.

3. Dry Skin

Feels tight, especially after cleansing, and may appear dull or flaky. Fine lines may be more visible, and there’s often some sensitivity. Dry skin needs richer, barrier-repairing ingredients and hydrating treatments.

4. Combination Skin

Oily in some areas (usually the T-zone), but dry or normal elsewhere. One of the most common skin types, combination skin can be tricky to manage with over-the-counter products.

5. Sensitive Skin

Prone to redness, stinging, or inflammation, especially after using certain products or exposure to weather changes. Sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and a minimalist, targeted routine.

The At-Home Method: How to Test Your Skin Type

While it’s not a substitute for a professional analysis, here’s a simple way to get a rough idea of your skin type at home:

The Bare-Faced Test

1. Cleanse your face with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser.
   
2. Pat dry and don’t apply any products.
   
3. Wait for about 30–45 minutes.
   

Then, observe:

• Tight, rough, or flaky? Likely dry skin.
  
• Shiny, particularly in the T-zone? Oily or combination.
  
• Shiny in some areas, but tight in others? Combination skin.
  
• No shine, no tightness? Probably normal.
  
• Redness, itchiness, or burning? Sensitive skin.
  

The Blotting Sheet Method

Another quick at-home test is the Blotting Sheet Method, which helps identify how much oil your skin produces.

How to do it:

1. Wait at least 30 minutes after cleansing your face (without applying any skincare).
   
2. Gently press a clean blotting sheet on different areas of your face, especially the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.
   
3. Hold the sheet up to the light to check how much oil was absorbed.
   

What it means:

• Little to no oil: You likely have dry skin.
  
• Oil mainly from the T-zone: This suggests combination skin.
  
• Oil from all areas: You probably have oily skin.
  
• Minimal oil and no tightness: Likely normal skin.

Again, please note these methods are only a rough guide. Always consult with a professional.

Why a Professional Skin Assessment Is Better

While DIY tests give a rough idea, they don’t account for skin conditions that can look similar like dehydration vs dryness or rosacea vs sensitivity.

At Eterno Clinic, we offer in-depth skin consultations to analyse your skin type and condition properly. Our assessments go beyond just surface appearance, we look at hydration levels, sensitivity, oil production, texture, and overall skin health.

This allows us to create a bespoke skincare plan with clinic-grade treatments and at-home product recommendations that actually work.

How Eterno Clinic Can Help

Once we’ve identified your skin type, we can tailor treatment options that deliver real results. Some of our most effective treatments include:

For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin:

Acne Treatments: Clear pores, reduce inflammation, and regulate oil production.

Chemical Peels: Gently exfoliate, resurface and refine the skin to target excess oil and post-acne marks.

LED Light Therapy: Kills acne-causing bacteria and calms inflammation.

For Dry or Dehydrated Skin:

SmartMeso Mesotherapy: Delivers deep hydration through micro-infused hyaluronic acid and vitamins.

The Eterno Hydr-O-Facial: A comprehensive 7-step treatment that restores, rebalances, and rejuvenates the skin’s complexion.

Obagi Blue Peel Radiance: Light exfoliation to improve tone and texture without over-drying.

For Combination Skin:

Combination Skin Treatments: Customised treatments that balance oil production while hydrating drier areas.

Plump & Enhance Treatment: Combines two highly effective modalities to produce immediately plump and youthful skin.

For Sensitive Skin:

LED Light Therapy: Soothes inflamed skin and supports healing without discomfort.

DermaQuest Skin Resurfacers: A gentle resurfacing treatment that exfoliates without irritation, designed specifically for reactive or delicate skin. It improves tone, smooths texture, and strengthens the skin barrier.

For Normal Skin:

Micro-Infusion Facial: A painless procedure that combines micro-needling and infusion techniques to hydrate, plump, and smooth your skin.

IPL Skin Rejuvenation: Improves the appearance and texture of the skin using Intense Pulsed Light therapy.

Common Myths About Skin Type

“I have oily skin, so I shouldn’t moisturise.”

False. Oily skin still needs hydration – skipping moisturiser can actually trigger more oil production.

“Sensitive skin is the same as allergic skin.”

Not quite. Sensitive skin reacts easily, but this isn’t always due to an allergy. A professional consultation can help distinguish between the two.

“Your skin type stays the same forever.”

Wrong again. Ageing, hormones, climate, and stress can all shift your skin type over time. That’s why regular reassessment is key.

Book Your Skin Consultation

Knowing your skin type is the foundation of healthy skin. While online tests and home methods can offer a basic idea, the most accurate way to understand your skin is through a professional consultation. At Eterno Clinic, we take the time to assess your skin in detail and match you with effective treatments and product advice because real results come from personalised care.

Book your skin consultation with Eterno Clinic today, and take the guesswork out of your skincare routine for good.