Free test · no photo, no signup
What is my skin type?
Eight questions about how your skin behaves through a normal day. The result maps you to one of five common skin types and explains which answers pointed there.
CostFree
TimeUnder 1 min
SignupNone
DataNothing stored
01 / 08
Two hours after washing your face with a gentle cleanser and applying nothing, how does it feel?
Answer for a normal day, not a day when your skin is irritated.
The science
How skin type is actually determined
01
Skin type is shorthand for how much sebum (oil) your skin produces and how well it holds water. Dermatologists estimate it from behavior: how skin feels after cleansing, where and when shine appears, how visible pores are, and how it reacts to weather and products. That is exactly what this test asks — the same signals, structured.
02
One important nuance: sensitivity is not a fifth oil level. It is a reactivity trait that sits on top of any type — you can be oily and sensitive, or dry and sensitive. If your answers point to reactivity more than oil, the test will tell you that directly.
03
Skin type also is not permanent. Season, climate, hormones, and the products you use all shift it, which is why tracking it over time beats testing it once. The SkinPal app measures oiliness, hydration, and six other metrics from a scan so you can watch the trend, not guess from one day.
Routine starting points by type
Dry: cream cleanser, ceramide moisturizer morning and night, and treat SPF as the last moisture layer — richer texture doubles as protection against trans-epidermal water loss. Oily: gel cleanser, oil-free gel moisturizer (skipping moisturizer backfires — dehydrated oily skin produces more oil), niacinamide, and a matte-finish sunscreen you will actually rewear. Combination: split the difference literally — lighter products on the T-zone, richer on cheeks, or one mid-weight lotion as the lazy compromise. Normal: maintenance mode — gentle everything plus SPF, and resist fixing what is not broken. Sensitive-leaning any-type: fragrance-free versions of the above, one new product at a time, patch-tested on the jaw for three nights.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I know my skin type without a test?+
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, apply nothing, and wait two hours. Tight or flaky means dry, all-over shine means oily, a shiny T-zone with normal cheeks means combination, and comfortable-and-even means normal. This test asks the same thing plus seven more signals, so the answer is more reliable than the single-check method.
Can my skin type change?+
Yes. Season, climate, hormones, stress, and product choices all shift it. Many people are drier in winter and oilier in summer. Retest whenever your routine or environment changes meaningfully.
Is sensitive a skin type?+
Not in the oil-level sense. Sensitivity describes reactivity — stinging, redness, itching — and it can accompany any skin type. If you score sensitive-leaning, the practical move is patch testing and shorter routines, whatever your oil level.
Is this test free?+
Yes — free, no photo, no signup. If you want measured (not self-reported) numbers, the SkinPal app scans your face and scores oiliness and hydration directly.
Can I have more than one skin type?+
Combination IS the more-than-one type — different oil behavior by zone, usually oily T-zone with normal-to-dry cheeks. Sensitivity additionally overlays any type. What you cannot be is dry and oily in the same spot at the same time; that combination is usually dehydrated-oily, which the hydration test separates.
How often should I retest my skin type?+
At season changes, after starting or stopping actives, and after big life changes (climate moves, pregnancy, new medication). Type is behavior, and the behavior shifts — treating winter-dry skin with your summer routine is the classic mismatch.
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