1. Bare-Faced Method: Cleanse your face and wait an hour without applying products. If your skin feels balanced, it's normal; if oily, you have oily skin; if tight or flaky, it's dry; and if the T-zone is oily with dry cheeks, it's combination skin.
2. Blotting Sheet Test: Press a blotting sheet on your face after an hour of cleansing. No oil suggests dry skin; oil all over means oily skin; oil only on the T-zone indicates combination skin.
3. Pore Size: Large, visible pores often indicate oily skin, while small, barely visible pores are typical of dry skin. Normal skin has medium-sized pores, and combination skin has a mix.
4. Reaction to Products: Sensitive skin often reacts with redness or irritation to new products, while normal skin usually tolerates most products well.
5. Shine Observation: If your skin looks shiny all over by midday, you likely have oily skin. A matte appearance suggests dry or normal skin, and a shiny T-zone indicates combination skin.