Is your skin type oily, combination, normal, dry or very dry? It is necessary to keep in mind the skin type when using a cleanser, moisturizer, and facial foundation.

Most people do not know their skin type or have been erroneously assigned a skin type by a salesperson at a cosmetic counter. Oily skin has a shiny appearance with large pores, containing black-heads and white-heads. Dry skin has a flaky appearance, no visible pores, and a taut and dry feel. Dry skins tend to age and wrinkle prematurely.

Skin type can be easily assigned by asking yourself how much sebum (oily secretion) appears on your face throughout the day following morning washing.

You can check your skin type at home with a few strips of tissue paper. In the morning, before washing your face, rub the tissue gently across your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks.

If the tissue is greasy and stains are large, you have oily skin. Clear tissue indicates dry skin. You may also have combination skin type, with some areas oily and some dry.

This is a simplistic, but fairly accurate method of determining skin type.

Dr. Kiran Godse Skin Specialist Laksh-Deep Hospital