Have you ever wondered why some soaps leave your skin glowing while others cause dryness or breakouts? The secret lies in knowing your skin type. Understanding whether your skin is dry, oily, combination, sensitive, or normal is the key to building a skincare routine that truly works for you.

Your skin type determines how much oil your skin produces, how it reacts to the environment, and what kind of care it needs. Dry skin often craves extra hydration, oily skin battles shine and clogged pores, combination skin struggles to find balance, sensitive skin requires gentle care, and normal skin simply needs to be maintained.

By learning your skin type, you can choose the right soap and products that bring out the best in your complexion. In this guide, we’ll help you identify your skin type and discover which ingredients and soap formulas will keep your skin healthy, fresh, and glowing.

Your skin type is your skin’s natural, baseline behavior—how much oil it makes, how well it holds water, and how reactive its barrier is.

It’s shaped by genetics, hormones, age, and climate, and it’s different from skin concerns (like acne, dehydration, or dark spots) that can happen to any skin type.

The five main skin types

• Dry — Underproduces oil; feels tight, looks dull, may flake. Needs rich, cushioning moisture to strengthen the barrier.

• Oily — Overproduces oil; looks shiny with visible pores and frequent congestion. Needs gentle cleansing and light hydration that won’t strip.

• Combination — Oily in the T-zone, normal to dry on cheeks. Needs balanced care: clarify the center, comfort the sides.

• Sensitive — Reacts easily with redness, stinging, or itch; often linked to a fragile barrier. Needs fragrance-light, soothing formulas.

• Normal — Balanced oil and water; smooth texture and minimal reactivity. Needs simple, consistent maintenance to stay that way.

Ready to discover the soap that matches your skin type?