Quick answer: There are five common skin types: dry, oily, combination, normal and sensitive. The fastest way to find yours is to wash your face, apply nothing, and check how it looks and feels after 30 minutes: tight all over means dry, shiny all over means oily, shiny T-zone with dry cheeks means combination, comfortable means normal, and redness, stinging or itching means sensitive. Take the 7-question skincare quiz below to confirm, then use the routine for your result.
Before you start: the 30-minute bare-face test
Cleanse with a gentle cleanser, pat dry and don't apply anything. Wait 30 minutes, then notice how your skin looks and feels. Cleveland Clinic's dermatology team says this simple observation works as well as blotting papers. Keep that result in mind as you answer the questions.
The skin type quiz: 7 questions
Choose the answer that fits you best most of the time, not on a single unusual day. Keep a tally of your A's, B's, C's and D's.
1. Thirty minutes after washing, your skin feels…
- Tight all over, maybe a little rough
- Already shiny across your whole face
- Shiny on the forehead, nose and chin, but tight on the cheeks
- Comfortable: not tight, not oily
2. By midday, your face looks…
- Dull, sometimes flaky around the nose or brows
- Shiny everywhere; you reach for blotting papers
- Shiny in the T-zone only
- Much the same as it did this morning
3. Your pores look…
- Small, almost invisible
- Large and visible across most of your face
- Larger on your nose and forehead, smaller on your cheeks
- Visible up close, but not noticeable
4. How often do you get breakouts or blackheads?
- Rarely
- Often, all over the face
- Sometimes, mostly in the T-zone
- Occasionally, around hormonal changes or stress
5. A rich face cream makes your skin feel…
- Wonderful; you could use more
- Greasy and heavy
- Good on the cheeks, too heavy on the nose and forehead
- Fine, though a lighter one works too
6. In winter, your skin…
- Gets very dry, rough or itchy
- Finally feels balanced
- Gets drier on the cheeks, still oily in the T-zone
- Gets a little drier, but nothing a good cream can't fix
7. Bonus question: when you try a new product, your skin…
- Often stings, burns, itches or turns red
- Rarely reacts
Answered A here? Read the sensitive skin result too, alongside your main result. Sensitivity can show up with any skin type.
Your results
| Mostly… | Your skin type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A's | Dry | Skin makes too little oil, so it feels tight and can look dull or flaky. |
| B's | Oily | Skin makes extra oil, with visible pores, shine and a tendency to break out. |
| C's | Combination | Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with normal or dry cheeks. |
| D's | Normal | A good balance of oil and moisture, with few sensitivities. |
| A on question 7 | Sensitive (plus your main type) | Skin reacts easily to products or weather; can be dry, oily or combination. |
A tie between two letters is common. A and C together often means combination skin that leans dry; B and C means combination that leans oily.
If you're dry: rich layers, gentle cleansing
- Cleanse gently with a cream or milk cleanser like N° 01 Cleansing Milk.
- Hydrate on damp skin with N° 02 Saffron Mist.
- Seal with a rich cream morning and night. N° 05 Rich Cream combines shea butter, squalane and jojoba.
- Morning: sunscreen.
Tight but also shiny? You may be dehydrated rather than dry. Read dry vs. dehydrated skin.
Best for dry and normal skin
The Essentials Ritual
Cleansing Milk, Saffron Mist and Rich Cream: cleanse, hydrate and seal in three steps.
If you're oily: lightweight hydration, no stripping
Oily skin still needs water. Stripping it with harsh cleansers can leave it dehydrated and even shinier.
- Cleanse gently morning and night, and after workouts.
- Use lightweight hydration such as N° 03 Renewal Essence, a weightless essence with snail mucin and hyaluronic acid.
- Add a light serum like N° 04 Copper Concentrate for smoother-looking texture.
- Keep moisturizer thin, or use a cream only at night or on drier areas.
- Morning: sunscreen. Look for one labeled noncomedogenic.
Best for oily and combination skin
The Renewal Ritual
Cleansing Milk, Renewal Essence and Copper Concentrate: hydration and radiance without a heavy cream.
If you're combination: treat each zone
- Same cleanser, same hydration everywhere. A gentle cleanser, mist and essence suit both zones.
- Moisturize by zone. Press cream into drier cheeks and use only a thin layer, or none, on an oily T-zone.
- Adjust with the seasons. Combination skin often leans oilier in summer and drier in winter. See our seasonal skincare guide.
If you're normal: keep it simple and consistent
Lucky you. Cleanse, hydrate, moisturize and wear sunscreen every day. Normal skin can handle a fuller routine if you want extra radiance; follow our skincare routine order to layer it correctly.
If you're sensitive: fewer products, more patience
- Simplify. A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and sunscreen may be all you need while skin settles.
- Choose fragrance-free products when you can. N° 05 Rich Cream is fragrance-free.
- Patch test new products on your inner arm or jawline for a few days before using them on your whole face.
- Introduce one product at a time, a week or two apart, so you know what works.
- Stinging with everything? That can be a damaged skin barrier rather than permanent sensitivity. If redness, burning or itching persists, see a dermatologist; it may be rosacea, eczema or contact dermatitis.
Know your type? Build your ritual.
Five steps. Adjust to your skin.
The Complete Ritual includes all five Hello Evy formulas, so you can use more of what your skin type needs and less of what it doesn't. Take another 10% off with code BARE.
- Cruelty-free
- Made in the USA
- Ships in 1–3 business days
- 14-day returns
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my skin type?
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, apply nothing and wait 30 minutes. Tight all over suggests dry skin, shiny all over suggests oily, a shiny T-zone with dry cheeks suggests combination, and comfortable skin suggests normal.
What are the 5 skin types?
Dry, oily, combination, normal and sensitive. Sensitive skin isn't defined by oil level, so it can occur alongside any of the other four.
Can your skin type change?
Yes. Skin can shift with the seasons, age, hormones (such as pregnancy or menopause), stress and some medications. Retake the quiz if your routine suddenly stops working.
Are skincare quizzes accurate?
A good quiz is a helpful starting point, especially combined with the 30-minute bare-face test. For persistent redness, acne or itching, a board-certified dermatologist can give you a proper diagnosis.
What is combination skin?
Combination skin is oilier in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and normal or dry on the cheeks. Moisturize the drier areas more and keep oily areas light.
Can oily skin be dry?
Oily skin can be dehydrated, meaning it lacks water while still producing oil. It often feels tight and shiny at the same time. Lightweight humectants help.
What is the best skincare routine for my skin type?
Every skin type needs a gentle cleanser, hydration, a moisturizer suited to its oil level and daily sunscreen. Dry skin needs richer creams, oily skin lighter layers, and sensitive skin fewer, fragrance-free products.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. What is my skin type and why does it matter? health.clevelandclinic.org
- Youn SW, Na JI, Choi SY, Huh CH, Park KC. Regional and seasonal variations in facial sebum secretions: a proposal for the definition of combination skin type. Skin Res Technol. 2005;11(3):189-195. Skin Research and Technology
- American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. aad.org
Keep reading
- Winter Skincare Routine: How to Adjust Your Skincare for Every Season
- Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin: How to Tell the Difference
- Skincare Routine Order: The Right Way to Layer Your Products
This quiz is for general education and isn't medical advice. If you have a skin condition, talk to a board-certified dermatologist.