According to dermatologists, you should first **know your skin type** and then look for products that cater to it.
You should also **avoid buying into hype** and choose products based on their ingredients, not their popularity¹.
Some ingredients to **seek out** are antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides¹. Some ingredients to **avoid** are alcohol, fragrance, sulfates, and essential oils. You should also know that **natural doesn’t always mean better**, as some natural ingredients can be irritating or allergenic.
If you need more guidance, you can consult a professional skin therapist, a cosmetic medical practitioner, or a dermatologist.
There are different methods to determine your skin type, but one of the simplest ways is to use a blotting sheet or a tissue.
According to Anne Arundel Dermatology¹, you can **rub a blotting sheet over your face**, then **hold it up to the light**. If the paper is covered in oil, you have oily skin. If the paper is dry, you have dry skin. If the paper has oil only on some areas, such as the forehead, nose, and chin, you have combination skin².
This test might be a little trickier to determine normal or sensitive skin. Normal skin is usually balanced, not too oily or dry, and has few blemishes or visible pores². Sensitive skin is usually prone to redness, irritation, itching, or rashes after using certain products².
You can also **notice how your skin feels** after washing it or throughout the day. Dry skin may feel tight, flaky, or rough. Oily skin may feel greasy, shiny, or slick. Combination skin may feel clean on the T-zone but tight on the cheeks. Sensitive skin may feel inflamed, painful, or itchy². Another way to determine your skin type is to **consult a dermatologist* who can examine your skin and give you a professional diagnosis.
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