You’re standing in the skin care aisle, staring at products labeled “for oily skin” and “for dry skin,” wondering which one is actually for you.
Your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is shiny by noon, but your cheeks feel tight. So… oily? Dry? Both? Neither?
Most people misidentify their own skin type.
And when you’re using the wrong products, even quality skin care won’t give you the results you’re hoping for.
How to Understand Your True Skin Type (3 Steps)
Step 1: Identify Your Skin Type and Current Condition
Your skin type is your skin’s natural tendency. Your skin current condition is what’s happening right now due to weather, stress, products, or other factors.
The 5 Main Skin Types:
Normal Skin → Balanced moisture, small pores, smooth texture, minimal concerns
(Note: Very few people have “true” normal skin. Most fall into combination or slightly dry/oily categories.)
Oily Skin → Shine, excess oil production, enlarged pores (especially T-zone), prone to breakouts and blackheads
Dry Skin → Feels tight, rough, or flaky; struggles to retain moisture
Combination Skin → The most common type; oily through the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal to dry on cheeks and jawline
Sensitive Skin → Easily irritated by products, weather changes, or active ingredients; experiences redness, stinging, itching, or reactive flare-ups
(Note: Skin that looks or feels sensitive may be linked to changes in the skin’s natural moisture barrier, especially when products are too harsh or drying.)
Step 2: Review Your Lifestyle, Habits, and Product History
What you do every day affects how your skin looks and feels.
Ask yourself:
- What’s your current skin care routine?
- How much sun exposure do you get?
- What’s your stress level like?
- How much water do you drink?
- Have you had reactions to products in the past?
- Are you mixing products from different brands?
- Are you “cherry-picking” treatments without a complete routine?
These factors reveal whether your skin is reacting to something external or if what you’re seeing is your baseline skin type.
Step 3: Evaluate Your Skin Condition
Now look at what’s showing up on your skin. Common concerns to note are:
- Appearance of enlarged pores or blackheads
- Fine lines or changes in skin firmness
- Appearance of uneven tone
- Visible redness
- Breakouts (occasional vs. persistent)
- Texture irregularities (rough patches, bumps)
- Dullness or lack of radiance
These concerns give you clues about what your skin needs, but they don’t necessarily define your skin type.
For example: You can have oily skin with dehydration or combination skin that’s also sensitive.
The goal is to separate your skin type (your inherent skin characteristics) from your skin condition (what’s happening right now).
When Your Skin Feels Unpredictable
Sometimes your skin acts completely unpredictable. One day it’s super oily. The next day it’s flaking. You have no idea what’s happening!
This can happen when your skin is reacting to:
- Using products that are too aggressive for your skin type
- Mixing skin care lines or cherry-picking treatments
- Using harsh cleansers or over-exfoliating
Here’s what to do:
Go back to the basics. Scale down to a simple 3-step routine (cleanser, freshener or toner, moisturizer) matched to your skin type. Give your skin time to rebalance. Then add targeted treatments.
Choose the Right Skin Care for Your Skin Type
At L’BRI, we’ve built complete 3-step systems (called Trios) for each skin type.
Each Trio includes a cleanser, freshener or toner, and moisturizer formulated to work together.
Our 6 Skin Type Trios:
Extra-Dry Trio → For maximum moisture needs, tight or flaky skin
Gentle Trio → For normal to dry skin
Combination Trio → For oily T-zone, normal-to-dry elsewhere (most common)
Deep Pore Trio → For visible pores, occasional breakouts, combination-oily skin
Oil-Control Trio → For constant shine, frequent breakouts, makeup that won’t stay
Excessively Oily Trio → For severe oil production, persistent breakouts, stubborn shine
Each Trio is aloe-based (not water-based), which means you’re getting smooth, refreshing hydration.
Not sure which Trio is right for you? Take our FREE Skin Analyzer: a 2-minute quiz to find a skin care routine that fits your skin’s needs.
