Choosing skincare is far easier once you know what you are working with. You do not need a device or an appointment, only a mild cleanser and an hour.
The bare-face test
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry and apply nothing. After an hour, look closely in daylight and touch your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.
What you may notice
If your whole face feels tight or looks flaky, your skin is dry. If there is shine across the forehead, nose and cheeks, it is oily. Shine on the T-zone with comfortable or dry cheeks points to combination skin. If you feel neither tight nor shiny, you have what is called normal skin.
Sensitive is a tendency, not a type
Sensitivity can sit alongside any of the above. If your skin often stings, flushes or reacts to new products, treat it as sensitive first and choose fragrance-free formulas.
Skin also changes with season, age and climate, so repeat the test once or twice a year. Our routine finder turns your answer into four product suggestions.