Skin type is not determined only by genetics, it changes depending on the season, stress, hormonal changes and lifestyle. This is why it is important to monitor changes in the skin and adjust care according to specific needs.
There are several basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive. Each of them requires a different approach and special care. Korean cosmetics, with a focus on layering product application and deep hydration, offers products that can transform your routine.

Let’s start with a detailed overview of skin types, how to recognize them and what are the best K-beauty tips for each of them.

How to identify your skin type?
The first step in determining your skin type is a simple home test. Follow these steps:

• Clean face test:
  • Clean your face with a mild cleanser and wait 30-60 minutes without applying any product.
  • Notice how your skin behaves:
  • If you feel tight, it’s dry skin.
  • If you have visible oil all over your face, you have oily skin.
  • If you have noticed fat in the T-zone and dryness on the cheeks, you have combination skin.
  • If your skin feels comfortable without changes, it is normal skin.
• Paper tissue test:
  • Gently press the tissue on your face:
  • If the tissue absorbs a lot of oil, it means oily skin.
  • If only part of the tissue you put on the T-zone is oily, it is combination skin.
  • If there are no traces of oil on the tissue, the skin is dry or normal.
• If you often feel itchy or burning skin, or if redness is visible, it is probably a case of sensitive skin.

Brief description of skin types:

• Combination skin: Combination of mostly oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and dry or normal cheeks.
• Dry skin: Tight, rough to the touch, visibly dehydrated, prone to flaking and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Oily skin: Shiny and oily all over the face, leaves a greasy mark to the touch, prone to enlarged pores and irregularities
• Sensitive skin: Often reacts to external influences with redness, itching, burning and irritation.
• Normal skin: Smooth and balanced with a slight glow.

Dry skin
Dry skin usually produces fewer natural oils, resulting in reduced moisture and less elasticity. Because of this, it often looks tired, and can be rough to the touch, cracked or prone to flaking. It is often tight and dehydrated and shows signs of aging faster because it lacks elasticity and moisture, which leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dry skin can be prone to itching and irritation, especially during cold periods, or after exposure to warm water.
Dry skin care should be aimed at restoring moisture. Korean cosmetics for dry skin recommend products rich in hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane, which will help the skin retain moisture and reduce dryness. Nourishing toners, renewing essences, moisturizing serums and rich creams are key steps in a layered K-beauty routine. Essences are key to achieving shiny and healthy skin, as they provide additional care between toning and hydration. Also, regular use of sheet masks plays a key role in maintaining hydration throughout the day, providing the skin with the necessary nutrients and moisture, thus ensuring a long-lasting feeling of freshness and a healthy, glowing complexion.
Tip: Regular use of sheet masks, at least several times a week, deeply hydrates dry skin, restoring its elasticity and natural glow. Sheet masks not only instantly alleviate the feeling of tightness, but also reduce dryness in the long term. In addition, include in your routine rich moisturizing creams and serums that create a protective layer on the skin, preventing further drying. This will help your skin maintain an optimal level of moisture throughout the day.

Combination skin
Combination skin is, as the name suggests, a combination of different skin types, most often oily and dry skin. Often, the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) produces excess sebum and shines, while the cheeks are prone to tightening and dryness. This can make caring for combination skin particularly challenging as different parts of the face require different types of care.
The Korean routine for combination skin takes a layered approach – lightweight toners, hydrating essences, hyaluronic acid serums are used to hydrate dry areas, while sebum-controlling and pore-cleansing products, with ingredients like niacinamide, focus on the T-zone. Balancing care is key here: hydration on dry areas and oil control in the T-zone.
Tip: Experiment with targeted care, use different products on different parts of the face to achieve the optimal balance. Use different masks for different parts of the face, clay mask on oily parts, and moisturizing masks on dry parts of the face.

Oily Skin
Oily skin can be a challenge to maintain due to excessive sebum secretion, leading to shine and enlarged pores. This skin type is prone to clogged pores, blackheads and acne, especially in the warmer months. Although oily skin dries more slowly and is less prone to early wrinkles, proper care is key to maintaining its health.
The Korean skincare routine for oily skin emphasizes sebum control and pore reduction. Use light water-based cleansers that remove impurities and excess oil without drying out the skin. Products with salicylic acid (BHA) and niacinamide help reduce the appearance of pores and regulate oiliness. Alcohol-free essences and toners help maintain balance, while gel-textured moisturizers keep pores from clogging without adding shine. Do not avoid hydration, choose non-greasy, gel moisturizers that will not clog pores.
Our advice: Use scrubs and clay masks regularly to deeply clean pores and control sebum production, but avoid overly drying products to minimize the possibility of additional irritations.
Also, light essences or serums can help with hydration without feeling heavy on the skin.

Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin requires special attention, because it quickly reacts to changes in the environment or care products. It is often prone to redness, reactions and irritations, and sometimes small pimples appear as a response to irritation. This skin type can become extra sensitive due to external factors such as UV radiation, wind, dry air or the use of aggressive cosmetic products.
Sensitive skin care should be aimed at soothing and strengthening the skin barrier. K-beauty recommends products with gentle ingredients such as Asian centella, panthenol and Aloe vera, which soothe irritations and help restore the skin’s protective function. It is important to avoid products with perfumes, alcohol and strong chemicals that can further irritate the skin.
Our advice: Always test new products on a small area of ​​skin first and when introducing new products into your routine, use them gradually to avoid potential reactions.

Normal skin
Normal skin is ideal because it is naturally balanced – neither too oily nor too dry. It has a fine texture, even pores and a healthy glow. Although normal skin is resistant to external influences, proper care is still essential in order to preserve its hydration and protective barrier.
K-beauty products for normal skin include light moisturizing creams and serums that ensure the maintenance of balance, and products with antioxidants such as vitamin C, peptides and SPF protection that help maintain elasticity and a healthy glow. The Korean routine maintains balance through hydration and protection of the skin, emphasizing the prevention of aging and the preservation of a youthful appearance.
Our tip: Even if you have normal skin, it is important to regularly use SPF and light moisturizers to preserve its natural beauty and elasticity.

Conclusion
Proper identification of skin type and adjustment of care are the basis for achieving long-term health and beauty of the skin. By understanding the specific needs of each skin type, from dry to sensitive, we can choose a targeted K-beauty approach that helps maintain balance, hydration and protection. Korean cosmetics emphasize layered hydration and carefully selected ingredients that protect the skin barrier, and a proper routine can prevent premature aging and help preserve a youthful appearance. Regardless of skin type, consistency in care is the key to a long-term glowing and healthy complexion.

It is important to emphasize that the skin changes with age, so its care must also be adapted. With aging, the skin loses key ingredients such as collagen and elastin, which leads to a decrease in elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles. Korean cosmetics offers a number of products, such as moisturizing creams and serums with anti-aging ingredients, which target the signs of aging. Regular use of products rich in hyaluronic acid, ceramides and antioxidants will help slow down aging and maintain a youthful appearance.
All these adjustments in care will ensure long-term healthy skin that, despite external factors and aging, will retain vitality and radiance.