Skin type guide
How to read your skin.
Very few people know their skin type exactly, and that's completely normal. Two simple tests and three questions show you what your skin needs right now.
Four skin types, two conditions
Your skin type is largely inherited and changes only slowly. On top of that come conditions that can affect any skin type.
Normal
Even, fine pores, hardly any shine. Doesn't feel tight after washing.
Dry
Feels tight after washing and rough to the touch, sometimes with fine flakes.
Oily
Shiny all over by mid-morning. Pores are clearly visible.
Combination
Shine only on the forehead, nose and chin. Cheeks are normal to dry.
Sensitive is not a skin type of its own but a condition: skin reddens quickly, burns or itches, for example with new products or changes in the weather. Dehydration is a condition too. It can even affect oily skin that shines and still feels tight.
Step 1: the wash test
Cleanse your face gently and apply nothing afterwards. Wait 30 minutes and notice how your skin feels.
| What you notice | What it points to |
|---|---|
| Tight all over or flaky | dry skin |
| Shiny all over | oily skin |
| Shiny only on forehead, nose and chin | combination skin |
| None of these | normal skin |
Step 2: the tissue test
Right after the wash test, press a thin tissue onto your forehead, nose and cheeks. Oil marks everywhere point to oily skin, marks only on the forehead and nose to combination skin. If the tissue stays clean, your skin is rather dry or normal.
Step 3: three questions for you
- How does your skin feel 30 minutes after washing? The answer separates dry, normal and oily skin.
- Does anything burn or turn red, for example with new products or changes in the weather? If so, treat your skin as sensitive, whatever skin type fits otherwise.
- What bothers you most? Shine, blemishes or tightness. This answer decides your formula.
Our rule of thumb: what bothers you most matters more than the skin type on paper. Only when your skin reacts quickly does a gentle cleanse always come first.
Which cleanser suits you
Oily & combination skinMineral + Sea Ferment PurifyA clarifying cleanse for shine and visible pores. Kaolin and activated charcoal absorb excess sebum without drying skin out.
Blemish-prone skinMicellar Enzyme ClarityA gentle peel without scrub particles. The enzyme papain dissolves dead skin cells.If you have a latex allergy or atopic dermatitis, please choose a different formula.
Sensitive skinGentle Ceramide MilkA gentle cleanse for skin that reacts quickly. With ceramide NP, goat milk and oat.Contains goat milk and is therefore not vegan.
Dry skinHydra-Peptide Silk FoamA nourishing cleanse that doesn't leave skin feeling tight. With hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex.
The second step for every skin: after cleansing, The Calming Cream cares for your skin with panthenol, beta-glucan, bisabolol and centella. It soothes and binds moisture.
When several points apply
| Your skin | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Combination skin with blemishes | Micellar Enzyme Clarity |
| Oily and sensitive at the same time | Gentle Ceramide Milk |
| Shiny and still tight | Hydra-Peptide Silk Foam |
| Dry and easily irritated | Gentle Ceramide Milk |
| Balanced, nothing bothers you | Gentle Ceramide Milk |
When a dermatologist is the better choice
Deep, inflamed spots, widespread acne, rosacea, eczema or atopic dermatitis belong in medical hands. Our products are cosmetics and don't replace treatment.
Prefer to be guided? The skin type quiz asks you five short questions and shows you your formula at the end.
Start the quiz