What’s your skin type? Dermatologist shares free, easy way to find out

NYC dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss is sharing a simple, free test to determine if you have oily, dry, or combination skin.
NYC dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss is sharing a simple, free test to determine if you have oily, dry, or combination skin.

You may need a thick skin to take this test.

NYC dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss — the face of the popular “face basting” movement — is sharing a simple, free test to determine if you have oily, dry, or combination skin.

“Wash your face, pat dry, and do nothing,” Idriss advises in her minute-long TikTok that has scored 937,000 views in the last month.

“If after 30 minutes your skin feels scaly and rough, you are probably ‘dry,’ meaning your skin is not producing enough oil,” she shared.

Idriss explained that if after half an hour, you can see your reflection through your skin and it looks oily, you have oily skin.

“Wash your face, pat dry, and do nothing,” Idriss advises in her minute-long TikTok that has scored 937,000 views in the last month. Vitalina – stock.adobe.com
“Wash your face, pat dry, and do nothing,” Idriss advises in her minute-long TikTok that has scored 937,000 views in the last month. Vitalina – stock.adobe.com

“Some of you just can’t make up your minds, and that’s fine — the middle of your face might be oily and the rest of your face might be rough. You are combination skin,” she declared.

Knowing your skin type is important as you craft a skincare plan. The Post has identified 45 slick products to nourish dry skin and 23 to combat oily skin.

Before signing off, Idriss shared one more wrinkle to her skin test.

“If your skin feels tight and squeaky clean after 30 minutes, you’re probably dehydrated,” she noted, explaining that “dehydrated” is “not necessarily” a skin type. “Your skin is lacking water and moisture.”

“And finally, there is no such thing as ‘normal skin’ especially as a woman,” Idriss continued. “If you have hormonal fluctuations, your skin can vary throughout the course of a month.”

Knowing your skin type is important as you craft a skincare plan. Voyagerix – stock.adobe.com
Knowing your skin type is important as you craft a skincare plan. Voyagerix – stock.adobe.com

A Yale School of Medicine faculty member told Everyday Health last year that about 13 cups of water for men and 9 cups for women should be adequate to help keep skin hydrated — more may be needed depending on how much the person sweats.

But the experts who talked to the outlet pointed out that water consumption isn’t the only solution — they recommend eating fruits and vegetables with high water content, avoiding alcohol, exfoliating your skin, and getting a humidifier for your home, among other suggestions.

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