What's Your Skin Type?

What products give your skin a gorgeous glow depends on whether your skin is dry, oily or in-between. But for all skin types, there's a single bottom line, according to private-practice dermatologist Lynn McKinley-Grant, M.D.: "Once you get a skin product that works for you, just keep using it — there's no reason to change." And whatever your skin type, keep using a daily sunscreen — whether it's a moisturizing variety for your dry skin or an oil-free one if grease is your foe.

Skin Type	What It's Like	Treating It right
Dry Skin	Dry skin cracks easily, making you more prone to infection and premature wrinkling.	Don't let it get dehydrated — avoid alcohol-heavy skin products, and use a moisturizer. Make it an oil-free brand if you're worried that overkill will make your skin greasy.
Normal Skin	The label speaks for itself: the skin isn't dry or greasy but in-between.	Do what feels right. Treat it "normally" — use whatever non-soap cleanser and other products that feel right and don't disturb the healthy balance. Moisturizing is a maybe step — feel free if your skin feels dry.
Oily Skin	Oily skin is the curse of a pimple-plagued teen, but this greasy, sometimes shiny skin type can become a blessing as you age because it keeps you younger-looking than your dry-skinned contemporaries.	Wash it more than once a day — as many times as you feel the need. Skin care products with alcohol will make the skin less oily.
Combination Skin	Some areas are oily — often the forehead, nose and chin — while others, such as your cheeks, are normal to dry.	Wash the oily areas, the so-called T-zone, at least twice a day with a non-drying cleanser.