Skin Identification

In order to create a skin care regimen that combats blackheads, zits, and other blemishes without also destroying the smoothness and suppleness of your skin, it's important to identify your skin type. This is a two-fold process that involves determining where you fall on the moisture scale - dry, normal, oily, or combination - and whether or not your skin is balanced when it comes to acidity and alkalinity (what those "ph balancing" lotions and cleansers are meant to address).
Most people have a good idea of their skin type in the first category, but most people don't know where their skin rates on the acidity scale. Fortunately there are simple tests to determine both of your skin types.

Testing for ph balance

In order to find out whether you have balanced skin, you'll perform a litmus test, using the same sort of litmus paper you probably encountered in grade school science classes.

Begin by washing your face and rinsing all the cleanser (never use normal soap on your face) away. Use a soft towel to pat your skin dry, then wait an hour for your skin to rest and restore its normal condition.

Apply a strip of litmus paper to the skin of your face - your forehead is a good place - and wait for a full minute before removing it.

Look at the color of the paper.

  • Blue paper means that your skin is more basic, or alkaline, than it should be.
  • Pinkish-Purple or Lavender paper is a normal result - your skin is neither too acidic nor too basic.
  • Pinkish-Red paper means that your skin is producing too much acid.
Testing for excessive oil

Like the litmus test for acidity, the test to see if your skin is too dry or oily is simple. Once again, you'll need to begin with a clean, dry face.

Take a piece of tissue paper (a few squares of toilet paper or a facial tissue will do), and press it to your face, paying close attention to your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Make sure you only press, and don't rub. Wait about a minute, then remove the tissue and examine it.

  • If there is no evidence of oil on the tissue, you have dry skin.
  • If there are small areas that are oily, but nothing concentrated, you have normal skin.
  • If there are heavy amounts of oil in the parts of the tissue that correspond with your forehead and nose, you have combination skin. This is actually the most common skin type.
  • Excessive oil everywhere means you have oily skin, but it does not mean that your face is dirty.

Congratulations! You've identified your skin type. Armed with this information, you can create a skin care plan to balance acidity and moisture and keep your skin smooth, supple and zit-free for years to come.