Knowing your skin type is the foundation of every effective skincare routine. Skin type describes how much oil your skin naturally produces, and it determines which cleansers, moisturisers and treatments will help rather than harm. The five main types — dry, oily, combination, normal and sensitive — behave very differently, and using products designed for the wrong type is one of the most common reasons people feel their routine is not working.
In South Africa, skin type is shaped as much by environment as by genetics. The dry Highveld winter and air-conditioned offices pull moisture from the skin, while coastal humidity in Durban and Cape Town increases oiliness. Many people find their skin behaves like one type in summer and another in winter, which is why an annual reassessment of your routine is worthwhile.
Beyond skin type, most South Africans should also understand the Fitzpatrick scale, which describes how skin responds to ultraviolet light from type I (always burns, never tans) to type VI (deeply pigmented, never burns). Most South Africans sit between types IV and VI. This matters because deeper skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring, and are more likely to be harmed by the wrong laser or peel settings — so treatments should always be chosen with skin tone in mind.
If you are unsure of your type, start simple. A gentle cleanser, a lightweight moisturiser suited to your skin, and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen will never do harm, and they form the base that any more targeted routine can be built on. From there, add one product at a time and give it at least eight weeks before judging the result.
