A board-certified dermatologist has revealed exactly how you can determine your skin type, and the best part is that it’s completely free.
The information was shared by a New York City-based dermatologist. Dr. Shereene Idriss in a TikTok video posted last month, which has since reached nearly a million views.
The doctor, founder of the eponymous skincare brand Dr. Idriss, is not only a cosmetic expert in ‘face, fillers and lasers’, but often takes to social media to share her expertise in skin care. the skin with his followers.
Sharing some of his wisdom, Dr. Idriss recently revealed how you can tell if you really have oily, dry, or combination skin, and how knowing this can end up saving you some money.
Dr. Shereene Idriss, a New York City-based dermatologist, is a cosmetic expert in “face, fillers, and lasers.”
The dermatologist explained the different skin types to viewers, explaining that if your skin is ‘flaky’ thirty minutes after washing it, you have dry skin, while if it is oily afterwards, you have oily skin.
‘That’s how you can tell. You’re going to wash your face, dry yourself off, and do nothing,’ Dr. Idriss began the video.
“If after thirty minutes your skin feels flaky and rough, you’re probably dry, which means your skin isn’t producing enough oil,” he divulged.
Dr. Idriss explained that if you can see oil on your skin thirty minutes after washing your face, you actually have an oily skin type.
“Some of you just can’t make up your mind, and that’s okay, half your face may be oily and the rest of your face may be rough, your skin is combination,” the dermatologist continued.
“And lastly, if your skin feels tight and squeaky clean after thirty minutes, you’re probably dehydrated,” he said.
However, she warned viewers not to confuse dehydrated skin with dry skin.
“You can be dehydrated and dry, you can be dehydrated and oily,” he explained.
“Your skin lacks water and moisture and that’s not necessarily a skin type.”
Finally, she debunked a common misconception about different skin types and shared that “there is no such thing” as a “normal” skin type.
“Especially as a woman, if you have hormonal fluctuations, your skin can vary over the course of a month,” Dr. Idriss concluded.
In the comments section of her video, some viewers seemed surprised to learn that their dry skin might not actually be dry, but rather the result of dehydration.
“I’m dehydrated, but no matter how much water I drink, my skin still feels tight,” one person wrote.
Another agreed: “I thought, ‘What if it feels super tight?’ and then boom, you said it.” Feel called. Dehydrated, always and forever.’
‘You mean I’ve been dehydrated this whole time?!?!’ someone else wondered.
Others shared their own skin care remedies.
‘To fix dehydrated skin: drink enough water, use a water-based cleanser, use a cream with glycerin and an occlusive to maintain that moisture,’ one user commented.
Someone else shared: ‘If you have dehydrated skin, focus on moisturizing it, of course. If the skin is dry, it lacks oil, not moisture.’
“Especially as a woman, if you have hormonal fluctuations, your skin can vary over the course of a month,” Dr. Idriss concluded.
In the comments section of their video, many viewers lamented the type of skin they had.
Last November, Dr. Idriss also shared some tips to avoid dry skin caused by harsh weather.
One piece of advice for viewers was to stop washing their faces twice a day.
“Save the cleanser for overnight and skip it in the morning, because you’ll be putting too much stress on your skin as the air gets drier, and your skin will hate you for it,” Dr. Idriss said.
She explained that when looking for a cleanser to use, you should look for ones that are “gentle.”
The ingredients in these “gentle” cleansers should be ceramides and glycerin, he explained. These ingredients help keep moisture retained.
“And if the skin barrier is inflamed and feels a little raw and tight, avoid fragrances in this case,” he warned.