Facial Types: Know Your Skin to Get the Right Treatments

When it comes to skincare and cosmetic treatments, facial types, the classification of skin based on oil production, moisture levels, and pore size. Also known as skin types, it determines everything from what products you should use to which procedures will actually work for you. If you’ve ever bought a fancy serum that did nothing—or worse, broke you out—you didn’t fail. Your skin type wasn’t matched to the solution.

There are five main facial types: oily, dry, combination, sensitive, and normal. Most people fall into one of these, and each reacts differently to treatments. Oily skin, characterized by shiny T-zones, enlarged pores, and frequent breakouts needs lightweight, non-comedogenic products and treatments like chemical peels or laser pore reduction. Dry skin, often flaky, tight, and easily irritated responds best to hydrating serums, hyaluronic acid boosters, and gentle exfoliation. Then there’s combination skin, the most common type, where the forehead and nose are oily but cheeks stay dry. This one’s tricky—you can’t treat it like a one-size-fits-all problem. You need targeted care, zone by zone.

And it’s not just about oil. Sensitive skin, prone to redness, stinging, or reactions to fragrances and harsh actives requires a different approach entirely. Aggressive treatments like strong retinoids or deep chemical peels can do more harm than good. Meanwhile, normal skin, balanced, rarely reactive, with minimal concerns still benefits from prevention—sunscreen, gentle cleansing, and hydration to keep it that way.

What you see in the mirror isn’t just about age or lifestyle. It’s your skin type talking. A treatment that works for your friend might make your skin worse if it doesn’t match your type. That’s why clinics like Bolton Beauty Clinic start with skin analysis before any procedure—because guessing leads to wasted time, money, and frustration.

Below, you’ll find real posts from people who’ve been there—trying the wrong products, dealing with unexpected reactions, and finally finding what actually works. Whether you’re wondering if your acne is linked to oily skin, why your moisturizer feels greasy, or whether you need a facial or a medical-grade peel, the answers are in these stories. No fluff. Just what your skin type needs to thrive.