A board-certified dermatologist has revealed exactly how to find out what your skin type is — and the best part is, it’s completely free.
The information was shared by a New York City dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss in a TikTok video posted last month that has since racked up nearly a million views.
The doctor, who is the founder of the eponymous skin care brand Dr. Idriss, is not only a cosmetic expert in the field of ‘face, fillers and lasers’, but she often uses social media to share her skincare expertise with followers.
Share some of her wisdom, Dr. Idriss recently revealed this how to tell if you really have oily, dry, or combination skin, and how knowing this can ultimately save you some money.
New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss is a cosmetic expert in the field of ‘face, fillers and lasers’
The dermatologist showed viewers the different skin types and explained that if your skin is ‘flaky’ thirty minutes after washing, you have dry skin, while if your skin is oily afterwards, you have oily skin.
‘That way you can know. You’re going to wash your face, pat it dry and do nothing,” Dr. began. Idriss in the video.
“If your skin feels flaky and rough after thirty minutes, you’re probably dry, which means your skin isn’t producing enough oil,” she revealed.
Dr. Idriss explained that if you see oil on your skin thirty minutes after washing your face, you actually have oily skin.
“Some of you just can’t make up your mind, and that’s fine. The center of your face may be oily and the rest of your face may be rough. You have combination skin,” the dermatologist continued.
“And lastly, if your skin feels tight and squeaky clean after thirty minutes, you’re probably dehydrated,” she 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,” she explained.
‘Your skin is deficient in water and moisture and this does not necessarily have to be a skin type.’
Finally, she debunked a common misconception about different skin types and shared that there was “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. concluded. Idriss.
In the comments section of her video, some viewers seemed shocked to learn that their dry skin may not actually be dry, but a 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 was like “what if it just feels super tight” and then, bam, you said it. Feel called. Dehydrated, always and forever.’
“You mean I’m just dehydrated all the time?!?!” someone else wondered.
Others shared their own skincare remedies.
“To repair dehydrated skin: drink plenty of water, use a water-based cleanser, use a cream with glycerin and an occlusive to lock in that moisture,” said one user.
Someone else said: ‘Of course, if you have dehydrated skin, focus on moisturizing the skin. When the skin is dry, it lacks oil and not moisture.”
“Especially as a woman, if you have hormonal fluctuations, your skin can vary over the course of a month,” concluded Dr. Idriss.
In the comments section of her video, many viewers complained about the type of skin they had
Last November, Dr. Idriss also provides some tips to prevent dry skin caused by harsh weather conditions.
One piece of advice to viewers was to stop washing your face twice a day.
“Save the cleanser for the evening and skip it in the morning because you’ll strip your skin too much when the air gets drier, and your skin will hate you for it,” said Dr. Idriss.
She explained that when looking for a cleanser, look for products that are “gentle.”
The ingredients in these “gentle” cleansers should include things like ceramides and glycerin, she explained. These ingredients help retain moisture.
“And if your skin barrier is inflamed and feeling a bit raw and tight, avoid perfume in this case,” she warned.