What Your Skin Type Really Is (And Why You Might Be Getting It Wrong)
Summer is all about sunshine, beach days and that bronzed glow, but for your skin, it can feel more like survival mode. Heat, sweat and sunscreen are essential parts of the season, yet they can also trigger breakouts, irritation, dehydration and pigmentation if not managed correctly.
Let’s break down exactly what’s happening to your skin in summer, and how to keep it calm, clear and glowing.
1. Heat: The Invisible Skin Stressor
High temperatures don’t just make you uncomfortable, they actively change how your skin behaves.
What heat does to your skin
Increases oil (sebum) production
Dilates pores, making congestion more likely
Triggers inflammation and redness
Worsens pigmentation and melasma
Accelerates moisture loss (dehydration)
Who’s most affected:
If you’re acne-prone, rosacea-prone or dealing with pigmentation, summer heat can exaggerate existing concerns.
What helps
Lightweight, gel or lotion-based moisturisers
Antioxidants (like vitamin C) to combat heat-induced oxidative stress
Avoiding harsh actives during heatwaves
Professional cooling or calming treatments when needed
2. Sweat: Friend or Foe?
Sweating is your body’s natural cooling system, but on the skin, it’s a mixed bag.
How sweat affects your skin
Mixes with oil, SPF and bacteria → clogged pores
Can trigger breakouts along the hairline, jawline and chest
Causes irritation if left sitting on the skin
Worsens fungal acne and heat rashes
Common summer skin issues linked to sweat
Sweat acne (especially on the face, back and décolletage)
Tiny bumps or rash-like texture
Sensitivity and itchiness
What helps
Gentle cleansing morning and night (and after heavy sweating)
Avoid over-cleansing, this can cause rebound oil production
Keep gym towels, phone screens and hats clean
Choose non-comedogenic SPF and makeup
3. SPF: Essential, but Often Misused
Sunscreen is your number one anti-ageing and skin-protective product, but incorrect use can lead to problems.
Common SPF mistakes
Not applying enough (most people use half the needed amount)
Skipping reapplication
Using heavy or pore-clogging formulas
Relying only on makeup SPF
Avoiding SPF because of breakouts
How SPF can affect your skin
Poorly formulated SPFs can clog pores
Some chemical filters can irritate sensitive skin
Not removing SPF properly leads to congestion
How to use SPF correctly
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 daily
Apply two finger-lengths for face and neck
Reapply every 2–3 hours if outdoors
Double cleanse at night to fully remove SPF
Pro tip: There is an SPF for every skin type, you just need the right one.
4. Dehydration vs Oiliness: The Summer Skin Paradox
Many people think summer skin is “oily,” but it’s often dehydrated.
Why this happens
Heat + sun increase water loss
Air-conditioning dries out skin
Over-cleansing strips natural moisture
Dehydrated skin overproduces oil to compensate
Signs your skin is dehydrated
Tightness but still shiny
Makeup separating or sliding
Fine lines more noticeable
Breakouts despite oil control products
What helps
Hydrating serums (hyaluronic acid, glycerin)
Lightweight moisturisers (yes, even for oily skin!)
Avoid alcohol-heavy toners
Regular LED or hydrating skin treatments
5. Summer Skin SOS Routine (Simple & Effective)
Morning
Gentle cleanser
Antioxidant serum
Lightweight moisturiser
Broad-spectrum SPF 30–50
Evening
Double cleanse to remove SPF, sweat and makeup
Barrier-supporting serum
Calming or hydrating moisturiser
Weekly
Mild exfoliation (1–2x max)
Hydration-focused mask
Professional skin treatment if needed
6. When to Seek Professional Help
If summer leaves your skin feeling constantly inflamed, congested or reactive, in-clinic treatments can help reset and rebalance your skin.
Great summer-safe options include:
LED Light Therapy
Hydrating facials
Barrier-repair treatments
Gentle extractions (when appropriate)
The Bottom Line
Summer doesn’t have to mean breakouts, redness or dull skin. When you understand how heat, sweat and SPF interact with your skin, you can make smarter choices, and keep your glow all season long.
Your skin’s needs change with the weather. Adjusting your routine is not a setback, it’s smart skin care.
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What Your Skin Type Really Is (And Why You Might Be Getting It Wrong)
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Think you know your skin type? You might be wrong. Learn the real difference between dry, oily, combination and dehydrated skin, and how misidentifying it affects breakouts, sensitivity and results.
What Your Skin Type Really Is (And Why You Might Be Getting It Wrong)
Most people confidently say, “I have oily skin” or “I’m definitely dry.”
But in reality, skin type is one of the most misunderstood parts of skincare, and getting it wrong is often the reason your products aren’t working.
If your skin feels oily and tight, breaks out despite “oil control” products, or reacts to everything you use, chances are you’ve misidentified your skin type.
Let’s clear it up properly.
Skin Type vs Skin Condition: The Biggest Confusion
Here’s the key thing most people don’t know:
Skin type is genetic and fairly stable.
Skin conditions are temporary and changeable.
True skin types
Normal
Dry
Oily
Combination
Common skin conditions (often mistaken as skin type)
Dehydration
Acne
Sensitivity
Pigmentation
Compromised skin barrier
You can have oily skin that’s dehydrated, dry skin that’s acne-prone, or normal skin with sensitivity.
This is where most routines go wrong.
Why You Might Be Getting Your Skin Type Wrong
If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone:
Your skin feels oily but also tight
Oil-control products make breakouts worse
Moisturisers feel heavy but skipping them causes congestion
Your skin reacts when you “do everything right”
Your skin changes drastically with seasons or stress
In most cases, the issue isn’t your skin type, it’s a skin condition layered on top.
The Real Skin Types Explained
Normal Skin
Balanced oil production, minimal breakouts, even tone.
Signs:
Rare sensitivity
Small, refined pores
Comfortable after cleansing
Normal skin still needs maintenance, over-stripping can quickly throw it off balance.
Dry Skin
Produces less oil naturally (this is genetic).
Signs:
Persistent tightness
Flakiness year-round
Fine lines more noticeable
Often feels uncomfortable without moisturiser
Dry skin needs lipids and nourishment, not just hydration.
Oily Skin
Produces more oil due to genetics and hormones.
Signs:
Shiny by midday
Enlarged pores
Breakouts common
Makeup slides easily
Oily skin still needs moisturiser, skipping it can cause even more oil production.
Combination Skin
Oily in some areas, dry or normal in others.
Signs:
Oily T-zone
Normal or dry cheeks
Seasonal changes
Combination skin benefits from targeted products, not one-size-fits-all routines.
Dehydrated Skin: The Most Common Misdiagnosis
Dehydration is not a skin type, it’s a lack of water in the skin.
Signs of dehydrated skin
Tight but shiny skin
Makeup separating
Fine lines appear suddenly
Increased sensitivity
Breakouts despite oil control products
Dehydrated skin can happen to any skin type and is often caused by:
Over-cleansing
Harsh actives
Excess exfoliation
Skipping moisturiser
Heat, sun and air-conditioning
Why Getting Your Skin Type Wrong Ruins Results
Using the wrong products can:
Strip your skin barrier
Trigger inflammation and breakouts
Increase oil production
Worsen pigmentation
Make your skin reactive
For example:
Treating dehydrated skin as oily leads to more congestion
Treating acne-prone skin as dry can worsen breakouts
Over-exfoliating “oily” skin can damage the barrier
How to Identify Your True Skin Type (Properly)
Try this simple method:
Cleanse your skin gently
Apply no products
Wait 60 minutes
Then observe:
Tight everywhere → Dry
Shiny everywhere → Oily
Shiny T-zone only → Combination
Comfortable and balanced → Normal
If your skin feels tight and shiny, congratulations—you’ve found dehydration, not oiliness.
Your Skin Can Change (But Your Skin Type Rarely Does)
Hormones, stress, climate, diet, treatments and age all influence your skin conditions, not your genetic skin type.
This is why your skincare should:
Adapt seasonally
Focus on barrier health
Be reassessed regularly
The Bottom Line
If your skincare routine isn’t delivering results, your skin type probably isn’t the problem, your diagnosis is.
Understanding the difference between skin type and skin condition is the foundation of real skin results. Once you get that right, everything else starts to fall into place.