Our skin type is determined by genetics. Skin conditions vary greatly according to the internal and external factors it is subjected to. However, there are five basic types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination (both oily and dry skin) and sensitive. To care for your skin properly it is important to determine your skin type.

Here are two simple ways in helping to determine your skin type at home.

A. The Bare-Face Method:

The easiest and simplest way to determine your skin type is to carefully examine your bare skin. Cleanse your face thoroughly and if necessary double cleanse to remove foundation and daily grime:

• Step 1 - Using Mervue Organic Superfruit Facial Balm, massage into skin and remove with a warm flannel, rinse out flannel and repeat.
• Step 2 - Using Mervue Organic Superfruit Cleanser repeat as above ensuring you remove any residue.
• Leave skin for 30 minutes then observe it. Have a good look.
• Is it shiny on your cheeks and t-zone? This indicates you may have oily skin.
• Does it feel a bit taut and dry and appear to be a bit flaky? This would indicate it is dry skin.

• If there are traces of oil from the t-zone this indicates normal or combination skin.
• If it is shiny and a bit dry and unbalanced this indicates combination skin.

B. The Blotting Sheet or Tissue Method:

Follow Step 1 and 2 above.

• Apply blotting paper or tissue to forehead and nose and onto various parts of your face. Hold the sheet up to the light and observe how much oil was absorbed.
• Your skin type will depend on how much oil is visible, the more oil you see the more likely it is that you have oily skin.
• If there is little or no oil visible you have dry skin.
• If there are traces of oil from the nose and forehead you probably have normal or combination skin.