Everyone has a different skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, normal or combination skin, when it comes to makeup you need to find products that work for your skin type. If you’re unsure how to get started, here are some tips to help you out.

Know your skin type

The first step in determining what kind of makeup to use on your skin is to know what skin type you are. The skin types that are most common are normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Here is a quick breakdown.

Normal – The normal skin type is not too dry and not too oily. It has barely visible pores, none or few imperfections and a radiant complexion.

Combination – With combination skin, your skin can be normal or dry in some sections and oily in others. You can have blackheads, shiny skin and pores larger than normal.

Dry – Dry skin can easily peel and crack or become irritated, itchy or inflamed. You’ll have almost invisible pores, red patches, less elastic skin and a rough complexion.

Oily – If you have oily skin you will probably have pimples, blackheads, or other blemishes, enlarged pores and a shiny, thick complexion.

Sensitive – Sensitive skin will have itchiness, dryness, and redness. With this skin type, it’s important to know what triggers your skin’s sensitivity so that you can avoid them.

Pick the right formula and ingredients

Once you know what skin type you are, the next step is to choose the right formula. When it comes to products such as foundation your skin type will determine what kind formula you need to look for in the product.

When picking foundation for oily skin you should look for products that have fine powders, such as kaolin clay, which can absorb the oil without drying out your skin. For combination skin, you want products that are balanced in the sense that they absorb excess oil and fend off dryness.

For normal and dry skin a moisturizing liquid foundation will help hydrate your skin without making it greasy. For sensitive skin, looking at the ingredients is very important because many products contain irritants such as synthetic fragrance. Look for formulas with as few ingredients as possible and for products which are targeted at sensitive skin.

Choosing the right makeup for your skin type is important if you’re going to be wearing makeup for long periods of time. If you choose the wrong formula then your makeup can actually irritate your skin and cause redness. So while you do your shopping for a new foundation, make sure to pick one that’s right for your skin.