One cream says “for dry skin” and the next “for combination skin”. You hold both in your hand: your cheeks sometimes feel tense, your nose shines, and yesterday everything was actually pleasant. Which information helps when choosing?

To get started, an observation from your everyday life is enough. Where does the skin feel like and when do you notice it? We sort the terms so that you can make a decision. You don’t need a perfect assignment for this.

Look at your face without making a test of it

Take an ordinary day as a starting point. You may notice rough patches on your cheeks when applying cream. Or you can dab some shine from your forehead and nose in the afternoon. Both are more helpful than asking whether your face looks exactly like a skin type photo.

You can take short notes for a few days: Where is it shiny? Where is it exciting? What did you use before? You don’t have to buy a new product or intentionally leave your skin without care for a long time. If washing is unpleasant, this discomfort is the first thing that comes to the fore.

Such sentences are also worth their weight in gold for advice. “I like the cream, but there is too much film on my forehead” says a lot more than a cautious “Maybe I have combination skin”. Please bring the names of your previous products with you. This way you can pick up where you have already had good experiences.

Four terms that you encounter on packaging

The following features are an initial orientation, based on the skin type overview of the American Academy of Dermatology . They are not a substitute for investigating complaints.

Normal skin usually appears balanced and feels pleasant without noticeable dryness or oiliness. “Normal” is a category on the packaging here, not a standard of beauty. Even then, you don’t have to look for an additional care goal.

Dry skin can appear rough, flaky or itchy. If you recognize such characteristics, you will find more detailed information in the article about dry skin and its care .

Oily skin is shiny and feels rather oily. When choosing, it’s worth looking at how your skin feels throughout the day. Our notes about oily skin continue the topic.

Combination skin combines drier and oilier areas. The shine often affects the T-zone of the forehead, nose and chin. The cheeks may feel different. When it comes to the cream, you can take these areas into account in different ways; the AAD describes this in its advice on moisturizing care . You can read how this becomes a manageable process at Combination Skin and K-Beauty .

And where do sensitive and low-moisture belong?

This is where packaging sometimes becomes confusing. “Sensitive” primarily describes a low level of tolerance to influences or products. This can manifest itself as burning, itching or redness. DermNet classifies sensitive skin as a descriptive everyday term , which can have different causes.

For our care orientation, we therefore consider sensitivity in addition to shine and dryness. It may last longer or become noticeable in certain situations; it is not automatically a short phase. If you want to pay attention to this, click here for the article about sensitive skin .

In cosmetic advice, “low moisture” means a low water content in the top layer of skin. However, the practical shorthand “dry needs fat, low-moisture needs water” falls short: in dry skin, water retention, skin oils and barrier function are linked. This explains DermNet about the structure and causes of dry skin . A feeling of tension alone does not tell you what connection you have.

If your skin has recently reacted to several products, asking about your skin type will only help to a limited extent. Our article When the skin is tight or burning: Understanding the skin barrier addresses exactly this concern.

From observation to a suitable cream

Let’s say that your cheeks still feel dry after the previous care, but you are satisfied with the rest of your routine. Then you can first look for a creamier texture. Creams are often richer than lotions and gels; This is a selection guide, not a promise for every product. The differences are explained in the AAD advice on moisturizing care linked above.

An example from our range is the Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream . It is offered as a rich cream with no added fragrances; The currently listed list of ingredients includes jojoba oil and shea butter. So you can include it as a cream texture in your comparison. Whether you like the finished product or whether you can tolerate it cannot be predicted from the skin type information alone.

Feel free to tell us what was important when making your selection: perhaps your budget or the fact that everything should fit in just a few minutes in the morning. This makes the advice more concrete. We can think about existing products and see together which questions are still open.

What other topic concerns you?

Some questions only concern a small part of the face. Others have been with you for a long time. Here you will find the right deepening:

• Visible pores or points on the nose: Large pores and blackheads: What care can change .
• Colored areas after a pimple: Pimple marks or pigment spots: How to choose your care .
• Recurrent inflammatory pimples: Acne – what K-beauty can do and where medicine begins .
• Care needs in later life: Korean cosmetics for mature skin .
• Lines and their names: Which wrinkles do we have on our face? .

For the order at the sink, the overview of the Korean skin care routine will guide you through the care steps. Cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection form a simple foundation. If there is persistent burning, severe itching, painful or inflamed areas, it is advisable to have a dermatological assessment before continuing to try out new products.

What we know for sure

• Skin type terms help sort care, but are not a diagnosis.
• With combination skin, different areas of the face can differ significantly.
• Sensitivity deserves additional attention; There can be different causes behind complaints.
• Water content and skin oils cannot be viewed completely separately when it comes to dry skin.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology: Skin types and a simple care routine
• American Academy of Dermatology: Choosing moisturizer according to skin needs
• DermNet: Sensitive skin and possible causes
• DermNet: Dry skin, water retention and skin barrier

Product information and links checked on September 8, 2026.