Knowing what facial skin care products to use should be easy… But it really isn’t since there is a ton of skin care products out there. So what to do? The most sensible answer is to go by your skin type. Sounds more reasonable now right? You should always use facial skin care products that accommodate your skin type.

Here’s a little test to see for sure what your skin type is. Simply wash your face with water. Wait 20 minutes and see how your skin looks and reacts. This one’s a no brainer – if your skin feels dry or tight, you have dry skin. If your skin actually looks a bit shiny, then you have oily, acne-prone or combination skin. Or, if your skin is none of the above and just feels dandy, well you are lucky because you have normal skin. (Not that the others aren’t normal; they are just more special that need additional attention.)

Now that you know what your skin type is, you should use a daily cleanser as part of your skin care regimen. Cleansers are one of the most important facial skin care products. And you should of course use a cleanser that’s designed for your skin type. With that said though, you actually shouldn’t get too squeaky clean with a cleanser, even though it sounds counter intuitive. Your cleanser should remove makeup and oil gently, but it should not completely remove all the natural oils in your skin. You’ll know when your skin is too clean when your skin feels tight.

So which facial cleanser is right for your skin type? Dry skin needs a cream-based cleanser, while oily or combination skin needs a gel-based. And for those with normal skin can use a lotion-based facial skin care product.

The following are examples of facial skin care products for the various skin types.

Dry Skin

You should try creamy facial skin care products, especially cleansers that don’t foam up. The ingredients that create the foam can make your dry skin even drier.

Try Caudalie Gentle Cleanser, a very gentle formula that leaves the skin silky smooth, without any rubbing or pulling the skin. The formula also contains natural ingredients such as jojoba oil and shea butter.

Oily, Acne-Prone, or Combination Skin

You want to use a gel-based cleanser. Look for a facial skin care product that contains salicylic or hydroxy acids to absorb the grease.

Use Lancome Gel Pure Focus Deep Purifying Cleanser. It efficiently cleanses the pores by removing makeup, dirt and impurities, all the while transforming your oily skin.

Sensitive Skin

Having sensitive skin means your skin gets easily irritated by extraneous ingredients that aren’t quite necessary for you. Try facial skin care products that are fragrance-free and dye-free.

A good example of this type of cleanser is the Avene Gentle Cleanser for Intolerant Skin. This facial skin care product is designed with minimal ingredients that can still effectively remove dirt and impurities.

Normal Skin

You are pretty much free to choose from most facial skin care products out there, although you probably don’t want the additional ingredients added in a product that is specifically designed for other skin types.

Try St. Ives Swiss Formula Clear Pore Cleanser – it’s got all the goodness without drying your skin and has plenty of natural botanical ingredients that calms and moisturizes as well.

• How Effective are Expensive Skin Care Cleansers?
• 7 Ingredients That Identify The Best Skin Care Products
• Quick Tips: Which Skincare Products to Apply First?
• Anti-aging Skin Care Products: The Evolution
• Best Moisturizers For Your Skin Type
• Exfoliating with Facial Scrubs the Right Way
• The Best Skin Care Products For Healthy Skin
• The Magic Of Botanical Skin Care From Aveeno