🧴 Skincare Routine for Different Indian Skin Types: Oily, Dry, Sensitive & Combination (2025)

 Welcome, Lushivie Readers!

Indian skin is beautiful - but it’s also diverse. Between the heat, humidity, pollution, and hard water in most Indian cities, your skincare needs are not one-size-fits-all. Whether you deal with oiliness, dry patches, redness, or an unpredictable T-zone, your skincare routine needs to match your skin type.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll help you:

• Identify your skin type
• Get expert-recommended product routines for each type
• Avoid the most common mistakes people make

Let’s get into it! 💫

🔍 How to Identify Your Skin Type

Before buying products, it’s critical to understand your skin. Here’s a quick way to know where you fall:

🧪 The Bare-Face Test (Morning)

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser at night.
2. Skip moisturizer and sleep.
3. Observe your face the next morning.

Area	Oily Skin	Dry Skin	Combination	Sensitive
T-Zone (forehead/nose/chin)	Shiny	Tight/dull	Oily	Normal/dry/red
Cheeks	Oily	Flaky	Normal/dry	Red/irritated
Touch	Greasy	Tight	Mixed	Hot/stingy after products

Pro Tip: Your skin can change with age, weather, and hormones. Re-test every season!

🟢 Skincare Routine for Oily Skin (Common in Indian Men & Teens)

Oily skin is often shiny, prone to acne, and may feel greasy by mid-day. The goal is to control sebum without over-drying.

🧼 Morning Routine:

1. Cleanser: Salicylic acid gel (e.g., Minimalist Salicylic Cleanser)
2. Toner (optional): Witch hazel or tea tree water
3. Serum: Niacinamide 10% (oil-balancing)
4. Moisturizer: Gel-based (e.g., Neutrogena Hydro Boost)
5. Sunscreen: Matte SPF 50+ (e.g., La Shield, Re’equil)

🌙 Night Routine:

1. Double cleanse: Micellar water + foam cleanser
2. Toner: Optional (alcohol-free only)
3. Treatment: Retinol 0.3% or azelaic acid serum (3x/week)
4. Moisturizer: Lightweight night cream or aloe vera gel

Tips:

• Avoid thick creams or oils
• Don’t over wash - it increases oil
• Clay masks 1-2x a week help reduce sebum

🔵 Skincare Routine for Dry Skin (More common in winter or mature skin)

Dry skin feels rough, itchy, or tight, especially after cleansing.

🧼 Morning Routine:

1. Cleanser: Creamy or milk cleanser (e.g., Cetaphil Gentle)
2. Toner: Hydrating (e.g., rose water, hyaluronic mist)
3. Serum: Hyaluronic acid + glycerin
4. Moisturizer: Thick cream with ceramides (e.g., CeraVe)
5. Sunscreen: Moisturizing SPF 50 (e.g., Bioderma or Fixderma)

🌙 Night Routine:

1. Cleanser: Micellar water + creamy wash
2. Serum: Peptide serum or ceramide booster
3. Night Cream: Rich moisturizer or sleeping mask

Tips:

• Never skip moisturizer
• Use lukewarm (not hot) water
• Add a humidifier in winter

🔴 Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin (More common in Delhi, Mumbai, pollution-prone areas)

Sensitive skin gets red, itchy, or stings after using new products. You need gentle, barrier-building care.

🧼 Morning Routine:

1. Cleanser: Soap-free, fragrance-free (e.g., Sebamed or Bioderma)
2. Toner: None or soothing aloe water
3. Serum: Centella asiatica (Cica), or panthenol
4. Moisturizer: Barrier repair (e.g., Bioderma Atoderm, Aveeno)
5. Sunscreen: Physical SPF 50 with zinc oxide (e.g., Suncros)

🌙 Night Routine:

1. Cleanser: Gentle micellar water
2. Moisturizer: Unscented repair cream
3. Optional serum: Niacinamide or oat extract (patch test!)

Tips:

• Avoid essential oils, retinol (unless doctor-recommended)
• Always patch test new products
• No scrubs or harsh exfoliants!

🟡 Skincare Routine for Combination Skin

 (Most common in Indian adults)

You have an oily T-zone but dry cheeks. Balance is key.

🧼 Morning Routine:

1. Cleanser: Gel-based but hydrating (e.g., Simple Daily Skin Detox)
2. Toner: Balancing toner (e.g., rose water + witch hazel mix)
3. Serum: Niacinamide OR hyaluronic acid (alternate)
4. Moisturizer: Gel in summer, lotion in winter
5. Sunscreen: Oil-free but moisturizing SPF 50

🌙 Night Routine:

1. Double cleanse: Micellar water + cleanser
2. Exfoliant: Salicylic acid or lactic acid (2-3x/week)
3. Moisturizer: Cream or lightweight night gel

Tips:

• Multi-mask: Use clay on T-zone, hydrating mask on cheeks
• Don’t skip moisturizer (it can worsen both oily & dry zones)
• Blotting paper helps during humid days

🚫 What NOT To Do Based on Skin Type

Mistake	Skin Type Affected
Using scrubs daily	Sensitive, dry
Skipping moisturizer	Oily, combo
Over-cleansing	All types
Ignoring sunscreen	All types
Using active serums all at once	Sensitive, dry

❓ FAQs

Q: Can skin type change over time?

Yes. Seasons, hormones, diet, and aging can shift your skin type.

Q: Do I need expensive products?

No. Even drugstore products work if they match your skin type.

Q: Should I exfoliate?

Yes - but only 1-2x a week. Over-exfoliation damages skin.

Q: Which skin type is best?

There’s no “best.” Healthy skin at any type is the goal.

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🧾 Conclusion + Product Recap

Knowing your skin type is the foundation of skincare. Stop guessing, start customizing. Here’s a quick product-type recap for each:

Skin Type	Cleanser	Serum	Moisturizer	SPF
Oily	Salicylic acid	Niacinamide	Gel	Matte 50+
Dry	Cream	Hyaluronic	Ceramides	Hydrating 50+
Sensitive	Fragrance-free	Cica	Barrier cream	Mineral 50+
Combo	Gel	Niacinamide/HA	Gel/cream	Non-oily 50+

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