I am going to tackle something that should be very simple but unfortunately is completely misunderstood - skin type versus skin condition. What would you say if somebody asked you what your skin type was? Dry, oily, combination? Now, what would you say if you were asked what your current skin condition was? A lot of people would say things like rubbish, tired or old. Or you may say something like, 'Usually I think I am quite oily down the centre, but right now I have dry patches at the sides of my mouth.' That is a perfect example of type versus condition. Personally, I don't believe much in skin types. I know a lot of people with oilier skin that is extremely dehydrated, so has too much oil and not enough water. I know skin that is really dry but bumpy under the surface. The skin is probably being treated for the dryness with creams that are too rich and causing the little bumps inadvertently. So let's clear up any confusion.

Skin type
This is what most people, including the cosmetic counters, go by. But is it the most accurate? As a guide, perhaps, but as the way you care for your skin? I think not. Skin changes seasonally, during certain times of the month and even from day to day. By not addressing these changes we can make the condition escalate to the point where you start to truly have problems. A great example of this would be people who have breakout and become oily during the day. These men and women would normally say they have an oily skin type, but do they, really? It may indeed be that their skin is responding to a message it is being sent, perhaps wrongly, that will actually create the type of skin they believe they have.

If you have normal skin, your centre will get a bit of shine by the end of the day. But if you treat that skin as if it were oily, it will become stripped by over-cleansing and will make up for that imbalance by making more oil. Now you DO have an oily skin. It is also quite likely that you will start to get bumpy and congested, as the pore openings will be so tight that the oil your skin is producing will not be able to get out. The oil will then become backed up and give you little bumps under the surface, which are a bugger to clear up. You can also end up severely dehydrating that same skin. The dehydration will show as shiny little silver lines that, sadly, look like you have an oily sheen on your face. This then makes you want to cleanse even more and the vicious cycle is perpetuated. The same works with drier skins as well. If you believe you have dry skin because there are areas that are prone to flaking, you will be tempted to apply a richer cream to keep it moist. But if you don't really have that 'type' of skin, there will be nowhere for the cream to go. It will either evaporate and be totally wasted or, if the cream has a good delivery system, it may get in just fine. The problem is that once it is in, there is nothing for it to do and again, you will get quite bumpy.

So how can you tell if you are out of balance with your skin type? One clue is if you have two completely different problems in exactly the same area. Are you both shiny and flaky on your nose? Big giveaway. Do you have breakout in areas that are particularly dry? Another possible telltale sign. Check the five basic skin types that follow, but remember, this is not my favourite way to keep your skin in check and, hopefully, you will be able to see why in a few moments.

Dry
Dry skin never gets a shine. It will be difficult to keep the skin feeling comfortable and it may feel as though it needs moisturiser reapplying in the middle of the day. There might even be times or areas where the skin flakes. Dry skin tends to be prone to fine lines and is sensitive to UV light generally. It is not necessarily sensitive, but may be more likely than other skin to react to products.

Normal/dry
This can feel some of the troubles of dry skin, but the extremes are not as likely. It may even get a little bit of shine on the nose during the day, but many won't. Breakouts are not usually a problem for this skin, but it can happen if not treated correctly.

Normal
People with normal skin can do almost anything, and can often get away with being a little bit lazy. Skin does get a shine in the centre panel by midday. It can get patchy dryness if exposed to certain environments, as well as becoming oilier in some environments, but either way, when back in the usual surroundings, the skin bounces back to normal with a minimum of effort.

Normal/oily
Normal/oily skin usually starts to shine within a few hours. The oil will start breaking through on the nose, but soon the entire forehead and the chin will get shiny too. You might even get shiny on the front of your cheek on either side of your nose. Blackheads can be a problem in these areas if you are not careful, as can spots. Because the skin produces more oil, it is easier to have the dead cells stick and block the pore openings. Exfoliation can usually keep this in check. This skin only feels dry if it has been over-cleansed, which is a bad idea because, as I said in the beginning, this will make the skin produce even more oil.

Oily
The important thing to remember if you are self-diagnosing your skin as oily is to make sure you are cleansing with the right cleanser and moisturising with a proper moisturiser before deciding you are oily. A lot of skin that is out of balance will produce more oil, and people often think that stripping it until it feels really clean and skipping moisturiser will be a good idea. It's not. You will make the problem worse and quite likely give yourself a lot of other problems as well. If you have done the first two steps properly but still start getting oily within an hour, you might have a truly oily skin. The oil will start in the middle, spread through the entire t-zone, and pretty soon you will be oily all over. But I cannot stress it strongly enough: if you are not using the correct cleanser and moisturiser, don't decide you have oily skin. Breakout, dehydration, and pores large enough to drive a truck through... not a pretty sight!

So, why do I not like this system very much? I am so glad you asked! As I said at the beginning, skin changes. Definitely by the season, hormonally, but sometimes throughout the day as well. Skin needs to be 'read' to find what it needs, and those current needs show the current condition of your skin.

Skin conditions are usually pretty easy to address, providing you get it done fairly quickly. Sometimes that means a temporary product change: maybe only a single one, but sometimes a couple of them. You're most likely to need a multiple product change at a turn of season, while your skin takes a few weeks to grow accustomed to the warmer or cooler weather, heating or air-conditioning. A stressful situation can affect your skin, too. But it is more likely that you will need to change products only as a quick treatment. Let's say you have been out late and had a few too many. For the next few days you may experience a tightness to your face and you can easily solve that with a more hydrating moisturiser or the application of a hydrating mask.

Travel is another killer for your skin and should always be watched very closely. Not only will you be using different water, you may be eating differently, drinking more than usual and, if you are like a lot of people, using all of those handy little free samples that are not the products you usually use! If you are feeling run down, your skin condition could be sorted out by adding a radiance-enhancing product before applying your makeup. Hormonal breakout is usually easily sorted with an anti-blemish product or a decongesting cleanser a few times a week. Flakiness can be treated with an exfoliating scrub. All of these are temporary skin conditions and, as you can see, they can all be linked to any of the traditional 'skin types'.

Be aware of your skin and listen to what it tells you. If it is feeling drier than normal, get the problem dealt with. If it seems to be getting shiny when it normally doesn't, address it. Ignoring the condition of your skin can have a dramatic impact on what your actual skin type is, so pay attention. And if you want the very best for your complexion, evaluate what you need on a regular basis. Don't just automatically buy the same product over and over again. Go into the shop and ask the assistant to do a quick skincare analysis and find out if that product is still the best one for you. It could even be that there is a newer product that would be better for you. But also be aware that their job is to sell you products. Look closely at your own skin on a regular basis and remember that just because you think you have a certain type of skin, it doesn't mean that you do have that type 100% of the time. And even if you did have it this week, next week it could be completely different.

As for me? I would have to say my skin is a combination skin that is prone to becoming dehydrated when I am not careful. And yes, I do get breakouts when I am not using the right products. I don't have a million products, but I choose what I use carefully and I may alter the products slightly from day to day, depending on what my skin needs. After all, it is the organ that protects the rest of me… so that is the least I can do!