Skin types refer to skin behavior. The most common classifications used for marketing commercial products are normal, oily, dry and combination skin. Other classifications include blemish-prone, sensitive and sun-damaged skin.

Here's how to evaluate your skin: First of all, don't try to analyze your skin right after washing it. Your skin reacts to the cleansers and water. It takes about four to five hours for your skin to recover from washing to allow your skin to be analyzed. You should try to do it on day when you haven't put anything else on your face.

Using a piece of facial tissue, press on different random areas of your face. See if the tissue has developed any blotches on it by holding it against the light. If there are any, you have oily skin. Now you can see the importance of analyzing the skin on a no-makeup and no-cream day, since the creams or makeup might leave oil on your face and you would have analyzed your skin all wrong.

Very oily skin may not need any moisturizer, just a sunscreen to protect it from harmful rays. Conversely if you find that the normal area of your face appears to be dry, is tight to feel and shows flakes or patches, you have a dry skin.

Now if you see that some areas are dry and some are oily, you have a combination skin.

If you find any reddish areas around your cheeks and nose with bumps and blemishes that cannot be categorized into pimples or if you see any lines of capillaries that hurt or burn when you touch them, you probably have rosacea.

Psoriasis is another skin disorder which is evidenced by patches of irritated, dry, red or white scaly and crusty skin around the hairline, eyes, nose or cheeks. If you have any of these symptoms consult a dermatologist.

Once you've identified your skin type, buy cleansing and moisturizing products that are designed just for that type. You may have to experiment a little with different product lines to see which ones work best for your skin. Results will vary from person to person.

A little tender loving care can give your skin a radiant glow, which is better than going to expensive skin treatment clinics or using pricey repair creams.