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The type of skin is influenced by genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors and, therefore, by changing some behaviors, it is possible to improve skin health, making it more hydrated, nourished, luminous and with a younger appearance. For this, it is important to know the skin type well, in order to make better decisions regarding the choice of daily care.
One of the tools that can help determine your skin type is the Baumann System, which is a classification method that was developed by dermatologist Leslie Baumann. This system is based on four evaluation parameters: oiliness, sensitivity, pigmentation and tendency to develop wrinkles. Among the combination of these parameters, it is possible to determine 16 different skin types.
To be able to determine the type of skin of Baumann, the person must answer a questionnaire, the result of which evaluates 4 different parameters, can be used as a guide to choose the most suitable products.
Baumann skin types
The skin type classification system is based on four parameters that assess whether the skin is dry (D) or oily (O), pigmented (P) or non-pigmented (N), sensitive (S) or resistant (R) and with wrinkles (W) or firm (T), and each of these results is assigned a letter, which corresponds to the initial letter of the English word.
The combination of these results produces 16 potential skin types, with a specific letter sequence:
| Oily | Oily | Dry | Dry | |
Sensitive | OSPW | OSNW | DSPW | DSNW | With Wrinkles |
Sensitive | OSPT | OSNT | DSPT | DSNT | Firm |
Resistant | ORPW | ORNW | DRPW | DRNW | With Wrinkles |
Resistant | ORPT | ORNT | DRPT | DRNT | Firm |
| Pigmented | Non Pigmented | Pigmented | Non Pigmented | |
How to know the skin type
To find out what your skin type is according to the Baumann system and which products are best for you, just select the parameters that relate to your skin type in the next calculator. If you have doubts about any of the parameters, you should perform the respective test, which is found below and then mark the result on the calculator. Here are some tips to assess your skin type.
Oil test: Is my skin oily or dry?
Dry skin is characterized by insufficient sebum production or deficient skin barrier, which makes the skin more susceptible to losing water and becoming dehydrated. On the other hand, oily skin produces more sebum, being more protected from water loss and premature aging, however it can be more prone to suffering from acne.
Start the test
After washing your face, if you don't apply moisturizer, sunscreen, tonic, powder or other cosmetics, how does the skin feel? (ideally, wait 2 to 3 hours)
- Very rough, scaly or gray skin
- Tugging sensation
- Hydrated skin, without light reflection
- Glowing skin with light reflection
In the photos, does your face look shiny?
- No or never noticed the glow
- Sometimes
- Often
- Ever
Two to three hours after applying the makeup foundation, but not in powder, it looks like this:
- Hardened, with wrinkles and expression lines
- Soft
- Bright
- Striped and shiny
- I don't use base
When the weather is dry and you don’t use moisturizer or sunscreen, feel your skin:
- Very dry or cracked
- Pulling
- Apparently normal
- Brilliant, no need to use moisturizers
- Do not know
When you look at your face in a magnifying mirror, how many large, enlarged pores do you see?
- none
- A few in the T zone (forehead and nose) only
- A considerable amount
- Many!
- Do not know
It would characterize your facial skin as:
When you use foamy soap to wash your face, you feel your skin:
- Dry and / or cracked
- Slightly dry, but does not crack
- Apparently normal
- Oily
- I don't use these products. (If these are the products, because you feel they dry your skin, choose the first answer.)
If not hydrated, how often do you feel the skin tightening:
Do you have blackheads / blackheads on your face ?:
- Not
- Some
- A considerable amount
- Many
Is your face oily in the T area (forehead and nose)?
Two to three hours after applying the moisturizer, your cheeks are:
- Very rough or scaly
- Smooth
- Slightly bright
- Bright and firm, or I don't use moisturizer
Most people have skin that is more likely to be dry or oily. However, some may have mixed skin, which is drier skin on the cheeks and oily on the forehead, nose and chin and feel that the products are not effective enough. In these cases, you can reinforce hydration and nutrition in the cheek area and use masks that help absorb oil only in the T area, for example.
It is important to bear in mind that skin types due to hydrolipid characteristics are not necessarily static, that is, factors such as stress, pregnancy, menopause, exposure to different temperatures and climates can lead to changes in skin type. Therefore, you can retake the test whenever necessary.
Sensitivity test: Is my skin sensitive or resistant?
Sensitive skin can suffer from problems like acne, rosacea, burning and allergic reactions.On the other hand, resistant skin has a healthy stratum corneum, which protects it from allergens and other irritants and prevents it from losing a lot of water.
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Start the test
Do you have red pimples on your face?
- Never
- Rarely
- At least once per month
- At least once a week
Do the products you use to care for your skin cause discomfort such as burning, redness or itching / itching?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Ever
- I don't use products on my face
Have you ever been diagnosed with acne or rosacea?
- Not
- Friends and acquaintances tell me that I have
- Yes
- Yes, a serious case
- Do not know
When you use accessories that are not gold, are you allergic?
- Never
- Rarely
- Often
- Ever
- I do not remember
Sunscreens make your skin itch, burn, peel or turn red:
- Never
- Rarely
- Often
- Ever
- I never use sunscreen
Have you ever been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, eczema or contact dermatitis?
- Not
- My friends tell me that I have
- Yes
- Yes, I had a serious case
- I'm not sure
How often does a skin reaction occur in the ring region?
- Never
- Rarely
- Often
- Ever
- I don't wear rings
Bubble baths, oils or body lotions make your skin react, itch or dry out?
- Never
- Rarely
- Often
- Ever
- I never use these types of products. (If you don't use it because you react to the products, check the first answer)
Can you use soap provided in hotels on your body or face, without any problem?
- Yes
- Most of the time, I have no problem.
- No, I feel itchy and itchy skin.
- I wouldn't use
- I take my usual, so I don't know.
Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, eczema, asthma or allergies?
- Not
- A family member I know
- Several family members
- Many of my family members have dermatitis, eczema, asthma or allergies
- Do not know
What happens if I use scented detergents or fabric softeners?
- My skin looks good
- My skin is slightly dry
- I get itchy / itchy skin
- I get itchy / itchy skin rashes
- I'm not sure, or I never used
How often do your face or neck turn red after exercise, stress or strong emotions?
How often do you tend to turn red after drinking alcohol?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always, or I don't drink because of this problem
- I never drink alcohol
How often does it turn red after eating hot or spicy foods?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Ever
- I never eat spicy food.
How many visible red or blue blood vessels do you have on your face and nose?
- none
- Few (one to three on the entire face, including the nose)
- Some (four to six on the entire face, including the nose)
- Many (more than seven on the entire face, including nose)
Does your face look red in the photos?
- Never, or never noticed it
- Sometimes
- Often
- Ever
People ask if it is burned, even when it is not?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Ever
- I'm always tanned.
Redness, itching / itching or swelling due to the use of cosmetics:
- Never
- Sometimes
- Often
- Ever
- I don't use these products. (choose the 4th answer if you do not use these products because of redness, itching or swelling)
Resistant skins rarely suffer from acne problems, but even if they do, stronger formulations can be used to treat the problem, because there is no risk that the skin will react.
Pigmentation test: Is my skin pigmented or not?
This parameter measures the tendency that a person may have to develop hyperpigmentation, regardless of skin color, although darker skins are more likely to manifest pigmented skin type.
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Start the test
After having a pimple or ingrown hair, does a dark brown / brown / black spot appear?
- Never
- Sometimes
- It happens frequently
- Always happen
- I never have pimples or ingrown hairs
After cutting, how long is the brown / brown mark?
- Never
- One week
- A few weeks
- Months
How many dark spots did you develop on your face when you were pregnant, while using contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy?
- None
- An
- Some
- Many
- This question does not apply to me
Do you have spots on your upper lip or cheeks? Or was there one that you removed?
- Not
- I'm not sure
- Yes, they are (or were) slightly noticeable
- Yes, they are (or were) very visible
Do the dark spots on your face get worse when you are exposed to the sun?
- I have no dark spots
- Do not know
- Much worse
- I use sunscreen on my face every day and never expose myself to the sun (answer "much worse" if you use sunscreen because you are afraid of having dark spots or freckles)
Have you been diagnosed with melasma on your face?
- Never
- Once, but in the meantime disappeared
- I've been diagnosed
- Yes, a serious case
- I'm not sure
Do you have or have you ever had freckles or small sunspots on your face, chest, back or arms?
- Yes, some (one to five)
- Yes, many (six to fifteen)
- Yes, in excess (sixteen or more)
- Not
When you expose yourself to the sun for the first time in several months, your skin:
- Burn
- Burns but then tans
- Bronze
- My skin is already dark, so it's hard to see the difference.
What happens after many days of sun exposure in a row:
- My skin is burnt and blistered, but it does not tan
- My skin is slightly darker
- My skin is much darker
- My skin is already dark, it's hard to see the difference
- I do not know how to answer
When you are exposed to the sun, do you develop freckles?
- Not
- Some, every year
- Yes, often
- My skin is already dark, it's hard to see if I have freckles
- I never expose myself to the sun.
Do your parents have freckles? If both have, respond based on the father with more freckles.
- Not
- Some on the face
- Many on the face
- Many on the face, chest, neck and shoulders
- I do not know how to answer
What is your natural hair color? (If you have white hair, what color was it before you got old)
Do you have a personal or family history of melanoma?
- A person in my family
- More than one person in my family
- I have a history of melanoma
- Not
- Do not know
Do you have dark spots on your skin in areas exposed to the sun?
This parameter identifies people with a history or propensity to suffer from changes in skin pigmentation, such as melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and solar freckles, which can be avoided or improved through the use of topical products and dermatological procedures.
Roughness test: Is my skin firm or does it have wrinkles?
This parameter measures the risk that the skin has to develop wrinkles, taking into account the daily behaviors that promote its formation, and the skin of family members, to determine the genetic influence. People with "W" skin do not necessarily have wrinkles when filling out the questionnaire, but are at great risk of developing them.
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Start the test
Do you have wrinkles on your face?
- No, not even when smiling, frowning or raising eyebrows
- Only when I smile, I move my forehead or raise my eyebrows
- Yes, when making expressions and some at rest
- I have wrinkles even if I don't make expressions
How old does your mother's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- Her age
- 5 years older than her age
- More than 5 years older than your age
- Not applicable
How old does your father's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- His age
- 5 years older than your age
- More than five years older than your age
- Not applicable
How old does your maternal grandmother's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- Her age
- 5 years older than her age
- More than five years older than your age
- Not applicable
How old does your maternal grandfather's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- His age
- 5 years older than your age
- More than five years older than your age
- Not applicable
How old does your paternal grandmother's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- Her age
- 5 years older than her age
- More than five years older than your age
- Not applicable: I don't remember / I was adopted
How old does your paternal grandfather's face look?
- 5 to 10 years younger than your age
- His age
- 5 years older than your age
- More than five years older than your age
- Not applicable
Have you ever exposed your skin to the sun continuously, for more than two weeks a year?
- Never
- 1 to 5 years
- 5 to 10 years
- More than 10 years
Have you ever been exposed to the sun on a seasonal basis, two weeks a year or less?
- Never
- 1 to 5 years
- 5 to 10 years
- More than 10 years
Based on the places where you lived, how much time of daily sun exposure did you receive in your life?
- Little. I lived in gray or cloudy places
- Some. I lived in climates with little sun, but also in places with regular sun
- Moderate. I lived in places with a good amount of sun exposure
- I lived in tropical or very sunny places
How old do you feel your skin looks?
- 1 to 5 years younger than my age
- My age
- 5 years older than my age
- Over 5 years older than my age
During the past 5 years, how often did you intentionally tan your skin through outdoor sports or other activities?
- Never
- Once a month
- Once a week
- Daily
How many times have you been to an artificial solarium?
- Never
- 1 to 5 times
- 5 to 10 times
- Oftentimes
How many cigarettes have you smoked (or been exposed to) throughout your life?
- none
- Some packs
- From several to many packs
- I smoke every day
- I never smoked, but I lived with smokers or worked with people who smoked regularly in my presence
Describe the air pollution where you live:
- The air is fresh and clean
- Most of the year I live in a place with clean air
- The air is slightly polluted
- The air is very polluted
Describe the length of time you used facial creams with retinoids:
- Many years
- Occasionally
- Once, for acne, when I was younger
- Never
How often do you eat fruits and vegetables?
- At every meal
- Once a day
- Occasionally
- Never
During your life, what percentage of your daily diet consisted of fruits and vegetables?
- 75 to 100
- 25 to 75
- 10 to 25
- 0 to 25
What is your natural skin color (without tanning or self-tanning)?
- Dark
- Average
- clear
- Very clear
What is your ethnic group?
- African American / Caribbean / Black
- Asian / Indian / Mediterranean / Other
- Latin American / Hispanic
- Caucasian
Are you 65 or older?
Watch the following video and see other cares that are important for perfect skin: