The Best Australian Skincare for Your Skin Type
Last updated 27 June 2026 · 9 min read
The best skincare is not about chasing trends, it is about matching your products to your skin. Oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and mature skin each want different things, and getting that right is what makes a routine actually work.
This guide walks through how to identify your skin type, the ingredients and textures that suit each, a simple routine to follow, and an Australian-made pick to start with. To see everything in one place, browse the full Australian skincare collection.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Choose skincare by your skin type rather than by hype, and re-check your type as it shifts with the seasons.
- Oily and combination skin want lightweight, balancing formulas; dry skin wants nourishing, barrier-supporting ones.
- Sensitive skin does best with short, fragrance-free ingredient lists; mature skin benefits from antioxidants and barrier support.
- A simple routine of cleanse, treat, moisturise and SPF works for every skin type. Browse the full Australian skincare collection.
In this article
How to Work Out Your Skin Type
Before you can choose well, it helps to know what you are working with. The simplest way to check is the bare-skin test: cleanse with a gentle cleanser, leave your skin completely bare for about 30 minutes, then notice how it feels and looks.
- Oily: shiny across the face, often with visible pores.
- Dry: tight, rough or flaky, and sometimes a little dull.
- Combination: a shiny T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with normal or dry cheeks.
- Sensitive: reddens, stings or reacts easily, often to fragrance or new products.
- Normal: balanced and comfortable, neither tight nor shiny.
Mature skin is less a "type" and more a focus. As skin ages it can feel drier and look less firm, so the priority shifts towards barrier support and radiance. Keep in mind that your skin type is not fixed either, it can shift with the seasons, your age, hormones and climate, so it is worth re-checking now and then.
QUICK ANSWER
Match your products to your skin type: lightweight, balancing formulas for oily skin; richer, nourishing ones for dry skin; gentle, fragrance-free picks for sensitive skin; and barrier and radiance support for mature skin.
Best for Oily and Combination Skin
Oily and combination skin do best with lightweight, balancing formulas, think gel cleansers, hydrating serums and non-greasy SPF, rather than heavy creams. The goal is to manage shine without stripping, which only prompts the skin to produce more oil.
Ingredients to look for: niacinamide, salicylic acid, lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid, and gentle clay. Skip heavy occlusive balms and very rich oils on the oilier areas.
A simple oily-skin routine: cleanse with a gel cleanser, layer a light hydrating serum, moisturise with an oil-free gel or lotion, and finish with a non-greasy mineral SPF. For the full edit, see our guide to the best Australian skincare for oily skin, or browse cleansers and serums.
Best for Dry Skin
Dry and dehydrated skin wants nourishment and a stronger barrier, so reach for richer textures, hydrating serums, facial oils and cream cleansers that leave skin feeling comfortable rather than tight.
It is worth knowing the difference between the two: dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water and can affect even oily skin. Dry skin loves nourishing oils and richer creams; dehydrated skin loves water-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
Ingredients to look for: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, plant oils and fatty acids, in richer cream and oil textures.
A simple dry-skin routine: cleanse with a cream or oil cleanser, press in a hydrating serum, seal with a richer moisturiser or a facial oil, and apply SPF. Explore more facial oils and moisturisers for dry skin.
Best for Sensitive Skin
Sensitive and reactive skin does best with a short, gentle ingredient list and fragrance-free formulas. Look for calming, hydrating products that work with the skin barrier rather than against it, and patch test anything new.
Ingredients to look for: calming oat, centella and panthenol, plus barrier-supporting ceramides. It is best to avoid synthetic fragrance, high levels of alcohol and strong essential oils.
A simple sensitive-skin routine: keep it short, a gentle cleanser, a calming hydrating serum, a simple moisturiser and a mineral SPF. Browse gentle options in the biobod range, and for sun protection, see our guide to mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin.
Best for Mature Skin
Mature skin benefits from products that support the barrier and the look of firmness and radiance, so antioxidant serums and nourishing facial oils earn their place here.
Ingredients to look for: antioxidants like vitamin C, gentle bakuchiol (a plant-based alternative to retinol), peptides and nourishing facial oils.
A simple mature-skin routine: cleanse, apply an antioxidant serum, follow with a nourishing oil or moisturiser, and never skip daily SPF. For more on choosing and using an oil, see our guide to natural face oils, or browse serums.
How to Build a Simple Routine
Whatever your skin type, the order stays the same, only the textures change. A reliable everyday routine looks like this:
- Cleanse with a formula suited to your skin, gel for oily, cream or oil for dry, gentle and fragrance-free for sensitive.
- Treat with a serum or facial oil that targets what your skin needs, like hydration, calm or radiance.
- Moisturise to lock everything in, lighter for oily skin, richer for dry.
- Protect with a broad-spectrum SPF every morning, all year round.
Start simple and add as your skin tells you what it needs. For a step-by-step glow routine, see your glow-up guide, or explore the full Australian skincare collection to shop by category.
Shop by skin type
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose skincare for my skin type?
Work out whether your skin leans oily, dry, combination, sensitive or mature, then match your textures and ingredients to it: lighter and balancing for oily, richer and nourishing for dry, gentle and fragrance-free for sensitive.
How do I know if I have combination skin?
Combination skin is oily through the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) but normal or dry on the cheeks. You can treat the zones a little differently, or stick to balanced, lightweight formulas that suit both.
Can your skin type change?
Yes. Skin type can shift with the seasons, your age, hormones and climate, often drier in winter and oilier in summer, so it is worth re-checking now and then and adjusting your routine.
What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?
Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water and can affect any skin type, including oily. Dry skin suits nourishing oils and richer creams; dehydrated skin suits water-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
What is the best Australian skincare for oily skin?
Look for lightweight gel cleansers and oil-free serums. See our full guide to the best Australian skincare for oily skin.
Where can I buy Australian skincare online?
You can shop the full curated range in the Australian skincare collection at VAMS Beauty, with free shipping on AU orders over $100.
Explore more: Shop Australian skincare, best sellers and clean beauty at VAMS Beauty.
Read more on The VAMS Edit: Your Glow-Up Guide: A Glowing Skin Routine
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Love and totally agree xx
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