By now you've probably come across a million articles and quizzes that aim to help you figure out your skin type. While it may seem trivial, knowing your skin type is actually incredibly important, as it lays the groundwork for your entire beauty routine. This is especially true if you have skin that's problematic or prone to issues like oily skin. While it may seem like oily complexions are easy to identify, you'd be surprised how many people can misjudge their skin. We get to the bottom of exactly what oily skin looks like.

Enlarged Pores

Oily skin is synonymous with enlarged pores, especially around the nose, chin and forehead. The excess oil (or sebum as it's technically called) builds up, along with dirt, in the pores causing them to get enlarged. This buildup can also lead to blackheads and breakouts if not kept in check. Make sure you do your due diligence in keeping your pores as squeaky clean as possible, by equipping yourself with a purifying mask like SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque. And while you can't technically shrink pores, you can minimize their appearance with a pore-refining product like Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Refining Product.

Greasy

If your skin is getting shiny just a couple hours after leaving the house or if your makeup slides right off your face pretty quickly and easily, you've probably gotten an oily skin situation on your hands. An oily T-zone especially is a key indicator of oily skin. (For those unsure, the T-zone starts at the middle of the forehead and goes down through your nose and chin, just like a capital T.) Blotting papers like The Body Shop Tea Tree Blotting Tissues are great to keep handy and keep oil from accumulating throughout the day.

Acne- and Blackhead-Prone

Oily can often (not always) mean acne-prone skin, as clogged pores and blackheads tend to come with the territory. You also have a tendency to acquire blackheads (or whiteheads) fairly often. If this is the case with you, make sure you're washing your face thoroughly each morning and night and using a purifying toner ( L'Oréal Paris HydraFresh Toner) to rid the face of excess dirt and oil.