The OSPW skin type is one of 16 unique skin types identified in the Baumann Skin Typing System, a dermatologist-developed skin typing system created by professor Leslie Baumann in 2005. If you have oily, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled skin, your Baumann skin type is OSPW.
With this skin type, your main concerns are likely to be excess sebum, large pores, sensitivity, dark spots, and signs of aging. To correct them, it’s important to build a skincare routine that combines gentle exfoliating, brightening, and anti-aging actives.
This post is part of a series on the Baumann Skin Typing System, a dermatologist-developed skin typing system with 16 different skin types. If you are a OSPW skin type, keep reading; if not, take our quiz to find your unique skin type!
On this post:
- What is the Baumann Skin Typing System?
- What are the 16 Baumann skin types?
- The OSPW skin type: How to identify it
- How to care for OSPW skin
What is the Baumann Skin Typing System?
The Baumann Skin Type Indicator, or Baumann Skin Typing System, is a skin type classification system created by dermatology professor Leslie Baumann. It was first unveiled in the book “The Skin Type Solution”, published in 2005, and it’s since taken the world of beauty by storm.
Rather than rely on the traditional skin types we’re all familiar with (think dry, normal, or oily skin), the Baumann system is based around skin characteristics. According to Leslie Baumann, each person can be placed on either side of these four parameters, resulting in a unique skin type:
- Oily (O) versus Dry (D)
- Sensitive (S) versus Resistant (R)
- Pigmented (P) versus Nonpigmented (N)
- Wrinkled (W) versus Tight or Unwrinkled (T)
What are the 16 Baumann skin types?
In the table below, you will be able to find the 16 Baumann skin types, divided by the two characteristics that are often easier to identify: Oily (O) versus Dry (D) skin, and Sensitive (S) versus Resistant (R) skin:
| Dry | Oily | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitive | DSNT DSNW DSPT DSPW |
OSNT OSNW OSPT OSPW → you are here |
| Resistant | DRNT DRNW DRPT DRPW |
ORNT ORNW ORPT ORPW |
The OSPW skin type: How to identify it
The OSPW skin type is oily, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled. Here’s how those characteristics influence your skin:
Oily
The main difference between oily and dry skin is the amount of sebum produced by the skin, which, in turn, can affect the skin’s moisture balance. Oily skin is the least problematic of the two, according to the Baumann system, but it’s still not without issue. The major complaints associated with oily skin include excess shine, dilated pores and, occasionally, the development of acne.
Sensitive
There are four unique subtypes of sensitive skin in the Baumann system: acne, rosacea, stinging, and allergic. The four subtypes can be useful when building pathology-centric skincare routines (especially for the acne and rosacea subtypes), but you don’t have to go that deep if you don’t want to.
The important thing to keep in mind is that inflammation is the common trait among the four subtypes of sensitive skin. Because of this, sensitive skin will typically require more complex care to tackle the source of inflammation without triggering further reactions.
Pigmented
“Pigmented” skin types have a tendency to develop uneven and unwanted pigmentation, such as dark spots and patches, melasma, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Hyperpigmentation is an incredibly common skin concern, but it’s also very challenging to get around. If you struggle with dark spots and want to correct them, you should make them your topmost priority when building your skincare routine.
Wrinkled
In the Baumann system, “Wrinkled” skin isn’t just affected by wrinkles; it’s also affected by other signs of aging, such as dullness, loss of elasticity and firmness, and just an overall “aged” and “tired” look. Skin aging is inevitable, but there’s still a lot you can do to minimize signs of aging if that’s a priority for you.
How to care for OSPW skin
If your skin type is OSPW, you have oily, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled skin. This skin type may struggle with multiple concerns at the same time: excess sebum, large pores, sensitivity, dark spots, and signs of aging. Exfoliating, brightening, and anti-aging actives can be very effective on this skin type, but there’s a catch–they must be gentle enough for sensitive skin. Here’s what we recommend when caring for an OSPW skin type:
- A high-tolerance cleanser that will purify oily skin without stripping it;
- A gentle exfoliating toner to soothe the skin and kickstart the treatment phase of your routine;
- A serum or moisturizer that features a powerful anti-aging active, such as vitamin C or niacinamide;
- A very high protection sunscreen, to help prevent dark spots and signs of aging;
Discover your OSPW skincare routine now:
To help you out, we’ve put together two OSPW skincare routines you can try. They both feature exfoliating, brightening, and anti-aging actives that will help your skin type prosper. The only difference? The second routine is all-vegan:
The Baumann Skin Typing System may seem a little complicated at first, but it’s a simple, intuitive way to classify skin types based on 4 characteristics that everyone can understand. If you are a OSPW skin type, you know your skin is oily, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled; following the routines above, you will be able to care for your skin according to its specific needs. Still need a little help? Then don’t hesitate to contact our beauty experts; we’ll be glad to help!
