Combination skin is the most common skin type, but it’s also one of the most difficult to treat, as you need to take a two-pronged approach to skin care. The goal: Control excess oil in your T-zone and boost moisture in your dry spots.
How to take care of combination skin
When you look in the mirror with an oily chin and a dry patch on your cheek, you may be frustrated and wondering how to deal with many skin problems. Combination skin is a tricky skin type, but there are some lifestyle changes that can benefit your skin, which we’ll unpack below. Not sure if you have combination skin? Check out our ultimate guide to combination skin here.
Blotting Papers are your new best friend
Pads are compact, portable, and happen to be effective at getting rid of grease. Use the sheets to target specific areas you want to bleed while leaving dryer areas alone. As the day goes on and your skin gets oilier, a quick dab with a blotting paper will absorb the excess oil.
Prepare for the colder months
Combination skin, like all skin types, is affected by the changes during the winter months, particularly as the central heating comes on. Areas of dryness get worse and the rest of your skin may behave differently from day to day. To prepare for the colder months, use a lightweight moisturizer on dry parts of the skin as it does not clog the oilier areas of the skin.
Use a face mask
Using one A face mask is a great way to take care of combination skin. To treat various problems at once, you can apply different face masks to several areas of your face. Eminence Organic Skin Care’s The mask line uses concentrated amounts of vitamins and nutrients to reveal a radiant, youthful glow.
Treat the different areas appropriately
To balance your skin, use different products to address these issues accordingly. Dry skin can benefit from a thick moisturizer, but you don’t necessarily need to use the same skin care product on an oily forehead area. As different parts of your skin have different needs, we’ve put together a skin care routine below to balance your complexion.
A step-by-step skincare routine for combination skin
Suffering from skin that is both oily and dry is beyond frustrating. It’s time to balance your complexion. Here are the skin care steps we recommend to keep your combination skin type in check.
1. Clean up
Not surprisingly, combination skin often needs a different type of cleansing at different times of the day. “The biggest challenge when choosing products for combination skin is finding the best of both worlds,” according to Dr. Hooman Khorasani, Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon.
“Start with a mild, gentle cleanser that won’t irritate or dry out the skin,” she explains Dr. Khorasani. A gentle foaming cleanser in the morning will absorb the oil. At night, you can switch to a cream-based cleanser to replenish lost moisture. Most importantly, go soft! You want to effectively remove dirt, oil, and debris without exposing your skin to harsh chemicals that can intensify feelings of dryness and cause even more oil production.
Product selection: Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam and Cleansing Coconut Milk
2. Exfoliate
Clogged resources is a common feature of combination skin. The Eminence Organics Product Support Team recommends regular exfoliation to help eliminate build-up on the skin’s surface, as well as unclog and minimize pores. But, don’t overdo it. Choose a non-abrasive exfoliator that will be gentle on your skin.
Product selection: Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant
3. Tone
Toners are formulated to balance dry and oily skin, making them the perfect addition to a combination skin care routine. That said, not all toners are created equal: To keep combination skin balanced, look for toners that include ingredients rich in antioxidants. The best toners will minimize shine and replenish moisture to promote healthy, balanced skin.
Product Choice: Mangosteen Revitalizing Mist
4. Mask
A great way to treat combination skin is multiple coverage. Made for combination skin, this technique involves applying two or more face masks to address multiple skin concerns at once. We recommend applying a clay mask to your T-zone to absorb oil, treat breakouts and refine pores. Then add a cream mask to normal to dry areas of your face to replenish moisture and soothe dry skin.
Product selection: Mask for advanced acne cleansing
5. Treat
When you have combination skin, it can feel like you’re struggling with skin concerns from opposite ends of the spectrum. Moisture-replenishing products can feel too rich for your oily skin, and oil-scented ones can leave you feeling tight and dry. Adding a lactic acid treatment to your combination skin care routine is one way to level the playing field: This AHA gently removes pore-clogging buildup and helps skin retain moisture.
Product selection: Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate
6. Hydrate
With combination skin, oily and dry areas should be treated differently. Often, the best course of action is to divide and conquer: Apply an oil-balancing moisturizer to your T-zone to control shine, and a richer moisturizer to your cheeks to hydrate. And if you want to use a moisturizer for your entire face? Choose a lightweight lotion that combines mattifying ingredients like salicylic acid with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
Product Options: Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer for cheeks or Advanced Acne Clarifying Hydratant all over.
Do you have combination skin? We’d love to hear how you deal with this challenging skin type. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.
