Best Skin Care Products for Combination Skin. What is Combination Skin?

LAST UPDATED: JAN 30, 2023 / By Nura / CombinationSkin

Combination skin is simply having oily skin in some locations of your face and also dry skin in various other locations. Generally, there’s a mix of oily as well as dry locations on various parts of your face, with the t-zone (nose, chin, as well as chin) being a little to very oily and dry cheeks. There are certain signs that signaling you have a combination skin. A dry t zone with oily cheek area is really a rare type of combination skin.

Common Characteristics

When you cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser, you see some oiliness in certain parts of your face but other area is normal.

+ When you use a moisturizer, your T-zone area become more oily but your cheeks can absorb the moisture well.

+ Uneven texture also can be a sign of combination skin such as pores at certain area (T-zone) appears to be larger than other area due to sebum build up inside the pores.

+ When you have combination skin, certain area such as T-zone will appear more shiny with acne or blackhead concern, and at the same time other parts of your face tend to be dull and dry with a dry patch and flaky concern.

+ Formation of blackheads and whiteheads especially at nose area due to plug build up and trapped within the skin pores.

+ You have simultaneous skin concern at the same time that involve dry and oily skin. You will have dry patches on the dry part and acne breakouts on the oily part of the skin.

How to Check what concern every part have?

+ Blotting Paper Test

Use blotting paper and pat it on all of your face area. Use different sheet for different part. If no stain at all on the sheet, then it is dry part, if it leaves trace of oil, then it is normal part. If it is dripping with oil, then the part is oily, normally for T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin).

+ Sunblock Test

Apply sunscreen to your face, after few minutes you can double check it using a mirror when there are two different finish produced, shiny and greasy part and the other part absorb the screen smoothly, then you likely have a combination skin.

What Causes Combination Skin?

A selection of factors can lead to combination skin type, and one of it is genetic factors. Other factors include hormone, lifestyle habit and environmental (heat and humidity). Nonetheless, the kinds of skin care products you’re using can definitely make it worse or also create another problem.

As you may presumed, using harsh products that formulated using aggravating ingredients will certainly dry out some areas of your face while inadvertently pressuring the sebaceous glands to produce excessive sebum in other parts that were already oily. Also, if you’re using the unmatched product with your skin type or concerns, you might turn your present skin into combination skin in few days or weeks.

Skin Routine for Combination Skin

+ AM Routine

Cleanser > Toner > Serum > Moisturizer > Sunscreen

*Get an alcohol-free toner.

*You might want to use 2 type of moisturizers, creamy formula for dry part, cheeks and jawline; and lightweight, water-based formula for oily parts to keep your skin supple without adding extra shine.

+ PM Routine

Makeup remover > Exfoliant (Once a week) > Cleanser > Facial Mask (Once a week) > Serum > Moisturizer (for dry part).

Specific Concern for Combination Skin

a) Acne or combo acne prone skin – Use a spot treatment. Double-cleanse twice a week for oily part only and use toner to balance excessive sebum at oily part.

b) Aging Treatment – Choose a gentler exfoliant, and find a collagen boosting ingredients, and melanin suppressor treatment such as Vitamin C or alpha-Mangostin.

Ingredients to consider when treating combination skin

+ Hyaluronic Acid – Helps hydrate skin without leaving greasiness after effect.

+ Salicylic Acid – Regulate sebum production to protect skin pores from getting clogged.

+ Lactic Acid – Shed dead skin cells and clears pores.

+ Emollients – Helps soften dry skin.

+ Antioxidants – Protect from environmental damage.

+ Niacinamide – It have oil-balancing capabilities, means minimize sebum and hydrate skin at the same time.

Best Skin Care Products for Combination Skin

Go for gentle products and only apply treatments to the needed areas for specific concern. Keep it separate where for oily part, use the lightest weight but effective formulas possible and for the dry part use an emollient moisturizer so you will get right balance of textures at the end. The secret in balancing it is finding the right routine and knowing when and where to layer products. Avoid products that formulated with excessive fragrance and stick to non-comedogenic products.

# Exfoliant

A gentle and non-abrasive BHA exfoliant can helps remove dead skin cells, unclogs pores, balance sebum production, and smoothens rough, dry, flaky skin and provide healthy radiance complexion.

+Skinmedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $47

Purify and renew skin with SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. Its gentle formula motivates aging treatment and healthy skin renewal without leaving skin feeling dry, irritated or tight. You’ll discover a great complexion in skin radiance and luminosity with daily consistent routine.

+Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel, $95

Cutting-edge modern technology and innovative ingredients coming straight from his technique, this pro-level peel was developed for best pore improvement, minimize wrinkle, and give a radiance complexion. Each container provides a potent concentration of Lactic acid and also glycolic acid incorporated with the enzymatic activity of bromelain to efficiently resurface the skin and also stimulate skin cell renewal process.

# Cleanser

Lotion-based or gel-textured cleanser are suitable cleansers for combination skin, a gentle cleanser helps remove all impurities on your skin without leaving skin feeling greasy or dry out. Ingredients like salicylic acid can help reduce sebum build-up and prevent clogging. Do cleansing for morning and night routine to get a balanced sebum production.

+ RéVive Foaming Cleanser and Enriched Hydrating Wash, $75

A cleanser formulated to do away with the grit, grime and also dirt that can accumulate on the skin during daily activities. This ultra-rich cleanser removes excess sebum and make-up while enriching the skin through the use of moisturizing vitamin E grains. These grains work with the skin to eliminate oil, makeup & impurities, at the same time nourish and smoothen the complexion. ReVive Cleanser helps maintain skin’s pH equilibrium so that the complexion is left looking healthy and balanced.

+ Doctor Rogers Restore Face Wash, $42

Formulated by dermatologist to effectively get rid of makeup, sunscreen and gunk without removing the skins natural oil of what keeps it healthy and balanced. The glycerin base infused with gentle surfactants help cleans up the skin while keeping the skin barrier healthy.

# Toner

A well-formulated toner filled with antioxidants and replenishing ingredients can help minimize excessive sebum and nourish dry skin at the same time. AHA and BHA acid pads might be useful to help get rid of excess sebum. Use it only on oily spots.

+ Herbivore Botanicals Orchid Antioxidant Beauty Face Oil For Combination Skin, $64

This face oil formulated with lush, exotic flower oils of orchid, jasmine sambac and Japanese camellia that give the skin with dewy hydration as well as radiance complexion. Its suitable for all skin types that require extra hydration and defense against signs of aging. Antioxidant protection included.

+ Sahajan Balance Toner, $40

This carefully crafted Ayurvedic blend of moringa oil and rose water helps restore balance to your skin. It is a fast-absorbance toner that nourish and hydrate the skin and also help exfoliates dead cells, revealing the fresh, beautiful skin that’s been hidden the whole time.

# Serum, Face Mask and Moisturizer

Combination skin tends to be dehydrated. Moisturizers and serums can help calm the skin and bring healthiness, hydration to your skin, decrease excess sebum on skin’s surface area, as well as enhance dry areas, including around the eyes. Combination of these two items will provide a good treatment for aging skin.

+ Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment, $100

This aging treatment serum is formulated with 5 percent lactic acid to help remove dead skin cells, even your skin texture and increase collagen production. Its suitable for all skin type.

+ Rodial Pink Diamond Magic Gel Night, $95

Formulated with vitamin C, peptide and retinol, this gel helps to refresh as well as restore the complexion of your skin. Other features include to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It is lightweight and non-greasy. For the best outcomes when making use of the Rodial Pink Ruby Magic Gel Evening, start by cleansing & toning the face.

+ Alastin Restorative Skin Complex, $195

This serum helps to preserve as well as recover skin health and wellness for a youthful and radiance complexion by stimulating collagen and elastin production. Synergistic active ingredients help treat all aging concern especially for the décolleté, face, and neck area.

+ Revision Skincare D.E.J Eye Cream, $100

This moisturizer developed to help brings back and also renews the appearance of aging skin as well as promotes the skin’s all-natural, healthy microbiome. It formulated with Squalane, prebiotic and Lipid Technologies, D·E·J eye cream offers thorough, aging treatment therapy for the eyes. It is suitable for all skin types especially for those with sensitive skin around their eyes.

Multi-masking is a great option to treat combination skin where you can apply these masks simultaneously to various area of your face. Charcoal-based mask can help draw out impurities from oily area, and hydrating mask can infuse treatment solution thus creating plump and brighten skin.

+ L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask, $12.99

This face mask developed to help clear out pores and draw-out and also catch deep impurities (such as contamination, oil, as well as dust). This luscious, non-drying charcoal mask leaves skin sensation clean, silky, as well as rebalanced, addressing your plain, tired skin to expose a purified, also, as well as radiant skin.

+ L’Oréal Paris Revita-lift Triple Power Anti-Aging Overnight Mask, $24.99

Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Pro-Retinol & Vitamin C, this PM routine moisturizer helps hydrate the skin, while “burning the midnight oil” to visibly minimize wrinkles, stimulate collagen production and brighten the complexion. Skin will feel softer, smoother and moistened for 24 hours after application.

Read more: best skin care products for oily skin

# Suncare

Safeguard your skin from excessive exposure towards UVA and UVB ray that may damage it and lead to visible signs of aging. Minimum SPF 30 or greater with broad spectrum protection can help protect your skin and reduce the early signs of aging. Apply it 30 minutes before get expose to the sunshine.

+ Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, 1.7 oz – SPF 40 PA+++ Reef-Friendly, Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen & Makeup Primer – Weightless, Invisible, Oil Free & Scent Free, $34

This oil-free sunscreen is formulated with rich-antioxidant helps protect your skin from excessive exposure towards UVA and UVB ray with broad spectrum SPF 40. It is lightweight and have a velvety finishing.

+ Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, $66

Formulated with peptides, anti-oxidants, DNA Repairsomes and Zinc Oxide, this SPF50 sun block helps repair the signs of photoaging such as wrinkles and fine lines. It is non-comedogenic, water resistant and ultra-light texture. Suitable to be use by all skin types.

Read more here about: Physical Sunscreen vs Chemical Sunscreen, and what is SPF.

Takeaway

You might wonder ” Why my skin is dry skin in winter and oily in summer “? Combination skin has the propensity to change with the weather. It’s susceptible to dry patches throughout the winter as well as outbreaks during the summer. So change your products as needed with the changes of the season. Don’t skip the moisturizer and don’t forget to exfoliate so you keep the skin pores healthy throughout the week.