Maybe you’re oily in the t-zone, dry on your cheeks and normal in other areas, or a completely different mix all together… that’s what combination skin is all about!
Managing combination skin is no easy feat, but fear not beauty, we’re going to help you decode your skin and help you find a routine to make you glow all over.
What is combination skin?
Combination skin is essentially a mix of all skin types. It’s a combination of oily, dry and normal skin types across your face. Most commonly, the skin is oiliest around the nose, forehead and chin, while the cheeks, under eyes and nostrils are dry.
Your skin may behave slightly differently during the year. Winter often makes dry patches worse, but the warmer months may increase oil production. Knowing how each area of your skin reacts to various climates and ingredients can be the key to unlocking the secret to combating your combination skin meltdowns and achieving a healthy radiant complexion that has passersby longing for your glow.
What does combination skin look like?
Given combination skin has both dry and oily skin traits, you can expect to experience a range of textures and conditions.
Enlarged pores, blackheads and a shiny complexion, as well as acne can all pop up. At the same time you may have redness, loss of elasticity, visible lines and rough patches. Truly, a bit of everything from the skin concern platter!
Due to the wide range of skin ailments combination skin bears, balancing each component can be tricky on its own let alone a few (or all) of them at once. To make you feel as confident and comfortable as possible, it’s vital to establish a good skincare routine to keep the not-so-good stuff at bay.
The skincare routine of your dreams
Let’s breakdown a daily routine for combination skin which will help get different areas of your skin under control and looking smoother and more radiant than ever.
Step 1: Remove your makeup
If you are wearing makeup, remove with a remover swipey or cloth. These cloths are a great way to effectively remove all makeup without being rough on the skin which can lead to irritation and… they are better for the environment.
Step 2: Cleanse
Well and truly scrub the remnants of the day off with a gentle cleanser. The cleanser will rid your skin of any nasties that may be irritating your combination skin without stripping it.
Step 3: Exfoliate (2-3 times a week)
Using a gentle AHA-based exfoliator is crucial! Using harsh chemicals and/or abrasive methods to exfoliate your combination skin will irritate your drier sections.
Step 4: Tone
Using a toner further clears your skin from bacteria that may be causing irritation or can lead to a breakout and also helps balance your skin’s PH levels. Toner preps the skin for ultimate product absorption, therefore really helps the moisture from the next two steps penetrate the dryer parts of your skin.
Step 5: Hydrate
Soothe the skin, promote cell renewal and increase hydrated plump skin with a rejuvenating serum.
Step 6: Moisturise
It is a myth that people with oily skin shouldn’t moisturise. Moisturising is important no matter what your skin type, it is the type of moisturiser that counts. For combination skin, it is optimal to use a lightweight moisturiser.
On a weekly basis you can add in masks to target and treat specific areas of the skin. Using a clay mask in the t-zone can help clear up imperfections without drying sensitive spots.
Speaking of spots, spot treatments are a great way for people with combination skin to target breakouts without applying products all over the face.
Now you know the ins and outs of combination skin, it’s time to create a perfect step-by-step routine to help balance the oily, the dry and the normal of your skin.
Check out our full range of combination skin compatible, natural skincare products here.