Choosing just the right products for skin care can be a daunting task, considering the many options available, all the active ingredients, and so on. However, this task can become even more challenging when you don’t know the skin type you have and what to look for in skincare products.
This is the reason why your beauty routine should always start with the type of skin you have, and the specific issues associated with it if there are any.
Has your skin oily areas with some dry patches? If the skin doesn’t feel and look the same in all parts of your face, the chances are your skin type is combination skin.
Some people have normal skin, but more frequently, people either have dry skin on the face or areas with excess oil, which is usually called oily skin.
What is combination skin?
When oily areas combine with dry parts of your face, you have combination skin. Combination skin is characterized by dry skin on the cheekbones, and the oily areas are in the T-zone.
The T-zone is the forehead, nose, and chin. Just imagine drawing a big T letter on the center of your face, and you’ll get the T-zone – usually the main concern for people with combination skin.
What is interesting to know is that combination skin is not as uncommon as we might think. Actually, there is quite a number of people, both men, and women struggling to take care of their combination skin in just the right way.
Combination skin means that each area, the oily areas, as well as the T-zone or the oily areas, need specific care. Does this mean you will need to get two of everything – cleanser, toner, moisturizer to take care of your combination skin?
Well, not necessarily! Let’s dive in and have a look at the details!
Make sure you got your skin type right
Oily skin is popular for teenagers, but also for adults, while dry skin tends to occur more often after we reach a certain age – mature skin is often dry skin. There are benefits and disadvantages to both skin conditions.
Dry skin is prone to premature aging – this means that we get fine lines and wrinkles sooner in life when we have dry skin compared to people with oily skin. At the same time, oily skin is characterized by excess oil production, especially in the T-zone areas of your face.
Of all the skin types, combination skin is more difficult to diagnose as it has a bit of everything. This means that people with combination skin will have some of the issues of people with oily skin (clogged pores with impurities or dead skin cells), but also the tendency to develop wrinkles around the eye area at a younger age.
To find out whether you have combination skin, all you have to do is just wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Make sure to use the cleanser on both dry areas and oily areas of the face. Don’t apply any more skin care products and wait for about half an hour.
If, after this time, the T-zone shows signs of excess oil, the pores are more visible and maybe even clogged with dead skin cells and dirt while the cheekbones area (and the other dry areas as well) feel a bit tight, congratulations, you have combination skin!
If you have areas of your face that feel dry and tight while other areas of the skin are oily, you certainly have combination skin on your face. And, as we have said before, it is probably among the most common skin types out there, so there is nothing to worry about – with the right type of care, your combination skin will look absolutely amazing!
What are the causes of combination skin?
When it comes to all the skin types, we can’t really say that one is easier to care for than the other. Once you know your skin type and you discover what the right products that work for your skin are, the skin care routine will be a breeze.
Some people want to know, “How do you prevent combination skin?“. Well, there is no simple answer to this popular question. However, what you can do is to learn more about combination skin and how to take care of different areas of the face (including the dry areas) to have a healthy, glowing complexion!
Combination skin can cause a certain amount of worry at different times when the level of sebum seems to get out of control, and you can experience enlarged pores, blackheads, and even acne. When this happens, usually, the hormonal changes are to blame.
In other words, if your face feels oilier than ever, the hormonal activity is what causes this. In women, it can be related to the menstrual cycle, but also the level of stress.
When looking for causes of a certain skin type, we should also mention the environment and lifestyle.
If it is cold outside and warm inside, the chances are that we will get dehydrated skin (feels and acts just like dry skin). However, dehydration can also lead to increased production of sebum, making the oily patches more visible too.
You can blame your blemish or acne-prone combination skin on your diet too. Nowadays, it is a well-known fact that eating lots of processed foods and sugar can lead to different skin conditions.
Even your skin care routine or choosing the wrong skin care products can lead to a change in the skin condition. For example, certain active ingredients found in products designed for dry skin such as retinol, glycolic acid and even salicylic acid can cause excessive dryness, redness or irritation is not used properly and in the right doses.
What is the best skin care for combination skin?
Something that you can do when it comes to the best skin care for this type of skin is to change your approach. When it comes to oily-prone skin, the tendency is to deal with the excess of sebum first and worry about the dry areas later.
However, skin care experts recommend just the opposite approach. They believe that trying to correct the issues present at the level of the face with strong ingredients such as the ones found in an acne cleanser and even products with a high content of salicylic acid can lead to an even more significant imbalance at the level of the dry areas.
So, why not start with these areas that are dry? This means that you should focus on a gentle cleanser that is suitable for sensitive or dehydrated skin. After using the cleanser along with a toner, you can address the target areas with specific products.
The right moisturizer for combination skin
After cleansing the face with a gentle product, you can apply a serum on the oily patches and follow up with a moisturizer. It is important to keep in mind that no matter how oily your skin might feel, not using a moisturizer is not an option.
The skin needs protection and hydration, so choose a moisturizer with a lightweight texture that won’t clog the pores. Generally speaking, the recommendation is to avoid oil-based moisturizers and go for a water-based one.
How often to apply a face mask?
A face mask with the right ingredients might be precisely what your skin needs to look and feel great. The masks with activated charcoal and clay can be perfect for to unclog pores and deal with the excess of sebum on the forehead, nose, and chin areas.
When you apply the mask on the oily patches, remember to apply a good layer of moisturizer on the dry ones, or even better a hydrating mask. Then you can just turn on the TV or check out what’s new on Instagram, and before you know it, 30 minutes have passed, and you are ready to rinse off the mask and say hello to your glorious-looking skin!
Final words about combination skin
Yes, it is true, combination skin sounds like a lot of work, but once you get the hang of a proper skin care routine, you won’t give it a second thought.
What usually happens is that we struggle to find the right products that can help us get the complexion of our dreams. Of course, it can be more difficult to take care of combination skin compared to normal skin, but the reality is that normal skin is just as common as pink unicorns are.
Even people who believe they have normal skin are actually dealing either with dehydration or dry skin. And with the hectic modern lifestyles, it is no wonder that our skin has so much to deal with.
What you can do to ensure that your face gets the best treatment possible is always invest in good quality products, preferably organic or natural, if possible.
Then, your diet can also make all the difference, so avoid sugary treats and processed food to see improvements at the level of the face within just a few short weeks. Drinking plenty of water is another recommendation from dermatologists from all over the world.
What’s your favorite skin care routine for combination skin?