How To Care For Combination Skin

Do you suspect you might have combination skin? If your skin feels oily one day but dry the next, it might be that you’re dealing with two different skin types.

What is combination skin?

One of the biggest indicators of combination skin is an overly oily T-zone. This central part of your face, which includes your nose, forehead and chin, is where your skin’s oil-producing glands are most concentrated. If these glands are overactive, it leaves your skin looking oily, with enlarged, visible pores.

Another sign that you might have combination skin is tight, dull and flaky patches of skin, which are often located on the cheeks or along the hairline.

What causes combination skin?

Most people inherit combination skin genetically, but it’s important to know that combination skin can also develop from using skincare products that are too harsh. For example, if you’re using the wrong kind of moisturiser for your skin, it can clog up your pores and you could see excessive oil on your T-zone.

You might also find that stress and not using sun protection can exacerbate excess oil and dryness.

Rather than layering on moisturiser in an attempt to combat those dry patches, or using an array of inefficient lotions on your oily T-zone, it’s time to get smarter with your skincare. Combination skin requires different treatments for different areas and, it’s important to adjust your routine to use appropriate products designed for your skin type.

Skincare routine for combination skin

Use a gentle cleanser

If you have combination skin, your skin’s surface – particularly your T-zone – will develop a build-up of excess oil throughout the day that will clog your pores. Your pores may also be clogged by sweat, make-up and dirt, which can leave the rest of your skin looking dull with an uneven texture.

The most important step is to start with a gentle, fragrance-free facial cleanser once in the morning and just before you go to bed to remove impurities. We recommend our Radiant Results Micellar Cleansing Water, to remove make-up, impurities and pollutants from the skin’s surface without being too harsh or drying for delicate skin.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is also important to help remove the dead cells from the skin’s surface that make your complexion look dull. With combination skin, it can be tempting to exfoliate regularly to combat any dryness on your face. However, using a harsh exfoliator too often can make your skin worse.

Ideally, you should be exfoliating just once or twice a week with a gentle exfoliator to avoid irritating the skin’s surface. No7 LABORATORIES RESURFACING Skin Paste contains an AHA/PHA (Alpha Hydroxy and Poly Hydroxy Acid) complex that gently exfoliates skin and visibly reduces the appearance of pores for a brighter, more even complexion.

Use an oil free moisturiser

With oily skin, you need to be careful about the moisturiser you use, as you want to avoid adding further oil that may clog pores. However, daily moisturising is important for all skin types to keep skin hydrated and supple.

To help reduce dryness and give skin some much-needed hydration, we recommend HydraLuminous Water Surge Gel as our best moisturiser for combination skin. A light, refreshing gel with an oil-free formula, it instantly absorbs into the skin and delivers immediate moisture and lasting hydration for 72 hours.

Use SPF

The last and perhaps most crucial step for all skin types: protecting skin from UV rays, even on cloudy or rainy days. Apply a day cream with at least SPF 15 and 5* UVA protection every day.