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Lisa Wila

it begins with healthy skin

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The Best Combination Skin Routine

February 9, 2022

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The perfect guide to a skincare routine for combination skin.

skin

It is tough to get a product that works effectively on your face. Some are not moisturizing enough, some are too drying, and others are too oily. Sometimes some parts of your face are dry and others not- you have combination skin! 

Finding a balance and suitable routine for your skin type can be tricky, but not anymore. This routine was made just for you.


Table of Contents

  • Signs you have combination skin
  • Causes of combination skin
  • Skincare routine for combination skin
    • Morning routine 
    • Nighttime routine 
  • Skincare routine for acne-prone combination skin
  • Products for combination skin
  • The takeaway

Signs you have combination skin

You may be prone to one or more of these signs:

  • Enlarged pores on nose, chin, and forehead
  • Oily t-zone and overall shiny face
  • Dry cheeks 
  • Oily skin in Summer and dry skin in Winter
  • Blackheads

Causes of combination skin

Genes play a significant role in your skin type and may be the cause of your combination skin.

Over-production of sebum can result from several factors such as exfoliating your skin incorrectly, using harsh products that strip your natural oils, and over-cleansing. This also causes combination skin because your skin misinterprets dry skin as a sign that it needs more oil.

Weather can also play a role. Cold weather is drying your skin and can strip it. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can lead to combination skin.


Skincare routine for combination skin

Most skincare products are created for specific types of skin. So you should be very conscious of the products that you choose. If you use products that are too oily, they will clog your pores, and if they are too drying, they will cause further damage to your dry areas. 

Morning routine 

1. Cleanse

Choose a gentle and hydrating cleanser to moisturize the dry parts of your face and not strip the oily parts of your face. It should also get rid of all the build-up your skin collects all day long.

2. Tone or use an essence

Depending on your combination skin type, you may opt for an essence instead of a toner. The perfect toner is hard to find because most toners contain alcohols that are tripping to the skin, not to say that a good toner doesn’t exist.

Essences can better give your skin the right amount of hydration that it needs without overloading your skin and with the perfect consistency.

A toner will work perfectly if your combination skin is on the oilier side.

3. Targeted treatment 

My ideal serum for combination skin contains hyaluronic acid, which soothes and hydrates your skin and may help with the appearance of fine lines. This step is a game-changer for your skin, and it will not produce too much oil anymore because it will have a hydration source.

Here is an article on the best hydrating serums. You can read it and find the perfect one for you.

4. Moisturize

A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer would be ideal. You don’t want anything too heavy for your skin to handle. 

Having two moisturizers for the different parts of your skin is impractical, and I suggest you go for formulations that are light in Summer and heavier in Winter. 

5. Sunscreen

I can not stress how important this step is for your skin. With combination skin, you are already more sensitive to the sun, so you want to avoid not using sunscreen and being exposed for an unreasonable amount of time. 

Make sure you reapply your sunscreen as needed.


Nighttime routine 

After a long day of hard work, it’s time to practice self-care and eliminate all the build-up. This is the time to do a bit of restoration for your skin.

1. Oil cleanse or micellar water.

Whether or not you have makeup on and you’ve had a busy day, you can benefit from double-cleansing. This way, you will unclog your pores and ensure that your skin is well-cleansed in the most gentle way possible. Makeup wipes are a no-go because most of them have high amounts of alcohol in them. 

2. Cleanse

Just like in the morning, you can use a gentle hydrating cleanser as the second cleanser. This will ensure that your skin is well-cleansed and not too dry. 

3. Hydrating serum 

You should use a hydrating serum in the morning and evening if you have combination skin because you need to hydrate your skin at any given opportunity.

4. Mask

A hydrating mask can help with targeting the dryness in your skin. One or two times per week would be sufficient.

5. Mild exfoliating (weekly)

 About once a week, you can use an exfoliating serum to lift your dead skin cells. Regular exfoliation will also help with oil control and hydrating because it allows for deeper penetration of products. If you want to avoid irritating your skin, look for a serum that contains lactic acid, which is on the gentle side of alpha-hydroxy acids.  

6. Night cream

Ceramides, lipids, and antioxidants are good ingredients to look out for in your night cream; they will repair and moisturize your skin.

Ensure it is not too thick, as it could clog your pores. 


Skincare routine for acne-prone combination skin

Because of the excess sebum (usually in your t-zone), combination skin is also prone to acne. The enlarged pores and oil are a breeding ground for acne. 

You should follow the above steps and, in addition:

  • Use cleansers with salicylic acid to kill the acne-causing bacteria. 
  • Incorporate a clay mask on the oily parts of your face. It will absorb the excess oil.
  • Earlier, I mentioned opting for an essence instead of a tone, but for this skin type, a toner would be perfect at controlling the oil. It should be soothing and non-irritating. 

Products for combination skin

Here are some of my favorite products for combination skin.

  1. Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
  2. Toner: Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
  3. Essence: Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive Moist
  4. Hydrating serum: Cerave Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face with Vitamin B5 and Ceramides 
  5. Moisturizer: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
  6. Sunscreen: Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50
  7. Night moisturizer: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream
  8. Exfoliating serum: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%
  9. Mask: Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask 

The takeaway

Avoid using face oils. If you insist on using them, opt for jojoba oil because it is lightweight and is very close to the sebum that naturally occurs in our skin. The sunscreen you use should have a broad spectrum of less than 30 SPF. Refrain from using too much of your skincare products because less is more. 

With the proper care combination, skin is manageable.

Consider visiting your dermatologist regularly if you have been dealing with a particular skin condition that does not seem to disappear. 

Before you go, what products have you used for your combination skin?

If you have further questions, please leave them in the comments.

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Categories: Combination, Face, Routines, Skin Array
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About Lisa Wila

Lisa is a final year Biotechnology student aspiring to be a Cosmetic Chemist. For years, she has been passionate about formulation science and helping people address their skin concerns.

This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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