Combination Skin: What is it (and How Do You Actually Balance it)?
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If you ever have days when you feel particularly indecisive, imagine how combination skin must feel on a daily basis. Oily in parts, dry in others, combination skin goes through a rollercoaster of emotions that make it tricky to treat.
Enter dermatologist Dr Michele Green and this handy article where you can read expert tips and advice when it comes to an indecisive complexion.
From what it actually is and what causes it, to striking the right balance and choosing the right ingredients, consider your combination skin well and truly figured out.
What is combination skin?
Let’s look at the bright side. If you ever want to feel special – unique, even – at least combination skin can help you out. “Combination skin is a unique type of skin with patches of dry and patches of oily skin and presents a challenge for many,” Dr Green explains.
“The cheeks tend to be dryer, while the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose and chin, is oily. This can make it difficult for people with combination skin to find the right products that keep their skin moisturised without causing acne breakouts.”
How do you know if you have it?
Luckily, it’s quite simple to spot the signs of combination skin. “Patients with combination skin will notice areas around their faces with characteristics of oily and dry skin,” Dr Green says.
“They often have shiny skin and blackheads in the T-zone, which is associated with oily skin. Meanwhile, on the cheeks, they will have dull, potentially red skin, which is characteristic of dry skin.”
To more accurately find out your skin type, cleanse your face before waiting 30 minutes before applying any skincare products. If you’re oily in your T-zone and dry on your cheeks you probably have combination skin.
Image – Cavanimages/Adobe
What causes it?
It can be a number of things, mainly genetics. “Genetics, as in many aspects of our lives, plays a significant role in determining our skin type,” Dr Green explains. “If your parents have combination skin, you are more likely to develop it as well.”
But it might not be your poor parents who are responsible. “The environment can exacerbate the symptoms of combination skin,” she continues. “For example, oily areas will worsen during hot, humid summer weather, while dry areas will become even drier during bitterly cold winter weather.”
Certain scenarios can bring it on too. “Stress and other hormonal changes can affect sebum production on the skin, which can worsen either the oily or dry areas,” adds Dr Green.
The best ingredients for balancing combination skin
The good news is that there is an ingredient pretty much everyone has heard of and can easily get hold of that will help balance out combination skin. “One of the best ingredients for combination skin is hyaluronic acid,” advises Dr Green.
“As a humectant, hyaluronic acid brings more water into the skin to hydrate it. Hyaluronic acid is a light ingredient that will not clog the pores, making it effective for all skin types.” Another ingredient to look for is lactic acid.
“Lactid acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) and a humectant,” she adds. “This ingredient is unique in its ability to clean out excess oil and hydrate the skin. AHAs act as chemical exfoliators that remove dirt, debris and oil from the pores, preventing acne from forming. In addition to being an AHA, lactic acid is a humectant that draws moisture into the skin to benefit the dry parts of the face.”
And finally, vitamin C. “It protects the skin against oxidative stress and brightens the skin,” says Dr Green.
Image – Ohlamourstudio/Stocksy
Which ingredients to avoid
“People with combination skin should avoid comedogenic products and potentially irritating ingredients such as alcohol, dyes, sulphates and fragrances,” Dr Green warns. You may have heard about comedogenic products before but, in short, they’re the really heavy, pore-clogging ones.
“They have thick, oily ingredients such as cocoa butter and coconut oil,” she explains. “These ingredients clog pores which can lead to pimples and blackheads on oily skin.”
And the irritating ingredients? “These can lead to more redness and dryness as they cause inflammation of the more sensitive skin.”
How to create a skincare routine for combination skin
‘A simple, yet carefully curated skincare routine is key,” Dr Green advises. So, think non-comedogenic, yet hydrating. “A basic routine could include a gentle cleanser, vitamin C or lactic acid serum and a moisturiser/sunscreen.”
She also says to remember that less is more. “Using too many products can irritate the skin and worsen dryness or acne.” So that’s even better news for combination skin types – less products means less money spent. What a bonus!
You can check out our whole affordable skincare routine for combination skin here.
The takeaway
Essentially, combination skin is a little confused but there are certain ingredients and ways to pare back your routine to help balance it out. The signs of combination skin are dry cheeks with some redness mixed with an oily T-zone that can be prone to breakouts.
Look out for non-comedogenic products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and lactic acid and make sure you keep your routine to a minimum of around three products so that you don’t overload your skin.
Meet the expert
Dr Michele Green M.D is a cosmetic dermatologist based in NYC.
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