One-Stop Guide to Combination Skin

Combination skin can be a bit of an enigma when it comes to skin care. One minute, your T-zone is shiny enough to rival a disco ball, and the next they’re dry and flaky. If you’ve been feeling on a quest to balance your skin, you’re not the only one. Combination skin is among the most common skin types, and it requires a special approach to keep both the oily and dry areas happy. But never fear—this blog has the science-backed tips and product recommendations you need to get that healthy, balanced glow.

So let’s untangle the secrets to caring for combination skin step by step. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’re going to have a skincare routine that plays nicely with your skin’s unique needs. 

Step 1: Choose a Gentle Cleanser

Choosing the right cleanser is step one in caring for combination skin. Commonly, people make the mistake of using aggressive cleansers that remove oils from the skin, causing the dry areas to become drier and the oily areas to react by producing more sebum. The result? An endless feedback loop of excess oil.

Instead, choose a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser that will cleanse dirt and excess oil without disrupting the natural barrier of your skin. Seek out ingredients such as glycerin or ceramides that help retain moisture, while being washed away.

Oil cleanser is another alternative to a harsh cleanser. Oil cleansers can help you cleanse dirt and excess sebum effectively, because oil cleans oil very effectively, while helping the natural oil to remain on your skin, hence strengthening your skin barrier. We recommend Maxclinic Rose Vitamin Brightening Oil Cleanser as your next cleanser that would help your combination skin.

Step 2: Hydration, Hydration, Hydration

Hydration is the foundation of any skin-care routine, but that’s especially true for combination skin. The trick is to stick to lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers that will hydrate skin without blocking pores. Seek out humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draw water to the skin, and skip the dense, occlusive creams that can overly burden oily patches. We highly recommend checking out our Hydration Bomb Mask Bundle—which includes ISOI Moisture Dr. Cream with hyaluronic acid and tea tree ceramide that deeply hydrates your skin, and the natural oil paper that can be effective in spot treating.

Step 3: Sunscreen Is Essential

There’s one step you definitely cannot skip, however: sunscreen. UV damage accelerates skin aging—not to mention making dryness and oiliness worse. The trouble with combination skin is that you need a sunscreen that offers protection but doesn’t feel thick or greasy.

Choose lightweight sunscreens that won’t clog your pores or leave a white cast. And don’t forget: sunscreen is for every day, rain or shine and indoor or outdoor.

We recommend COSRX Aloe Soothing Sunscreen for people with combination skin as it feels very light like a moisturizer, without any oiliness that would cause your skin to break out.

Wrapping Up: Listen to Your Skin

Taking care of your combination skin is all about recognizing the specific needs, and changing the game when necessary. Your skin might tend toward oilier in the summer and drier in the winter, so don’t hesitate to adjust your products seasonally. With the right routine and the patience, you’ll get that balanced, radiant glow you’ve always dreamed of.

Remember, consistency is key. If you stay your course, however, you’ll notice results within weeks. And most importantly, have fun with it — skincare is self-care, after all.

Now it’s your opportunity to use these tips and products. Let us know how these work for you, and be sure to share your glowing skin journey with us!