Combination skin is regarded as having both dry and oily regions on the face. If you have an oily T-zone, it’s usually accompanied by large or clogged pores on the forehead, nose and chin. Since those areas are where the oil glands are most active, you might also experience pimples and blackheads there.
The dry parts of your face are usually the cheeks, eyes and mouth. As a result, make-up on combination skin often appears patchy due to the uneven skin texture.
The best solution for achieving a crystal-clear complexion lies in a carefully-curated skincare routine for combination skin. Your skincare products play a huge role, so before you get new combination skin products, do note that there are certain things you should avoid.
Refrain from alcohol-based products, as those can dehydrate your skin. You should also stay away from comedogenic oils and heavy creams, since they may lead to congested pores and acne.
Now that you know what to avoid, it’s important to know the basics of caring for combination skin.
Use gentle exfoliating scrubs at least once or twice a week to prevent clogged pores and dullness, and apply a pore-control serum daily if you’re concerned about large pores. You should also apply day and night combination skin moisturisers to keep your skin hydrated 24/7. Use a lightweight moisturiser for the oily regions and a slightly creamier formula for the drier parts of your face.
Avoid over-cleansing as it’ll disrupt your skin barrier and trick your sebaceous glands into producing more sebum to make up for the lack of moisture.
Avoid over-cleansing as it’ll destroy your skin’s moisture barrier and trick your skin into producing more sebum. Another common mistake most women make is not moisturising daily, which is really important because your skin requires sufficient hydration.
At Clarins, we have the perfect skincare products to help you create an effective skincare routine to help you get around common combination skin issues.
First, cleanse your skin twice a day with a hydrating cleanser like the Purifying Gentle Foaming Cleanser or the My Clarins RE-MOVE Purifying Cleansing Gel.
After cleansing or exfoliating, tone your skin with the Purifying Toning Lotion or the My Clarins Purifying Mattifying Lotion to eliminate any lingering traces of dirt and make-up. Alcohol-free toners also balance your skin’s pH levels without dehydrating it.
Treatment essences are water-based products that hydrate and nourish the skin. The Extra-Firming Treatment Essence is a lightweight lotion that absorbs quickly to restore skin density and protect your skin’s moisture barrier.
Serums are packed with active ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin. The Pore Control Serum is a plant-powered product that you need in your combination skincare routine as it contains pore-minimising Tamarind Pulp Acids and mattifying Organic Strawberry Tree extracts that reduce shine.
In the daytime, use a lightweight moisturiser like the Multi-Active Day Emulsion or the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Light Cream to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day. Before bedtime, apply a layer of Multi-Active Night Cream for combination skin, focusing on the drier parts of your face.
The Super Restorative Day Cream and Super Restorative Night Cream are ideal for women in their 50s and above, as they contain rich anti-ageing ingredients to treat deep wrinkles, sagging and more.
Eye creams like the Total Eye Revive, Total Eye Smooth and Total Eye Lift help to treat puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles around the delicate eye area.
The SOS Pure Face Mask is an essential skincare product for combination skin. This rebalancing clay mask minimises shine and mattifies the skin, while removing excess sebum and tightening pores.
Shop more skincare products designed for combination skin here.