Skincare for Combination Skin

What it is

Combination skin means different areas of your face behave differently. Most often, the T-zone across the forehead, nose and chin is oilier with more visible pores, while the cheeks feel normal or dry. Seasons can shift the balance, with more shine in summer and more dryness in winter. The key to a combination routine is flexibility. In the morning, use a gentle cleanser that will not strip drier areas, apply a lightweight hydrating serum all over, use a light moisturizer and finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. In the evening, cleanse well, then apply a little more moisturizer to dry areas and less to the T-zone. Once or twice a week, try multi-masking: apply a clay mask only to oily areas and a hydrating product to drier ones. Gentle enzyme or acid exfoliation can help skin texture look smoother, but start slowly. Key ingredients to look for include clay for the T-zone, fruit enzymes and salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation, hyaluronic acid and glycerin for weightless hydration, niacinamide to help skin look more even, and ceramides for drier areas. Gel-cream textures are often a comfortable middle ground.