Combination Skin: Do I Have It and What To Do About It?

Shopping for skincare and makeup products is overwhelming for so many reasons. In any given drugstore or cosmetics shop, you’ll find endless varieties of every type of product. As a consumer, you have to consider the price, quality, ingredients, and so much more.

Well, there’s one more factor that you must take into account—your own skin type. Every product seems to be geared toward oily, balanced or dry skin, right? Of course, picking a product is easy enough if your skin falls into one of those fields. But what about combination skin?

Frankly, combination skin is often far more difficult to manage. That is why we’ve compiled this brief guide to everything you should know about this type of skin. Hopefully, this article will help you determine exactly how to manage your skin right. 

So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

What Are the Main Skin Types? 

 

Most experts would agree that there are five main skin types: balanced, oily, dry, sensitive, and combination skin. Each of these skin types is defined by a few key characteristics, and each one should be treated differently.

Just in case you need a refresher, here’s a quick rundown of each of these types:

Balanced: Balanced skin doesn’t have any dry patches or oily spots. If you have this type of skin, you rarely experience acne outbreaks, and your skin isn’t overly sensitive to new products or changes in your environment. Overall, balanced skin has very few imperfections or issues.

Oily: This type of skin is defined by a few major traits. Namely, oily skin usually entails enlarged pores, dull or shiny complexion, and, finally, acne. If you find yourself facing frequent breakouts of pimples or blackheads, you may have oily skin.

Dry: On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s dry skin. This type of skin is characterized by small, nearly invisible pores, redness, visible fine lines, and a rough or dull complexion. Dry skin may also feel tight and inelastic.

Sensitive: Sensitive skin may exhibit any of the symptoms of dry skin, but there’s one difference—those symptoms only arise when they’re triggered by something (often a skincare product). So, if you have sensitive skin, you’ll likely find that certain things cause redness, burning, itchiness, or dryness of your skin.

Combination: Finally, our main topic of discussion: combination skin. Essentially, combination skin is a blend of dry, balanced, and oily skin. With combination skin, different areas of your face exhibit traits of each of these types—you can have both dry and acne-prone skin. There’s a lot more to say about this type, and we’re going to delve into it right now.

How to Tell if You Have Combination Skin 

 

Identifying your skin type is often tricky, especially when it comes to combination skin. In fact, tons of people have combination skin, but they just don’t realize it. They mistake their skin type for dry or oily when, in reality, it’s a blend of both.

So, we’ve compiled a short guide to identifying whether or not you have combination skin. By figuring out your true skin type once and for all, you’ll be able to give your skin the best possible treatment.

If you’re trying to determine your combination skin status, be sure to look out for these signs: 

 

When you apply moisturizer or sunscreen, your T-zone gets oily. (The T-zone consists of the forehead, nose, and chin, just in case you didn’t know). If you find that your T-zone acts up while the rest of your face feels balanced or dry, you can take that as a sure-fire sign of combination skin.

The same goes for cleansing your face. The appearance of oily patches on your face about 20 minutes after cleansing may indicate combination skin.

This next indicator is a bit unexpected—if you have dandruff, you may also have combination skin. Although this isn’t a guarantee, this does ring true for many people. This is because dandruff results from dry, flaky patches on the scalp, a symptom often associated with combo skin.

If the weather and the seasons affect your skin, it’s highly likely that you’re in the combination club. For example, when it’s hot outside, you might experience an oily T-zone. Likewise, your skin may be drier in the winter and oily in the summer. 

Finally, if you have combination skin, you may break out while on your period, only to find that your breakouts clear up immediately afterwards and leave behind flaky dead skin cells.

 

So, these are the most significant indicators of the combination skin type. If you think you may fall into this category but you’re not 100% sure, you may want to visit a dermatologist for an expert’s opinion.

 

The Best Skincare Tips for Combination Skin 

 

Now that you have the proper tools to figure out whether or not you have combination skin, it’s time to get into the really important stuff—that is, how to best care for this special skin type.

Unfortunately, taking care of combination skin is often more difficult than treating the other types. Of course, this is because your face behaves differently in different regions. A moisturizer may work wonders on your cheeks but cause oily areas in your T-zone, because your skin produces extra oil there.

For this reason, caring for combo skin is all about finding that delicate balance in your skincare routine. It may take some time to find that perfect lineup of skin care products, but don’t give up. It’s very possible—we promise!

So, we have a few tips to help you treat your combination skin right, so you can have the skin texture you’ve always dreamed of. 

 

Choose Your Cleanser Wisely

 

Firstly, you’ll want to find a gentle facial cleanser to get rid of excess oils (even though some areas of your face may be dry). This, of course, will help reduce the build-up and the clogged pores.

 

Moisturizer Is Vital

 

Likewise, you should invest in a solid facial moisturizer—preferably one that is lightweight, water-based, and non-comedogenic. Some people with combination skin avoid moisturizers and creams because they fear causing more oiliness. Don’t be afraid! Moisturizer is necessary for so many reasons, including giving you much-needed hydration and fighting the effects of aging (like wrinkles, fine lines, and loose skin). 

 

Gently Exfoliate

 

Finally, be sure to exfoliate with a gentle, chemical exfoliator. Products with alpha or beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs) tend to work wonderfully for people with combination skin. You can also try toner with these ingredients—just be sure to avoid the super-dry areas, focusing only on the oily patches.

Of course, on top of this, you should stick to general skincare rules, like wearing your SPF regularly and avoiding harsh exfoliation scrubs and fragrances that can cause irritation. Just make sure you’re treating your skin right!  

By following these skin care tips, you should be able to formulate a skincare regimen that works for you. 

 

More Ways to Give Your Skin A Boost 

 

If you find that your daily skin care routine just isn’t doing the trick, you may want to try another method to give your skin the boost it needs. Well, there’s one trick that will always leave your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated—applying a face mask.

A face mask is often the perfect solution when your skin is in a slump, even for combination skin. The key is finding the right one. Fortunately, there are plenty of masks out there that are suitable for all skin types, including our Vitamin C Clay Mask.

This mask is packed with superfoods, like turmeric, kakadu plum, desert lime, and much more. It’s a miracle worker—it leaves the skin with a radiant, smooth, healthy glow. No matter your skin type, this mask can help.

If you have combination skin, try applying a face mask about once a week. It might just make a huge difference.

 

Treat Your Combination Skin the Way It Deserves To Be Treated

 

There’s no denying that combination skin presents a unique challenge—but it’s just as great as any other skin type. It can be a long process to find the products and routines that really work for your skin, but that’s no reason to give up trying. 

With a little bit of effort, knowledge, and time, you will certainly find the method that allows you to treat your skin the way it deserves to be treated.

 

Sources

 

Skin Types and Care: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive | WebMD

7 Signs You Have Combination Skin and How to Deal With It | Allure

Here's How to Tell If You Have Combination Skin | Byrdie