What Is Combination Skin?

Combination skin occurs when different areas of your face behave differently and require different care. Combination skin often includes an oilier T-zone coupled with drier, or duller patches around the face If you have combination skin, it can be difficult to find a skincare routine that suits the varying needs of your face. Fear not though, there are plenty of ways to look after your combination skin type which we will be sharing with you here.

What is combination skin?

Combination skin can mean you have:

• Pores that are open making them appear visibly larger in size
• More prominent blackheads
• Shiny or greasy skin
• Flaking skin in only certain areas of your face

How do I know if I have combination skin?

People with combination skin typically have larger pores around the nose and drier patches on the cheeks[1]. A simple way to discover whether or not you have combination skin is to wash your face, but do not apply any products to your face after you’ve washed it.

After an hour or so, examine how your skin looks and feels. Is your T-Zone looking oily? And are your cheeks feeling tight? If this is the case, you will typically have combination skin.

What causes combination skin?

Combination skin occurs when the sebaceous glands in your oilier T-zone are more active which causes your skin to breakout or look excessively shiny in this area. At the same time, the drier parts of your face have a lack of sebum. This sometimes causes uncomfortably tight skin in these specific areas. Your genetics also play a large factor in your natural skin type.

Other factors contributing to combination skin include:

• Touching your face too often and transferring bacteria onto your skin which in turn builds up sebum that blocks your pores.
• Using the wrong skincare products.

For example, if you use skincare products solely geared up for oily skin, it will overcompensate with extra sebum. Likewise, if you use skincare targeted for dry skin only, the oilier parts of your face may find this too rich leading to breakouts.

• Environmental factors such as the weather can cause combination skin.
• Lifestyle factors such as stress can also cause different areas of your face to behave differently.

How to take care of combination skin

Since your face has differing needs, it’s important to develop an effective skincare routine that serves each and every part of your face. There are many formulations on the market that are designed specifically for the polarising nature of combination skin.

Skincare for combination skin

1. Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil
2. Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Mask
3. ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm
4. Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner
5. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10,
6. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial

If you’re looking for the most effective way to care for your combination skin, we have collated the very best tried and tested products that are suitable for caring for the varying needs of combination skin.

The best facial oil for combination skin

Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil works with combination skin to restore balance and improve the appearance of combination skin that is oilier in some parts and drier in others. Enriched with Rosehip Fruit and Seed Oil, this potent oil helps to defend against environmental aggressors whilst promoting an even skin tone and improving dryness, blemishes, fine lines and scaring.