Everything You Need to Know About Building a Skin Care Routine For Combination Skin

The first step to getting the right daily routine for your unique skin is to understand your skin type. This can be tricky! Especially when you don’t fit neatly into a box of dry, oily or sensitive skin. But the truth is… most of us don’t! Most of us have a combination of skin concerns - both at different times of the month and year and also on different areas of the face. It is totally possible to have oily and dry skin - at the same time!

So how do you build a skincare routine for combination skin? Where do you start? And how do you get the right choice of skin care products for your skin (without breaking the bank finding them)? If this is you, you need to read on.

What is combination skin?

Most of us have a combination of skin concerns, often all going on at the same time. This is because your skin is a living organ. It’s constantly battling weather, external and internal stress, hormones, trying to stay hydrated and well-oiled but not too oily, whilst regenerating and trying to keep an even tone and fight breakouts… when you think of it like that, no wonder your skin has a combination of issues!

How can I tell if I have a combination skin type?

The first thing to say is that your skin is a combination of concerns so there won’t be a one size fits all solution. However there are some common myths that need busting when it comes to skincare routines and combination skin. So here’s out lowdown on how to approach a skincare routine that works for your unique skin.

Myth 1:

You can over-cleanse combination skin

Fact 1:

You need to double cleanse your combination skin for its best health

When it comes to cleansing combination skin, there is a myth that you can over-cleanse. This is because when you use some harsh cleansers, with higher concentrates of ingredients like salicylic acid, you can actually cause excess oil production. When you have combination skin it can be difficult to get the balance right for your skin.

Is the answer cleansing less?

Absolutely not! The answer is getting the right cleansers for your unique skin. And actually, when you do that, double cleansing is great for combination skin.

What is double cleansing?

As the name suggests, it is cleansing twice… sort of! The first cleanse removes surface dirt and makeup, leaving the skin clean. The second cleanse is then able to work deeper into the pores, getting rid of dead skin cells and helping to regulate oil production and repair the skin’s barrier, where needed.

So you should cleanse twice in the morning and twice in the evening for the best results for your skin - using cleansers that are specially formulated for your skin concerns.

What type of cleanser should I use for combination skin?

It is often about the texture of the cleanser. Gel or foam cleansers are effective for combination skin because they won’t dry out or irritate existing dry patches but will also be effective at dissolving surface oil and getting into the pores.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gelis a great place to start for an all round foaming cleanser.

Has Quillaja Saponaria - a naturally foaming extract that works to clear away dirt and toxins from the skin but without causing irritation or damage
Doesn’t have salicylic acid - which can dry out the skin further
Is soap free and gentle but effective
Has Balm Mint and Lavender - to soothe the skin and act as an antiseptic for any areas of sensitivity and irritation

Special Cleansing Gelgentle foaming cleanserView All500ml: £65.00

Myth 2:

You have to use face masks all over your face

Fact 2:

For combination skin, combining different face masks for different areas can be more effective

So you want to use a mask, but what should you use for combination skin?

The mask that is for oily skin, the one that is designed to hydrate or replenish skin oils?

The answer is - you can use all of the above! Multi-mask is the key for combination skin.

Now we aren’t necessarily talking about all at the same time! But as a part of your skin care routine it is good to use a mask a couple of times a week to treat specific areas of the skin. But there isn’t a rule that says you can’t multi-mask!

What are our mask recommendations?

For an oily t-zone:

One of the main concerns with an oily t-zone is clogged pores and blackheads. That’s because when you have oily skin, your sebaceous glands are over-producing the natural oil (sebum) your skin needs for a healthy skin barrier. The excess oil sits on top of the skin, capturing dead skin cells and clogging up your pores. This can lead to impacted pores, full of dirt, oil and dead skin cells. We commonly recognise this as blackheads - where your pores look black to the eye. Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask is great for dealing with this skin concern. You can apply this amazing mask onto the specific areas you want to target.

It has:

A unique fizzing formula (hence the name!) that helps to get the active ingredients deep into the pores to work more effectively
Sulfur - which is a anti-microbial - your skin is a clever mix of good and bad bacteria. Sulfur works to target the bad bacteria whilst not damaging the good stuff
Kaolin Clay - this soaks up excess oil for a gentle but effective deep cleanse
Apple Fruit extract - hydrates the skin in the deeper layers, where the pores have been clogged and moisture hasn’t been able to get in effectively

Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask 50ml

Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Maskfizz activated, blackheads eliminatedSkin50ml: £25.00

For brighter skin:

- especially on the cheeks and forehead

Evolve Organic Beauty Miracle Mask is a great choice for dry but breakout prone and dull skin areas. It has:

Natural Fruit AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) - Gentler than some other AHAs like Lactic Acid, it works to exfoliate through a chemical process rather than be using abrasive physical exfoliants.

Miracle AHA 3 Minute Maskdelicious miracle faceView All60ml: £25.00

For dark circles:

Treating the eye area can be tricky whatever your skin type as the skin is different to the rest of your face and more delicate.

Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift is a great boost for your eyes - working to de-puff, hydrate and deal with dark circles effectively.

Wild Indigo Seed Extract - this targets dark circles as an anti-inflammatory.
Fermented Yeast - which works to firm and tighten the skin around the eyes, it also helps to repair the skin lipid barrier
Arctic Algae - to rehydrate the skin in the deeper layers, which can reduce the appearance of deepening dehydration lines and wrinkles
It is a cool and soothing treat for your tired eyes.

Stress Positive Eye Lift Maskde-puffing eye treatment and masqueSkin25ml: £75.00

Myth 3:

Sunscreen should be avoided for combination skin as it clogs your pores

Fact 3:

You should use a sunscreen all year round!

UV rays cause sun damage to your skin. That is a fact. The effects of sun damage can include the generation of free radicals - atoms missing a single electron that can damage your skin cells, in their pursuit to become stable. This can result in a change of the DNA of the cells or chemical burning of the cells. This is linked to an increased risk of skin cancer.

Skin therapists and professionals recommend we wear sunscreen every day throughout the year. Yep, even when it’s not sunny… because UVA rays are the worst culprits for this free radical damage and they are attacking your skin every day of the year.

Does sunscreen clog your pores?

The answer is - it depends. On two things.

You need to use a sunscreen that suits your skin type - there are lots of brilliant options. You can use a cream based sunscreen, a lightweight oil or even a booster you add to your normal moisturiser. Choose the right texture for your skin concerns. But make sure it has UVA and UVB protection.
Cleansing is key - at the end of the day, you need to cleanse (ideally double cleanse) to get rid of any sunscreen residue. Using a precleanse like Dermalogica Precleansecan help to effectively remove any remaining sunscreen to stop pores getting clogged.

Precleanse Cleansing Oiloil-busting emulsifyerView All150ml: £49.00

Myth 4:

Serum is one product too many for combination skin

Fact 4:

Choosing the right serum for your combination skin can really improve your skin health

Serums are a great way of giving your skin a much needed boost. They are amazing because they are targeted for a specific skin concern. When it comes to combination skin there can be a temptation to avoid a serum - the idea that it is ‘one product too many’ but often a common concern for your skin is hydration. Both dry and oil skin conditions can be dehydrated - that means your skin lacks water. So even oily skin can become dehydrated - when you have excess oil it can stop good stuff like moisture from getting into the deeper layers. Equally dry skin, where the skin barrier is impaired, allows moisture to escape leaving the skin dehydrated.

Evolve Organic Beauty Hyaluronic Serum is a great choice that is lightweight and great for rehydrating dull skin. It has:

Hyaluronic acid - this is an amazing ingredient as it holds up to a thousand times its weight in water and also has small enough molecules to penetrate into the skin’s layers, restoring moisture and locking in that goodness
Pomegranate extract - which helps to regulate cell turnover and promote a healthy skin barrier

Hyaluronic Serum 200face serumSkin30ml: £32.00

Myth 5:

It’s impossible to get a moisturiser for combination skin

Fact 5:

There are lots of moisturisers specially formulated for your skin type - if you know what to look for.

What type of moisturiser should I use for combination skin?

Choosing a moisturiser with a gel, liquid or serum texture will suit your skin overall better as it will be lightweight but can also provide effective moisture.

Try Dermalogica Active Moistfor an oil-free lightweight moisturiser

Active Moist MoisturiserLight, oil-free lotionSkin100ml: £72.00

Or for a combination skin with more dry than oily patches, try Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream for a medium weight moisturiser.

Skin Smoothing Cream MoisturiserActive hydramesh technologyView All100ml: £72.00

Myth 7:

Combination skin should avoid night creams

Fact 7:

It depends on your unique skin type.

Should combination skin types use a night cream?

Some of us with combination skin can find night creams heavy on the skin. However, there are people with combination skin, like Jersey Beauty’s Michelle, who loves to use Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon. It has a unique complex of seven amazing active ingredients to brighten the skin and lock in moisture as you sleep.

It all depends on your unique skin and finding the right skin care products for your needs.

Sound Sleep Cocoon Night Gel-Creamtransformative night gel-creamSkin50ml: £89.00

So how do you treat combination skin?

Just a few final tips from our Jersey Beauty people with combination skin:

Try some free samples - at Jersey Beauty we offer free samples on lots of our amazing skin care products. That’s because we know it can take trial and error to get the right choices for your unique skin. You can find out more here.

Free Samples

Have Patience - sometimes it can take time to see the results from a new skincare product. So give it time - two months is a good time to see if a product is really working for you.
Don’t Try Everything At Once - To be able to truly see what is working for your skin, you need to make small changes. If you change your whole skincare routine in one go, you will struggle to know what your skin is reacting to - either in a good or bad way!
Understand your skin - at Jersey Beauty we love skin education - it is the key to the happy remarkable you that loves your skin at every age! Learning more about your skin will help you to understand why it reacts how it does and how to treat your skin for its best health.

Conclusion

When it comes to combination skin, everyone is unique! But there are a number of myths that we hope we have busted about the types of skincare products you should be reaching for and avoiding with combination skin.

To find out more about your unique skin, why not download out free Ultimate Skin Care Guide - for the lowdown on your skin at every age:

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