An Easy Skincare Routine for Combination Skin

Combination skin is neither dry nor oily, in fact it’s both – which is where things get complicated – you can’t use two different routines, so you need to find the middle-ground and try to maintain balance.  Typically, combination skin has a mix of oily areas where you’ll see a lot of shine and clogged pores (usually the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin)) and dry patches (cheeks and jaw, and hairline) where you’ll experience texture and redness. However, you might find that your skin fluctuates throughout the year. Many people see dryness worsen in winter and oiliness become more noticeable in winter. 

With that in mind, building a skincare routine for combination skin becomes a bit of a juggling act – you’ll want to find a cleanser that helps to target congestion but doesn’t strip your skin, and a moisturiser that nourishes your dry patches but without clogging pores – normally, this means you’re in for an extensive trial and error process. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow skincare routine for combination skin, using some of the best products for combination skin – tried and tested by us. You’re welcome. 

When it comes to choosing a cleanser for combination skin, look for simple formulas with gel or gel-cream textures. Avoid foaming, exfoliating, and balm or oil cleansers in the morning – at this point in the day, you just need something to freshen up your skin and remove any oil or product residue. Be sure to use warm (not hot) water when you remove the cleanser from your skin. 

Starting your evening skincare routine with a cleansing balm is a great way to remove makeup and cleanse your skin without imbalancing it. The oils within cleansing balms help to break down makeup and melt it away, with no scrubbing required. They also help to soften and nourish dry patches, and since they’re rinsed off, won’t contribute to excess oil – instead, the oils actually help to break down sebum. Spend time massaging the balm into your skin until it melts into an oil. Remove using a warm flannel. 

You may not want to double cleanse in the evening if your combination skin is slightly more on the dry side. However if your skin leans more oily, then this is a great way to ensure your skin is deeply cleansed. Using a gel cleanser (following an oil-based one) helps to remove deeper-rooted congestion. Massage the cleanser over your face is small circular motions, then rinse off with warm water.

With combination skin, you might notice your skin feels tight (or in some cases still oily) after cleansing. That’s where toner comes in – it helps to balance skin’s pH levels, wick away any traces of oil, and add hydration. Use a cotton pad to gently wipe the toner over your skin. 

When you have combination skin, finding a serum that won’t sway your complexion to the extremes of oily or dry can be tricky. Look for those with words like ‘balancing’ in the name. These formulas will contain ingredients like probiotics, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, which work to simultaneously hydrate skin and also target excess oil and support the skin barrier. Press your serum onto damp skin after toning.

Finally, moisturising is an essential step if you have combination skin – the key is balance. As well as hydrating and softening dry areas, moisturising also helps to restore balance to oily areas by teaching skin not to overproduce excess oil. Look for lightweight, water-based, and gel-textured moisturisers. Their non-clogging textures absorb quickly so are ideal for those looking for fast hydration without the shiny finish – plus, they usually make great bases for makeup. Be generous with the amount of moisturiser you apply – especially when targeting your dry patches.

Sunscreen is a daily essential, no matter what your skin type, and when it comes to choosing one for combination skin, the key is in finding a texture and formula that works for you. If you’re especially concerned about oil and shine, then avoid anything too glowy, and if your skin is leaning more to the dry side, look for cream and lotion textures which will help to hydrate as well as protect.