Combination skin care is pretty tricky. You probably have more oil in your T-zone (the area that covers the forehead, nose, and chin), plus dry or normal skin on the cheeks. It’s really difficult to care for those areas separately, so having a good skin care regimen is all about balance. Good for you there are some great products on the market specifically for your skin type.
Products to have on hand
◈Cleanser – Stick to cleansers specifically formulated for combination skin or use a moisturizing facial wash. These cleansers are very gentle and will help balance your complexion.
◈Moisturizer – Stick to a light skin-balancing lotion that contains SPF 15 or greater.
◈Exfoliant – It’s o.k. to exfoliate if you have blackheads or dry, flaky patches on your face. Try not to exfoliate more than once a week. Your body sheds dead skin cells naturally anyway, so I don’t want you to overdo it. Pore strips are excellent too because you can focus the treatment on the affected area, plus they are awesome at removing blackheads. *Exfoliant refers to a facial scrub that removes the dead layers of your skin to leave it feeling smooth, invigorated and healthy.
◈Toner/Astringent – If you opt to use a toner, the same toner can be used all over the face if it does not contain ingredients that make oily areas feel slick or greasy. Water and glycerin-based toners are ideal. If you are having mild breakouts, use a toner with salicylic acid on the affected areas only. Otherwise, don’t bother. You don’t want to irritate the dry areas on your face. *Toner refers to a lotion designed to cleanse the skin and shrink pores, usually used on the face.
◈Treatment – If you have blackheads, you may want to consider using a clay mask once a week.
Hopefully you've only experienced minor differences in certain areas of your face. The women I've worked with that have combination skin were pretty lucky - no major acne breakouts whatsoever. If you are having problematic acne breakouts I highly recommend seeing a dermatologist to help you find the best combination skin care regimen for you.
Most of them are very easy to work with, and I promise they don't bite!
