Combination skin is characterized by a mixture of oily and dry areas. Basically, it’s the type of skin that doesn’t fit neatly into a single category. It can be hard to know how to take care of this kind of skin, since different parts of the face seem to need completely different types of care. Usually, people with combination skin have oily areas in the t-zone, which includes the chin, forehead and nose. The cheeks and jawline tend to be drier and flakier.

Due to excessive oiliness in the t-zone, people with combination skin tend to have problems with acne. They may also feel the need to wipe down or blot oil from their noses, foreheads and chins to avoid unwanted shininess in those areas. Other characteristics of combination skin include:

• Frequent blackheads (which are pores or hair follicles clogged by dirt and grime)
• Pores that appear unusually large
• Flaking skin on the cheeks

The good news is that with a proper skin care routine for combination skin, your face can look radiant and healthy. Many people have combination skin, which means there are many products out there that can help. The key is to know what to look for and how to treat your face kindly so that you don’t exacerbate the problem or make your skincare issues even worse.

Combination skin is the most common type of all the five skin types. There are a variety of reasons you may have combination skin. Here are a few:

• You’re not exercising enough. When you exercise, it increases blood flow throughout your body, including to your skin. Lack of sufficient exercise could diminish blood flow to the skin and cause it to receive less nourishment than it needs to remain healthy. Even just 10-15 minutes of exercise per day may help improve the way your skin looks and feels. Just be sure to cleanse it well after sweating, since the impurities in sweat can lead to breakouts and may clog your pores.
• You have a family history of combination skin or other skin problems. Just as health issues are often inherited, combination skin often runs in families.
• You don’t protect your skin while in the sun. The sun’s rays can be very damaging to skin, and can exacerbate common problems associated with combination skin. Anytime you plan to stay out in the sun for 20 minutes or longer, you should wear a hat or apply sunscreen to any areas exposed to the sun’s UV rays. There are gentle sunscreen products that are recommended for use on the face because they are non-comedogenic.
• You’re experiencing high levels of stress. If you have something going on in your life that’s causing high levels of stress, you’re more likely to go through hormone changes. These changes can affect your skin and cause it to develop the characteristics of combination skin. If you’ve never had combination skin before but you have suddenly developed it out of nowhere, high stress may be the cause. Minimizing your stress levels may help your skin return back to normal.
• You’re using the wrong skin care products. Did you know that if you use the wrong products for your skin type, you could make your combination skin worse? In particular, if you’re using products that are too harsh or drying, they could actually cause your body to produce even more oil. Some moisturizers are also too heavy for combination skin types and may end up clogging your pores and making the issue even worse. It’s important to adopt a skin care routine for combination skin if you want to look your best.

Some of these causes are under your control (such as managing your stress or changing your skincare products) while others aren’t (such as genetics). However, there are always things you can do to improve your skin, no matter what underlying factors you’re dealing with.

Once you determine that you have the combination skin type, you may need to make some changes to your skincare routine or even your diet. When you develop your combination skin care routine, there are a few areas you should focus on. In particular, you’ll want to focus on moisturizing the dry areas of your face while managing oil production in the t-zone.

But be careful! Many people with combination skin make the mistake of purposefully depriving the t-zone of moisturizing products. They think that doing so will reduce oil production and unwanted shininess in those areas.

However, the human body is very intelligent. If you attempt to dry out your nose, chin and forehead, your body will make up for the lack of hydration by producing even more oil in those areas. We’re guessing that’s the last thing you want, which is why we’ve put together a skin care routine for combination skin. If you follow our routine, you should start to experience some improvement in the texture and appearance of your skin. But before we dive into that, let’s go over the surprising effects climate can have on your skin.

Did you know the human body doesn’t like change? It works so hard to maintain a state of steadiness and predictability known as homeostasis. It is in homeostasis that the body can achieve optimal function.

Every organ in the body, including the skin, works hard to achieve homeostasis. So when you change your environment or the seasons change and disrupt your body’s preferred state of being, it can lead to a variety of unwanted symptoms, including changes to the way your skin feels and looks. Here’s how climate can affect your combination skin.

• Hot weather: When it’s hot outside, your skin will probably start producing even more oil than it already does! While you can change your skin care routine for combination skin to help combat this change, it will probably still happen to some degree. This is because high temperatures stimulate your skin’s production of oil. You can combat this problem by switching your moisturizer to a lighter-weight version. Remember to stay hydrated as well.
• Cold weather: When winter arrives, it can throw your skin for a loop! After months of high heat and increased oil production, your skin is suddenly thrust into very cold temperatures with low humidity. This combination can deplete your skin of moisture very quickly and cause it to become dry and flaky. You may still have oiliness in your t-zone, but the rest of your face will probably become papery and dehydrated. In cold weather, change your skin care for combination skin to include heavier moisturizers and exfoliators to remove the dead skin cells.
• Humid climates: Humid climates can lead to constant excess moisture on the skin. This, in turn, can cause breakouts (especially in your t-zone). To combat this common problem, use a cleanser with salicylic acid to dry up excess oil if you plan to travel to a humid climate. Keep in mind that people with sensitive skin may only be able to use products containing salicylic acid once a week. If used too frequently, skin irritation may occur.

Now that you’re aware of how climate can affect your face, you can take steps to keep your skin beautiful all year long. Just remember that you’ll likely need to change your skin care routine for combination skin every time the weather changes significantly.

We want to help you put your best face forward, which is why we’ve developed a recommended skin care routine that’s perfect for combination skin. Follow these simple steps to unveil the beautiful glow you’ve always wanted.

1. Use a gentle cleanser every morning and night to clean out your pores and purify your skin. Choose a hydrating cleansing formula that won’t dry your skin out and trigger it to produce more oil.
2. People with combination skin really need to exfoliate regularly so they can remove debris and excess oil from the pores. But be careful not to go overboard! Too much exfoliation can irritate and inflame the skin. When you first begin exfoliating, try to do it no more than once per week. You can slowly increase exfoliation sessions to up to three times per week if your skin tolerates that many.
3. When you have combination skin, your pores tend to be larger on your nose and forehead. Toners help to minimize shine while shrinking enlarged pores. Use a toner daily for best results.
4. Even though your skin feels oily, make sure your skin care routine for combination skin always includes moisturizer. You may want to use two separate moisturizers on your face: an oil-balancing one for the t-zone and a richer moisturizer on dry areas such as your cheeks. Apply moisturizer every single day after you cleanse.

Proper skin care for combination skin often involves lifestyle changes. There are certain habits that wreak havoc on the skin and should be avoided whenever possible. Here are a few of the top lifestyle changes we recommend if you want to achieve healthy, radiant skin.

• Minimize stress
• Avoid sun damage by protecting your sun whenever you’re outside
• Use an air purifier to improve the air inside your home
• Hydrate sufficiently
• Stop smoking
• Get adequate sleep every night
• Avoid taking lengthy, hot showers
• Develop a good skin care routine for combination skin
• Eat a healthy diet

The last thing on the list is one of the most important things you can do for your body and your skin. That’s why we’re giving the subject of nutrition its very own section.

What you put into your body affects how you look, feel and function. If you have significant skin problems, poor nutrition is probably at least one of the causes. To nurture your skin to its full potential, make sure you include the following in your diet:

• Fresh green vegetables
• Antioxidant-rich fruits (especially berries)
• Lean protein
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Limited carbohydrates, including quinoa, millet or brown rice

Whenever possible, avoid sweets and highly processed foods such as white breads, pastas and pastries. These types of foods are notoriously bad for combination skin and can lead to increased breakouts and oil production.

Combination skin care includes choosing makeup products that won’t clog your pores. Here are some of our top makeup recommendations to help you look stunning.

• Always cleanse first. Never begin applying makeup until after you’ve cleansed and moisturized your skin. You want a smooth, clean surface to work with.
• Use a color correct product. If you notice any blemishes or red areas on your skin, apply a color corrector product. It will help mask discolorations.
• Use the right foundation. Generally, it’s best to use a satin finish liquid foundation on combo skin. This type of foundation will help your dry cheeks blend in better with your t-zone. It will also help tone down the shininess in your t-zone.
• Use a matte powder. After you’ve applied your liquid foundation, you can create a finished look with a dusting of matte powder foundation. The matte look will help tone down your natural shine so your face has a seamless, unblemished appearance.
• Use oil blotters. Oil blotters can really come in handy when your face gets too shiny. Use them on your t-zone but not on your cheeks. In combination skin, the cheeks need all the moisture they can get.
• Accentuate your cheeks. Want to draw attention away from your oily spots? Bring attention to your cheeks with blush. Make sure you choose a color that complements your complexion, and blend well.
• Create focal points with your lips and eyes. Create dramatic lips or eyes to naturally draw attention towards them and away from problem areas.

Combination skin can be beautiful once you learn how to manage it. Follow this skin care routine for combination skin and see how quickly you notice a positive difference in the way your face looks and feels.