Do you have skin that has some dry patches? And maybe there are some oily areas across your forehead or nose. Some parts get irritated and dry, while other parts are greasy? You likely have combination skin.
This can be a challenging type of skin to have. You have special requirements for different parts of your face, making it less likely you can find a one-size-fits-all solution. But there is a routine that will work for you; it’s just a matter of finding it—and the products that assist in clear, even, and calm skin.
What is Combination Skin?
Do a quick test—wash your face and don’t apply any toner, moisturizer, or other product. After an hour, take note of what your skin looks and feels like. Are some parts, like your cheeks, dry, irritated, and red? Are some parts oily, most likely your nose, forehead, and chin (your T-zone)? If this is the case, then you could have combination skin.
Your oil-producing glands are concentrated in your T-zone, which explains the oiliness in those areas. Then, you may find your nose and chin look dull and rough because of a build-up of dead skin cells. This can present as flakiness too. Then, the skin around your eyes can be drier and more delicate than the rest of your face. Finally, your skin can also have breakouts and dry patches.
Don’t confuse oily skin with combination skin; they are two different types.
Combination skin has oily areas, and oily skin has all-over oiliness. While it’s common for people to mix these two skin types up, they are different and need different skin products to treat them effectively. Combination skin feels like you have two completely different types of skin. If you treat excessively oily parts, your dry areas become tight and scaly, and if you use a rich moisturizer, your oily skin because greasy and more prone to breakouts and blackheads.
Building a skincare regime for combination skin does take a bit of patience and some trial and error, but you will be able to find a solution. Tailor a solution to your skin, because just like you, it’s one of a kind.
Step One: Gentle Cleanser
While it’s tempting to use a cleanser that foams and fluffs up and leaves your skin squeaky clean, it’s going to result in your dry skin is drier, and your oilier skin producing excessive oil to counteract the drying effects. So instead, be gentle.
Use a cream cleanser twice a day- once in the morning to remove the grease from your night’s sleep, and once at night to remove the pollutants and grime from your day. You want to find a cleanser that mattifies your oily areas but doesn’t dry out other parts of your skin. See Okana’s natural skincare product range.Â
Step Two: Exfoliate
Once again, there’s a delicate balance for exfoliation; do it too often, and you’ll damage the dry areas of skin, don’t do it enough and those blackheads and clogged skin will pop up over your T-zone. Try exfoliating once or twice a week, using a gentle exfoliator that doesn’t damage or scratch your surface. It should help to remove dead skin cells, brightening, and clarifying the appearance of your skin.
Step Three: Moisturise
A moisturizer is a must, even for super oily skin. It helps to balance out your skin. Try an oil-free moisturizer that doesn’t add more grease to your t-zone. If you find that’s not enough for the dry areas on your face, then consider having a more luxurious formulation for the cheeks, neck, and other drier areas.
Step Four: Don’t Touch Your Face
Touching your face transfers dirt and bacteria to your face. That helps to create clogged pores. Don’t do it.
Step Five: A Skin-Balancing Act
A toner helps to prepare the skin for moisturizer, it calms the irritated parts, and it keeps the oil at bay. Don’t use an alcohol-based toner; it merely will dry out everything. While the astringent feeling might be nice initially, it won’t help in the long term. A natural, vitamin-rich toner will help to even things out.
Step Six: Soak up the Oil
Don’t touch your face, unless it’s with blotting papers. You can get these from many supermarkets or makeup brands, and they simply absorb excess oil without smudging your makeup—a great tool to slide into your handbag or pocket to keep you looking fresh.
Step Seven: Sunscreen is a Must
The sun damages your skin. It leaves you vulnerable to signs of aging and can cause skin cancer. Find a sunscreen that you can use that doesn’t make you feel like a greasy mess, and then wear it every day. A zinc-based cream rather than a chemical barrier cream may be more effective.
Step Eight: Face Masks are a Treat for Your Skin
Because your skin is unique, you can create a tailor-made solution for it. Multi-masking is using different masks in different areas; a moisturizing mask in some areas, and a clarifying oil -reducing mask in others. Check out natural solutions too, consider papaya on your oily areas.
Step Nine: The Eyes Need Attention Too
Even if your skin is perfect, the eye area is delicate and requires extra care. Find a super gentle eye cream that helps to treat your eye problems—whether that’s dark under-eye circles, fine lines, and wrinkles, or puffy bags.
Step Ten: Enjoy Your Beautiful Skin
There will be good days and bad days, but with a little bit of TLC, the good should outweigh the bad. Skin is constantly changing as we age, so what worked yesterday may no longer be useful in a year. Once you’ve figured out your perfect routine, keep an eye on how your skin feels and make changes as you need for gorgeous, healthy skin that glows. For more information and advice and a range of natural skincare products, visit Okana Natural Skincare.
