Skincare Routine for Combination Skin
If you notice areas of skin that are dry while other areas are oily, you may have what’s known as combination skin. Balancing between two skin types is tricky, but there are ways to maintain it.
Finding the right routine and products is crucial in managing combination skin. The more you understand the patterns of your skin, the easier it’ll be to keep it looking healthy.
What is Combination Skin?
Combination skin is a mixture of skin types including oily, dry, and balanced. While many people find that their entire face is often oily or dry and look specifically for products to treat that skin type, those with combination skin will find both oily and dry areas. Often, your t-zone may be oily and feel greasy, while your cheeks are dry and rough.
For those with combination skin, you may notice trends that occur on your skin, but you may also find your skin to be very unpredictable. One day you wake up with oily skin in the place it used to be dry and vice versa.
This can be hard to manage for many people because it’s difficult to know which skin care product to use when your skin keeps switching up the game.
What Causes Combination Skin?
Understanding the causes is the first step to maintenance. You may find that your combination skin is a result of lifestyle or environmental factors that can be changed, but you may find that your combination skin is something you’ll be dealing with lifelong. Therefore, it’s important to find the right treatments and products now to ensure healthy skin for life.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors include aspects that cause combination skin that can be changed. Look for signs of your skin changing in regard to the weather, humidity levels, and hormonal changes.
Another cause of combination skin is skincare products. Some skin care products contain harsh ingredients that dehydrate parts of the face while also stimulating excess oil production in other areas.
Be sure to check the ingredients in your current skincare products. Consider switching to a product that is gentler on the skin and known to treat combination skin, such as some of the recommended products in this article.
Genetic Factors
Genetics plays a large role in determining skin type, so check with your parents to see what type they have.
You may find that you got it from them. If your grandparents or parents dealt with the constant battle of combination skin, that’s probably why you do as well. Unfortunately, this may be a life-long skin type, so it’s important to figure out the best skincare routine now.
Skincare Ladder for Combination Skin
The Japanese beauty skincare ladder is a multi-step process that should be performed daily. This routine ensures beautiful, healthy skin that will stay youthful looking even into your older years.
Each person has their own skincare needs that require unique products but for this article, we’ll be focusing on the skincare ladder for those with combination skin. Follow these steps and soon your skin will look better than ever!
Step 1: Cleansing - Makeup Removal
Cleansing is a crucial step in the skincare routine, as your skin is constantly attacked by pollutants throughout the day.
The routine begins by washing off makeup, and this step is usually performed at night before sleeping. It’s important to remove makeup at the end of each day or else the chemicals and ingredients will suffocate your skin and clog your pores.
Choose a quality make-up remover. A cream or oil-based makeup remover is recommended for most people since it can effectively break down makeup, oil, and other debris from deep within your pores.
For those with combination skin, it’s important to find a remover that won’t dry your skin but also won’t make your skin oilier. You may want to look at cream makeup removers and stay away from oil-based ones.
Recommended product:
WHITE ICHIGO Organic Tech-Cleansing
This makeup remover is a thicker cream, perfect for those with combination skin that leans towards the drier side. The cream turns from a thicker consistency to an oilier texture once on your skin. When applied, the cleanser breaks down makeup, SPF, and dirt from your skin while cleaning pores, evening out skin tone, and strengthening skin cells.
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Step 2: Cleansing - Washing
The second step in cleansing includes applying a mild cleanser that isn’t harsh on your skin. This step is different from makeup removal because it cleans any excess dirt, makeup, and pollutants that were left behind from the first step.
Cold temperatures, wind, and heat are all factors that can damage your skin if not dealt with. UV radiation, exhaust gases, and dust are also things that destroy the epidermis and accelerate the aging process by dehydrating your skin, resulting in loss of elasticity and wrinkles.
Your skin type will determine the texture of the cleanser (gel, cream, or foam), so for your combination skin, you’ll benefit most from a medium cleanser that applies and holds moisture without causing your skin to produce more oil. Creams that are infused with moisture are better for drier skin, so those with combination skin should go for foam or gel.
Recommended product:
NOA NOA LUXE Medicated Cleansing Gel
The NOA NOA LUXE Cleansing Gel can be used to remove makeup while cleaning pores and preventing acne-causing bacteria. The gel helps remove microparticles from the skin and excess sebum, which helps with the oily parts of the skin. It also includes Vitamins C, E, and D, which moisturize dry skin. This mixture of ingredients is great for those with combination skin.
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Step 3: Moisturizing with Lotion/Applying Toner
Using a lotion or toner is necessary to maintain the elasticity and firmness of the outer layers of your skin. You can choose either one or both. Lotions and toners prepare your skin by softening the outer layer and allowing serums (step 4) and moisturizers (step 5) to absorb into your skin.
They also help balance your skin’s pH and strengthen the protective barrier. For your combination skin, you’ll want to find an alcohol-free formula to avoid drying out your skin. You’ll also need to look for something that retains moisture without being oily.
Recommended product:
LIOVERITE Balance Control Lotion
LIOVERITE skincare is a skincare line that was created in a collaboration between Japan and France. This lotion is perfect for restoring the natural balance of your skin, resulting in skin that’s not too oily but not too dry. It eliminates excess sebum while still helping to retain moisture. The lotion locks in hydration for a soft feel but won’t leave behind unwanted residues.
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Step 4: Serum/Essence
Serums and essences are next up on the skincare ladder, formulated to penetrate the deep layers of your skin and provide beneficial vitamins and nutrients. They are water-based, but consist of a high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, and peptides. These powerful skin-magicians work to reduce pigmentation, acne, blackheads, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and uneven tone.
For your combination skin, we recommended finding a serum that isn’t drying nor stimulates the production of sebum-producing glands. This is also a good time to target certain areas of your skin or problems you’re experiencing. We recommend starting with a serum designed for combination skin and using it on your entire face.
Alternatively, some people prefer to use a serum designed for dry skin specifically on the dry parts of their face while using a serum for oily skin on the oily areas. You’ll find serums made for a range of different purposes, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, or moisturizing.
Recommended products:
AXXZIA Beauty Force Prime Serum A1 with Silk Sericin Extract
The AXXZIA Serum is made to moisturize your skin and protect it against inflammation and UV radiation. It gives skin a healthy glow and includes many natural and beneficial ingredients such as damask rose, pomegranate extract, and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which is a derivative of vitamin C. The reason we love this serum for combination skin is the VC7 EVO formula which balances the production of sebum (skin oil) meaning over time your skin will normalize.
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Step 5: Sealing with Cream
Using cream or moisturizer is important to seal in the nutrients and ingredients from the previous steps. It helps keep in the beneficial vitamins and nutrients and stops the moisture from evaporating. Think of it as a “lid” for your skincare routine. It also soothes the skin and makes it soft and smooth.
For your combination skin, we recommend using a lighter cream or applying it only to the areas of dry skin. Don’t add too much extra moisture to areas that are already oily. The lighter cream will still add the “lid” effect to retain moisture and hold in the nutrients, while not being too much for already oily skin.
Recommended product:
LIOVERITE Balance Control Cream
The LIOVERITE Balance Control Cream is from the LIOVERTE skincare line, a collaboration between Japan and France. This cream uses squalane to incorporate molecules into the lipid layer of your skin and strengthen it, preventing the loss of moisture. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid penetrates the deep layers of your skin, stimulating collagen production and moisturizing. This cream works well for combination skin because it moisturizes without making your skin oily.
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Step 6: SPF (Morning Routine Only)
This step is very important for the morning routine because it prepares your skin for UV radiation throughout the rest of the day. Spending time in the sun, no matter your skin type puts you at risk of sun damage. Applying SPF protects your skin from the sun, keeping your skin elastic and healthy in the long run.
People with combination skin types won’t have to worry too much about finding the perfect product for their skin, because many SPFs are generalized or included in makeup. As long as your makeup fits your skin type, you can find makeup with SPF included.
However, most makeup won’t provide the full-spectrum protection needed to prevent premature aging and hyperpigmentation. That’s why we recommend applying SPF under your makeup to protect your skin from all forms of UV radiation.
Recommended products:
AXXZIA Beauty Force UV Alpha SPF 50+
This product is a reliable skincare sunscreen that provides powerful UV protection. AXXIA have combined advanced technologies into this product through much research and testing. As result, this sunscreen provides 3 types of solar protection: UV rays, near-infrared rays, and blue light. It also leaves no white residue or feeling of heaviness. This SPF is made for all types of skin.
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Step 7: Face Mask
Using a face mask is the final step in this thorough skincare routine, and often many people’s favorite. Sit back and relax with a mask that is designed to soothe your skin, calm irritation or inflammation, hydrate dry skin, and remove excess oil. Face masks are great for all people and any skin type, but certain masks offer targeted benefits.
If you have combination skin, it’s suggested to look for face masks that unclog pores and remove excess oil, while providing hydrating effects for dry skin. There are many great options out there, and many masks also include benefits such as helping with acne and fine lines.
Recommended products:
AXXZIA Beauty Force Airy Face Mask (1 pc)
This beauty face mask is made with a combination of textures and ingredients that benefit your skin and bring rejuvenation. The mask uses a combination of cotton silk, which is light and soft on your skin. The natural hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract moisturize your skin and smooth wrinkles, which is great for drier areas. It doesn’t make your skin oily though, which makes it perfect for combination skin.
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View AXXZIA Beauty Force Airy Face Mask (1 pc)
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Final thoughts
Sticking to a thorough skincare routine with quality products is the best thing you can do for your skin to keep it youthful and healthy. Combination skin can be frustrating, but by following the skincare routine we’ve provided and using the products we’ve recommended, you’ll find that managing combination skin is much simpler than you may have expected.
If you have further questions or concerns about the skincare ladder or products for combination skin, please contact our support team in the chat. We want your skin to be the best it can be, so we look forward to helping you throughout your skincare journey!
