6 Dermatologist Tips for Combination Skin

2. Exfoliate (with caution)

Exfoliating can help to prevent your pores from becoming clogged by excess oil, making it a go-to skin care routine step for anyone with combination skin. However, it’s important to remember that exfoliation can irritate dry skin, so those with combination skin should opt for the gentlest possible exfoliants. 

Dermatologists recommend exfoliating every other day at most for combination skin (even with a konjac sponge) in order to avoid over-exfoliating. If you’re opting for a traditional exfoliating scrub, cut that frequency in half (1-2 times per week max). 

3. Correct Oily Areas with Blotting Pads

Using blotting pads to absorb excess oil throughout the day is a dermatologist-approved way to keep oil-prone areas of your skin looking fresh and matte all day long, without irritating dry patches. Opt for blotting wipes with as few ingredients as possible, to prevent from disturbing your skin’s natural lipid levels. 

4. Shop for a Non-Drying Face Mask with Salicylic Acid

Dermatologists recommend salicylic acid as an ingredient for taming oily skin. Salicylic acid can help to clear your pores of excess oil, preventing blemishes from forming. It’s an ideal face mask ingredient, because masking will give the salicylic acid more time to penetrate your skin and work its magic. We feature it in our Tea Tree Deep Detox Masks, as one of a variety of plant-derived ingredients that works hard to tame oiliness and blemishes. 

However, it’s also important not to overdry or irritate combination type skin, so we recommend seeking out a face mask that pairs oil-taming salicylic acid with hydrating botanicals. This helps to keep dry skin quenched and happy, while preventing oil overproduction. We recommend using a face mask two or three times per week, as a booster to your regular skin care routine.  

5. Mix and Match Your Moisturisers (or find a multi-tasking one)

For combination skin, some dermatologists recommend using two different moisturisers to treat your separate skin woes. The Derm Review suggests treating dry skin areas with an emollient-rich moisturiser, while treating oily skin areas with a moisturiser that contains blemish-fighting ingredients. The emollient-rich moisturiser will help to bolster your skin’s lipid barrier and lock in moisture, while the blemish-fighting moisturiser will keep your skin hydrated while helping to prevent oil imbalance. 

You could also look for a two-in-one moisturiser that works for both oily and dry skin areas. We love our Hydra Drench Cream because it’s packed with beneficial ingredients for both oily and dry skin: chia seed gel and hyaluronic acid lock in lasting moisture, while rose water and bergamot oil tone skin and soothe blemishes. 

Our Green Tea Concentrate Cream is another multitasked for combination skin types. This medium weight moisturiser is light enough to balance oily areas thanks to yerba mate water, and rich enough to soothe dry patches with olive squalane and acai butter. Green tea oil is an incredibly balanced oil, with potent antioxidant content that’s a saviour for any skin type. 

6. Prep Your Skin in the AM with a Mattifying Primer

Dermatologists also recommend using a mattifying primer during your daily beauty routine. By priming your skin, you’ll help to prevent your makeup from becoming oily and shiny throughout the day. Combination skin types tend to suffer from makeup slippage around the nose, chin, and forehead — but there’s no need to risk a bad makeup day! 

Our Mattifying Primer features aloe, seaweed collagen, and rice starch to keep your skin looking plump, hydrated, and mattified throughout the day. Better yet, it’ll also fill in fine lines and help to even out the appearance of rough skin texture. For bonus points, try pairing it with our Bamboo Blur Powder on your oil-prone t-zone for a poreless, mattified look that will last all day long.