HOW DOES COMBINATION SKIN LOOK LIKE?

Combination skin is actually the most common skin type there is. It is a hybrid between dry and oily skin types, where some areas of your face are drier, usually the cheeks, and others oilier. The oily area will most likely be found in what is called the “T-zone” which includes the forehead, the nose, and the chin. Therefore, the production of sebum will be below average in most of the face and above average in the T-zone. When taking care of this skin type, both skin types, dry and oily, should be taken into consideration. 

If you have combination skin, you might have noticed the following: 

/ Visibly larger pores on the nose 

/ Shiny skin on the T-zone 

/ Some blackheads and/or whiteheads 

/ Dry patches and acne breakouts, possibly at the same time 

/ Level of oiliness varies depending on weather and/or hormonal cycles 

/ Possibly flaky hairline and/or dandruff 

WHAT CAUSES COMBINATION SKIN?

There can be several factors that contribute to the type of skin we have: 

/ Genetics. Generally, your skin type is determined by your genes and doesn’t change over your lifetime. If one or both of your parents had combination skin themselves, you are likely to have it too. 

/ Hormones. Hormones affect the activity of our sebaceous glands, which are the glands that produce sebum, or oil in our skin. This means that your T-zone can be overly oily in your teenage years and get less oily with age. Hormone treatments, like contraceptives, can in some cases balance out combination skin.

/ Unsuitable skincare routine. Even if your skincare routine cannot change the skin type you are born with, wrong products can exacerbate skin conditions. In the case of combination skin, we often see people using too harsh products to treat the oiliness of their T-zone, which in turn leads to over-drying of the dryer areas, as well as over-production of oil in the T-zone.  

/ Eating habits. Food is directly linked to our hormonal balance, which in turn impacts the amount of oiliness and inflammation in our skin. For example, a diet heavy in dairy, sugar, carbs, and saturated fats can cause the skin to over-produce oil and breakout. Skin dryness can also be exacerbated by diet. For example, overconsumption of alcohol and caffeine combined with very little water consumption can dehydrate the skin. 

The overriding goal with combination skin is to help the skin find a healthy balance between sebum production (oil) and overall hydration (water content). Adopting the right skincare routine to address both oiliness and dryness, is a key step in this process. In order for the skincare products to work optimally, however, it is important to ensure you are doing your best to first balance your body inside-out. So before getting to our best skincare advice for combination skin, let’s review some lifestyle tips that can help you attain your best skin. 

7 LIFESTYLE TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU MANAGE COMBINATION SKIN

1. Exercise regularly. Exercise is beneficial for every type of skin, but it is especially true in the case of combination or oily skin. When you work out, your blood circulation increases, and this helps bring nutrients to the skin cells and carry away waste products including free radicals. The result is more balanced and vital skin. 
2. Reduce your stress level. Sebaceous glands, which produce oil in the skin, are influenced by stress hormones, and we also know stress can worsen skin conditions like acne and eczema. Try to incorporate some stress-reducing habits into your everyday life like a morning mediation, an after-work yoga or just a mindful walk in nature. 
3. Eat a balanced diet. People with combination skin should try to follow a very well-balanced diet that can both hydrate dry skin from within as well as prevent breakouts. Follow a diet consisting predominantly of lean protein, fresh greens, and antioxidant-rich fruit. In addition to that, try to limit carbohydrates to those that have a low-glycemic index, such as soy products, beans, fruit, milk, pasta, grainy bread, oats, and lentils.. Drinking enough water is also important for balancing skin. Aim for sixty-four ounces of water per day. 
4. Include greens in your morning routine. The green pigment in plants and vegetables comes from chlorophyll. Its main function in plants is to trap sunlight and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. In humans, chlorophyll can amplify oxygen supply to tissues and skin, and clear away impurities. If you are nor sure your daily diet contains enough vegetables rich in chlorophyll, you can add liquid chlorophyll into a green smoothie or a glass of water in the morning to help your skin stay clear and radiant. 
5. Avoid touching your face. As your skin type is prone to breakouts, touching your face will increase the chance of spreading bacteria on your already reactive skin. Therefore, do not touch your face if it is not necessary, and try to wash your hand as regularly as possible.  
6. Be careful of the temperature of the water. Although washing your face with very warm water might feel like a good idea when you are battling an oily T-zone, it’s not. Hot water will ruin the protective barrier of your skin, dry out your drier areas even more, as well as aggravate your T-zone. Therefore, always use luke warm water when rinsing your face, and try to lower the temperature of your showers and baths as well. 
7. Do not underestimate the importance of sunscreen.  Regardless of their skin type, everyone should wear sunscreen daily to prevent aging and sun damage. However, combination skin is particularly reactive to external environmental stress factors like UV light and heat, which can worsen sebum production. Wearing a mineral sunscreen every day and reapplying it regularly is a perfect way to provide your skin with a physical shield against heat and UV damage. 

Now that you are on your way to a more skin-balancing lifestyle, let’s get to know the skincare ingredients that are the most beneficial for your skin type. As previously said, combination skin needs to be understood as a mix of two skin types: dry and oily. The perfect blend of ingredients will therefore be the one that is beneficial for both: hydrating for the dry parts and regulating for the oily parts. 

Below you will find a list of combination skin-friendly ingredients used in NUORI products. 

6 NATURAL INGREDIENTS THAT WORK WELL FOR COMBINATION SKIN:

/ Hyaluronic acid. This ingredient is mainly known for its wrinkle-plumping, anti-aging effect, but its benefits go well beyond that. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has high moisturizing properties and since it is naturally present in your body, it’s a safe, biocompatible skincare ingredient when used in a natural variant, as NUORI does. For combination skin, Hyaluronic Acid will help ensure moisture retention in the dryer parts and will help prevent irritation or dry patches. And more importantly, HA won’t increase the oiliness of your T-zone, which makes it the perfect fit for your skin type.  

/ Vitamin C. This vitamin has proven antioxidant effects that help your skin repair the damages caused by free radicals. Using products that contain vitamin C is essential when you have combination skin, as its action will bring balance to your skin and will harmonize its tone.  

/ Aloe Vera. The juice used in cosmetics is extracted from the leaf of the plant. Aloe Vera has been used for centuries in skincare, as it presents numerous advantages for every skin type. It helps reduce the irritation and inflammation caused by dry skin, while its astringent properties will help absorb the excess of oil in your T-zone. It is also a non-comedogenic ingredient, meaning that it won’t clog your pores, which is one of the main concerns of oily skin. 

/ Jojoba oil. This is is the perfect regulator for combination skin. With a high similarity to the oil our skin naturally produces, jojoba oil will help balance out the skin’s own sebum production. Adding jojoba oil to the oily parts of your skin will signal to the sebaceous glands that there is already enough oil present and no more is needed. Simultaneously, it will add that highly needed nourishment that your dryer arias might be lacking

/ Oat Kernel Extract. This ingredient has endless benefits: it has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, moisturizing, and antioxidant effects. It tackles all the concerns of your combination skin in one.  

/ Zinc. Natural zinc is not only an effective natural sunscreen agent but also a skin soother and mattifier. When you have combination skin, mattifying is a crucial step, as it will help unify the more oily and dry areas into a well-balanced look.  

THE 4-STEP SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR COMBINATION SKIN

Here we have put together the perfect NUORI routine from natural beauty products to ensure that your combination skin gets the balanced care that it needs. Follow these four simple steps for best results: 

Step 1 - Cleanse  

Vital Foaming Cleanser contains natural fruit acids derived from fermented pomegranate enzyme and radish root extract. With the help of these gentle acids, this cleanser will gently dissolve all impurities and will help keep the T-zone pores unclogged without irritating the dry parts of your face. The oat kernel extract soothes the skin, and botanical glycerin brings extra hydration for a smooth, glowing result. 

For a deep cleanse every now and then, you should do a gentle exfoliation. Supreme Polishing Treatment removes impurities and lifts away dead skin cells without damaging the skin barrier or causing irritation. This product is perfect for combination skin as you can adjust the level of exfoliation your skin needs, using a bit more Powder Booster in your T-zone and a bit less on your cheeks.  

For a deeper cleanse, you should do a gentle exfoliation. Gentle Glow Tonic  removes impurities and lifts away dead skin cells without damaging the skin barrier or causing irritation. This product is perfect for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

Step 2 - Treat 

Infinity Bio-Fusion A+ Serum works very well for combination skin, as its formula contains the first true natural alternative to retinol derived from bakuchiol. This highly advanced serum addresses the needs of both oily and dry skin. It will visibly reduce signs of dryness, enlarged pores and will help prevent impurities. 

Step 3 - Hydrate 

Vital Facial Cream is suitable for all skin types but has been formulated with a strong focus on combination skin. This easily absorbed, yet highly hydrating day cream contains a split-form of natural hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, while jojoba oil and squalene help regulate sebum levels and keep skin balanced. Lightly tap this cream on your skin for a semi-mattified, primer-like finish.  

Step 4 - Protect 

Mineral Defence Sunscreen Face is the perfect SPF for combination skin. The new generation, non-nano zinc present in our Mineral SPF offers all-natural protection against both UVA and UVB. It will help regulate the sebum production of your T-zone and give a mattified result, while light plant oils will keep your skin hydrated. 

PRO TIP FROM THE NUORI SKINCARE SPECIALIST

“I recommend leaving the Vital Foaming Cleanser on your skin for few minutes. This will help enhance its effect, making sure you gently exfoliate and get rid of the smallest impurities.” - 

Blerta, NUORI skincare specialist 

Not sure if you have combination skin? Take the skincare quiz here.