If your facial skin tends to be oily in the so-called T-zone, i.e. the forehead, nose and chin, and other parts of it are dry, you have combination skin. Its care is relatively difficult due to the combination of the features of two types of skin (oily and dry) and requires the use of cleansing and highly moisturizing cosmetics or those created specifically for combination skin.
Combination skin and the T zone
In combination skin, the T-zone causes the most problems, because it shines very much due to excess sebum production. It produces bothersome pimples and blackheads, and the pores are usually dilated. Dry skin fragments are the ones that feel unpleasantly tense right after washing your face (especially the cheeks, the skin near the wings of the nose, around the mouth).
They can be red, irritated and sometimes have an uncomfortable burning sensation. The main cause of mixed skin is a disturbance of the water-lipid balance in the epidermis.
Combination skin – treatments
There are a number of cosmetic treatments that are recommended for combination skin care. First of all, they are chemical peels with the use of appropriate acids in a special concentration. Chemical peels used in people with combination skin mainly use one of the alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) – glycolic acid obtained from sugar cane. Regularly performing treatments with acids will help regulate sebum secretion and make the pores visibly tightened and cleansed.
Another beneficial treatment is cavitation peeling (cavitation) that deeply cleanses the skin with a device that uses ultrasound. Any treatments with the use of sea algae (e.g. masks) will also work great. Treatments for combination skin should be selected in such a way as to normalize the oily parts of the skin and moisturize the dry ones. First of all, regularity and patience in care is recommended, because combination skin is very demanding.
A relatively new beauty hit is the use of appropriate oils to cleanse the face. However, many people who have combination skin are not convinced because they think that the skin will be even more oily, glowing and the pores will be clogged. Nothing could be more wrong. The key is to choose the right oil for the skin – the best ones are drying ones with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which will regulate the excessive secretion of sebum, soothe inflammation and even minimize the amount of blackheads. Raspberry seed, grape seed, black cumin, perilla, jojoba, linseed and hemp oils will work best. They are available on Medonet Market:
- raspberry hydrolate,
- perilla oil Oleiq,
- hemp seed oil for face, body and hair Oleiq.
However, you should avoid non-drying oils with comedogenic properties, e.g. coconut oil, olive oil. OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) consists in preparing a mixture of oils: in the case of combination skin, approx. 70% of base oil (one of the above-mentioned) and approx. 30% of castor oil, spread it on the hands and massage it into the skin of the face. Then a terry towel (or a clean, wet cloth) is placed on it, soaked in warm water. Repeat the steps 2 or 3 times and finally rinse your face with cold water to close the pores. Oil cleansing can also be used as a makeup remover.
Just after washing, you can dab a few drops of oil into wet skin or combine it with your favorite cream or hyaluronic acid. Not all oils will work as a moisturizer for combination skin makeup, so you can use the trial and error method.
Combination skin – cosmetics
There is a whole range of cosmetics for combination skin on the market. Their main task is to maintain the proper hydration of the skin, reduce its oily skin, and protect and regenerate skin areas exposed to dryness. For combination skin care, you should not use ordinary soap and alcohol-based cosmetics, which can dry out and irritate the skin. We absolutely do not squeeze out blackheads and pimples. It is advisable to use special non-drying normalizing gels or OCM.
Toning is also important. We recommend Bioherba Tonic Enchanted cleansing for oily and combination skin. During the day, it is worth using a matting cream, and in the evening, use a highly moisturizing or exfoliating cream. Creams should be rich in moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamins A, C and E, urea and oils suitable for combination skin. Additionally, their composition should include herbal extracts, amino acids, white clay and biotin.
It is worth remembering about the eye cream, because the skin in this area is extremely thin and delicate. Weekly fine-grained or enzymatic peels will also work well. Remember about the masks: cleansing in the T zone and nourishing and moisturizing the rest of the face. Year-round use of creams with UVA and UVB filters will bring many benefits to the skin.
Proper care for combination skin will help to keep sebum production in check, reduce unsightly enlarged pores, eliminate the feeling of dryness and ensure its healthy and beautiful appearance.
Does your skin need proper hydration? We recommend Embryolisse moisturizing serum, which has a light texture. It is intended for the care of all skin types. For normal and combination skin, it is also worth using Hydra-cream light Embryolisse – a light moisturizing face cream. In addition to moisturizing, the product also protects against the negative effects of factors such as stress or smog on the skin.