Combination skin is one of the most common skin types and is identified as a combination of oily and dry patches of skin on the same surface. You can tell if you have combination skin by checking your T-zone, feeling for dryness or oiliness, or by looking to see if your skin is shiny or dull.
Combination Skin is characterized by having oily areas, usually in the T-zone, and dry or normal areas on the cheeks and jawline. The T-zone may exhibit shine and have enlarged pores, while the other areas may feel relatively normal or dry.
If it has a shiny appearance with oil on your face, it's oily. If you have oil on the t-zone and dryness on the cheeks, it's a combination. If your skin feels inflamed or itchy, you have sensitive skin. Lastly and fortunately, if you feel none of the above and your skin feels at ease, you have normal skin.
What causes combination skin? A variety of factors can trigger combination skin, but often it comes down to the luck of the draw in terms of what you inherited from your parents. Seasonal climate changes may also factor in and the types of skin care products you're using can absolutely exacerbate combination skin (1).
You may have noticed some areas of your face produce more oil than others. Meanwhile, you also could have dry patches to contend with. If this is you, then you likely have combination skin. Not to fret, combination skin isn't anything to be concerned about — a combination skin type is actually quite common.
Excess sebum can also clog your pores, which is why oily skin tends to be prone to large pores, blackheads, and other types of acne blemishes.
Cetaphil's everyday cleanser is backed by dermatologists including Dr. Shokeen. "I recommend this cleanser for combination skin because it is a gentle, non-irritating formula that effectively removes excess oil and impurities without stripping the skin," the expert says.
Combination skin is oily and dry. It's essentially a mix of different skin types on different areas of the face. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) tends to be oilier, while the cheeks and other areas may be normal or dry.
Understanding the complex skin type. Did you know that 65 percent of people have combination skin, making it the most common skin type?
If normal skin is the easiest to take care of, combination skin can be the most difficult. While the skin itself isn't anything extreme to manage, providing the different areas of the skin with the specific ingredients it needs can be challenging. It's all about balance.
The most prevalent fatty acid in sebum, sapienic acid (16:1, n10), is significantly higher in African Americans and correlated with the higher sebum output in that ethnic group.
Average skin colors are seen as most attractive. Typically, tan is the average skin color, making it very attractive to most people. However, the most attractive skin color varies on preference, culture, and sex. A healthy skin complexion and rosy “glow” is always considered attractive.
Someone with combination skin may have dry cheeks but an oily forehead. If your skin is oily to the touch and you feel textured blemishes and uneven skin texture caused by enlarged pores, then you've located oily skin. If you notice patches of both types on your face, then you may have combination skin.
For combination skin, choose our oil-free, Ultra-Light Facial Moisturizing Lotion. It's formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and it includes a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to help protect from UVA and UVB rays that can lead to sun damage, dry skin, premature signs of aging and skin cancer.
“Double cleansing means cleansing your face twice, first with an oil-based product and then followed by a water-based cleanser,” explains Dr. Wu. The first step of using an oil-based cleanser is helpful when it comes to removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen.
Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. Our testers were very charmed by the thick, whipped texture of the relaunched Ultra Facial Cream from Kiehl's. The new formula nixes the parabens, but keeps a skin-friendly blend of superstar oils like squalane oil and hydrators like glycerin.
This skin type, known as combination skin, tends to have oily patches in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) but is drier in other areas like the cheeks and jawline. Combination skin types may also notice that the center of their forehead is oilier while the outer areas feel a bit drier.
However, myths abound when it comes to who can and cannot use skincare products containing retinol. Whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive or combination, you can still harness the anti-ageing, blemish-fighting prowess of this star skincare ingredient.