Combination skin types can be fairly complicated. Besides the fact that it means your skin type could be a combination of two different skin types, what happens when it’s three? Or four? All it means is that your skincare routine becomes way more complicated. You need to figure out what works on your skin and just the slightest irritation could cause a snowball effect. Sometimes, combination skin types don’t even make sense. Like, if you have oily AND dry skin, we bet you’re constantly asking your skin why. Why did this combination even happen! If you don’t already know, combination skin types usually have different concerns about different parts of their face. For example, you could have an oily T-zone, but dry as hell checks. Different concerns call for different solutions and that’s where Beauty Insider comes in! Check out these few products that’ll be perfect for your skin. 

What Causes Combination Skin?

More often than not, combination skin tends to consist of an oily T-zone and dry cheeks. Besides the contributing factor of your gene pool, you may also have wrinkles or even spots that are prone to rosacea. Skincare products can sometimes also be the culprit behind the cause of combination skin. Irritating ingredients can encourage the production of sebum and a rich cream can also make your skin oily. That is why skincare is such an important part of our routine. Sometimes, it’s also best to use different skincare products for different areas of the skin. Climate and environment can also cause your skin type to change, so make sure you cater to the changings as well.  

How to Care for the Different Areas

So, on dry areas of your skin, you should opt for a cream or lotion moisturising product. If the area is only slightly oily, go for a gel or lotion moisturiser. For areas that are super duper oily, it’s best to just dab on some toner to keep it moisturised. Makeup wise, you should be using a foundation with a matte finish if you have both dry and oily areas of skin. To even it out with the oily areas, apply some moisturiser on the dry areas first before applying foundation. If your undereyes are quite dry, try using a face cream that is rich. But on your oily areas, avoid using these rich products as they can make them appear oilier. 

Which Products to Choose?

When you have a combination skin type, it’s always best to use skincare products that are mild and consist of antioxidants. Besides that, look for ingredients that can help heal, calm and soothe the skin! To ensure that antioxidants and oxygen-sensitive ingredients are kept stable, look for products that have packages that are lightproof and airtight. If you see any products that contain fragrance or alcohol, stay away from them! These ingredients can irritate the skin and dry it out. A mild and gentle face wash is the best choice to cleanse your face without stripping it too much. When choosing a moisturiser, always go for a lotion or gel consistency. 

Best Products for Combination Skin

This is where we part ways. Of course, we mean that we’ll now share with you a couple of skincare products that could be right for your combination skin. Starting from cleanser all the way to sunscreen. 

Cleanser

1. Paula’s Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser

This is the perfect gentle cleanser that gets you through the day. Paula’s Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser has the benefit to help balance your skin’s moisture while removing all the excess oil, impurities and makeup! As it cleanses your skin gently, it also does a thorough job. The cushioned foam also helps protect your skin and repairing ingredients help repair your skin. 

Price: $37.00

Where to buy: Paula’s Choice

2. RéVive Foaming Cleanser and Enriched Hydrating Wash

Foaming cleansers are also a great choice for those with combination skin types. The RéVive Foaming Cleanser and Enriched Hydrating Wash although has a rich consistency, it has garnered positive reviews that it made people’s skin feel soft and clean! Its formula also contains vitamin E and green tea to help repair damage caused by free radicals. But, this cleanser does contain fragrance, so purchase at your own risk! 

Price: $124.18

Where to buy: Cosmetics Now

Toner

1. Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion

The Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion is great for combination skin because it contains up to 5 types of hyaluronic acid! Besides that, it also contains urea and ingredients that help retain the moisture in your skin. Don’t you worry, this toner is fragrance-free, mineral oil-free and alcohol-free. Thus, it can help hydrate your skin without leaving an oily residue.  

Price: $24.90

Where to buy: Watsons 

2. Care Soft Sweep Micellar Cleanser and Toner

We bet that you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you find out that the Care Soft Sweep Micellar is both a cleanser and toner! A 2-in-1 product to solve all your needs. With an award-winning formula, it contains both hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help hydrate your skin. Free from alcohol, it also doubles as a light exfoliator with the presence of willow bark extract. Therefore, you’ll be able to achieve bright and radiant skin! 

Price: $32.35

Where to buy: Care Skincare

Moisturiser

1. Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture for Combination Skin

combination skin

Clinically proven, the Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture for Combination Skin is here to help normalise combination skin. It has the benefit to help moisturise the dry areas of skin while controlling the shine on oily areas of the skin. Thus, you can achieve smoother and softer skin. Besides being a lightweight moisturiser, it also has a formula that is not greasy at all! With an oil-absorbing MICROSPONGE(R) system, it helps give you a natural and matte finish for the whole day. 

Price: $19.90

Where to buy: Watsons 

2. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

credits to Kiehl's website

Many people love Kiehl’s and combination skin types will love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream even more! The whipped and thick texture of this new formula manages to keep it skin-friendly with ingredients such as squalane and glycerin. As well as being lightweight, its formula is also never greasy and even includes salicylic acid to help fight acne! 

Price: $54.00

Where to buy: Kiehl’s 

Exfoliant

1. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

combination skin

As one of our Beauty Awards Winner of 2021, we believe that Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid is a complete blessing! Besides that, BHA is also great for those that suffer from acne as it penetrates deep into your skin. Since they are oil-soluble, it allows them to help clean up debris stuck in your pores! Don’t underestimate the little 2% as it is gentle enough even for dry areas of the skin and it can be super effective as well. Since it also helps get rid of all the dead skin cells laying on the surface of your skin, it can help reveal a brighter complexion. 

Price: $45.00

Where to buy: Paula’s Choice

2. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

combination skin

The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant has a rice-based enzyme powder alongside botanical brightening complexes to give your skin an instantly smoother and brighter complexion. It has the benefit to help microfoliate all that dull debris left on your skin. Besides that, it also has the benefit to help balance uneven skin tones, while the presence of allantoin and colloidal oatmeal help soothe and calm the skin. 

Price: $103.00

Where to buy: Sephora

Sunscreen

1. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF 50

combination skin

Another popular brand, the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF 50 is a non-comedogenic sunscreen. This means it won’t clog up your pores! Thus, making it an ideal sunscreen for those with acne-prone and sensitive skin. With the help of ingredients that are incredibly hydrating like royal jelly extract and hyaluronic acid, it moisturisers dry areas of the skin. Since it has a formula that is lightweight and watery, it absorbs fast into your skin too!

Price: $15.10

Where to buy: Watsons

2. Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

combination skin

The Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 is zinc-oxide based and helps deflect UVA & UVB rays which can be harmful to the skin. What’s more, is that it isn’t like other mineral sunscreens which make your skin look awfully pale. With just a small amount, you can work this sunscreen into your skin for the best coverage! 

Price: $52.57

Where to buy: Beauty Counter