The Do’s and Don’ts For Combination Skin: Part 1
Once you have identified your skin type as combination, figuring out what to do about it can be confusing. For guidance, read over these do’s and don’ts for combination skin to achieve the balanced, clear skin you’ve always wanted.
Do’s:
Use Humectants:
A humectant is a skincare ingredient that brings water to the skin (as opposed to oil). Humectants soften, plump, and hydrate, in addition to repairing and strengthening our skin’s natural barrier function. By drawing water to the skin’s surface, humectants calm overactive sebaceous glands down and reduce oily skin. They also hydrate dry, tight, and flaky areas. They do all of this without clogging the pores in the t-zone and without nourishing and hydrating the u-zone. Humectant ingredients include hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, honey, and glycerin.
Adjust Products According to Season:
While all skin types tend to change their moisturizer according to the seasons, this is especially important for combination skin. Combination skin is especially prone to changes in weather and will get very shiny when the weather warms up and very tight and parched when it cools down. Switch to lighter weight products for summer and more moisturizing, yet non-comedogenic products for winter.
Use a Mist:
While they may seem unnecessary, mists give the skin a dose of hydration without leaving it oily or disrupting makeup. They are portable and very easy to apply. Plus, the refreshing spritz helps to wake you up during a long work day. If the air in your workplace is dry, using a mist will replenish moisture and prevent your skin from drying out.
Don’ts:
Neglect Exfoliation:
No skin type should skip exfoliating two to three times a week, especially combination skin. If you hope to rid your skin of clogged pores, blackheads, and flakes, exfoliation is your ticket to smoother skin. Dead skin can trap blackheads and congestion beneath the pores, make the skin look dull, and create more flakes that stubbornly cling to the skin. Exfoliating will brighten, boost circulation, cleanse pores, and soften rough skin.
Skip Moisturizer:
To prevent moisture from escaping the skin, use a moisturizer both morning and night. While conventional wisdom dictates moisturizer will clog pores and cause breakouts, this couldn’t be further from the truth. When the skin is hydrated, the sebaceous glands do not produce as much oil because our skin is properly cared for. When there is no moisturizer, they go overboard to hydrate the skin, but this excess oil causes blackheads, breakouts, and enlarged pores. Use a moisturizer, just make sure it’s just hydrating enough to maintain healthy skin.
Treat Each Area of Your Skin the Same:
While you don’t need to go overboard using a separate toner for your dry patches and for oily areas, it’s important to be mindful of not applying products that are too drying to already dry areas and vice versa. For example, if you want to use a clay mask to draw impurities from the pores and absorb excess oil, only apply it to the t-zone–such masks can be stripping on drier areas.
Following these simple do’s and don’ts will restore balance to your skin and prevent dryness, breakouts, and clogged pores. Be sure to maintain a consistent and effective skincare routine for best results.
Comments