COMBINATION SKIN means your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is prone to shine but the rest of your face can be prone to dryness. The goal with combination skin is to avoid over-moisturizing the t-zone and to make sure drier areas get the moisture they need. The good news is, it's very possible to do this!
You daily routine would consist of a gentle gel cleanser in the morning with cool water (warm water causes redness, stimulates oil production and can also be drying--not helpful!), followed by either a salicylic acid (like our Pore Perfector BHA) or a mandelic acid (like our Pore Perfector AHA) liquid exfoliant using a cotton pad, you'd apply these wherever you tend to get clogged pores. Avoid areas prone to dryness like your under eye area and maybe your nose crease. At night, you could use a glycolic acid like our Glow to exfoliate dead skin on the surface. for combination skin, exfoliating both inside the pore and on the surface is a great way to get back in balance.
After applying your exfoliant, if you're also interested in anti-aging, you could apply a niacinamide serum (like our Serum B), which can help with controlling oil production as well as fine lines. It's also very calming for redness! Then, for a moisturizer you'd choose a lightweight option, like our Moisture Milk, which won't contribute to shine during the day but will add protective hydration. If you're dealing with our prone to breakouts, you can use our Spot Solver preventatively over areas prone to blemishes or you can use it as a spot treatment. Finally, a lightweight daytime moisturizer like Rain or Shine SPF 50 will keep skin protected and shine-free without clogging pores.
If you follow the above daily recommendations, you'll notice your skin looks fresh all day and a polarized, oily/dry face is no longer a big issue for you. If you'd like an additional treat, come visit us for a service! A facial peel is a great way of giving yourself a boost of exfoliation that will leave your skin feeling fresh and pores looking great. But we don't recommend facials generally. Why??
Typical facials include heat and steam and massage, all of which worsen dryness and oiliness and contribute to swollen capillaries, which makes the face red. You may also think of facials as including face masks with exotic ingredients or make your own from things in the fridge, but more often than not those contain irritants that will cause you more trouble, especially if they are food-based (hello bacteria!).
And finally, one of the absolute most important things when considering oily skin, and for any skin type, is avoiding irritation. If a product smells really "great," especially if it has perfume or essential oils, that's not great. So stick with fragrance-free products and keep temperatures low and rubbing to a minimum and your skin will behave more like your friend.
-FCB
