When you have normal skin, skincare is fairly easy. Even with oily or dry skin, you’re able to identify your skin’s needs and choose skincare products that are formulated exactly for your skin type. Dry skin receives lots of moisture and hydration while oily skin is treated with products that eliminate the sheen and keep pores fresh and clean.

Combination skin presents different challenges. Combination skin can be oily here, dry over there, and completely normal everywhere else. It might also be sensitive. In other words, combination skin sometimes seems like it has a mind of its own. After all, if you treat your dry areas, you end up with clogged pores in the oily spots. The areas of normal skin become dry and stressed by acne control products. There are so many possible combinations, and so many ways that skincare can go wrong. Caring for your combination skin is a balancing act but the good news is that with the right approach and products designed for your unique skin type, taking great care of combination skin isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

Here are a few of the top tricks for caring for your combination skin and keeping it in a state of beautiful, radiant balance.

Cleanse Thoroughly but Gently

One of the most important aspects of skincare, regardless of skin type, is cleansing. With very few exceptions, it’s absolutely essential to cleanse your skin twice a day – once in the morning and then again in the evening. If you’ve managed to get really sweaty or dirty, a midday wash isn’t a terrible thing but not normally something that needs to be done on a regular basis.

Because your skin has a bit of a split personality, your goal is to thoroughly cleanse and balance your skin, without drying it out. To accomplish this, you need a cleanser that is first and foremost gentle. Look for one that’s sulfate-free, formulated neutrally, and uses only the purest and most natural ingredients. By not overstressing any part of your skin, these types of cleansers work to bring about an important balance.

When cleansing your face, be sure to use care and not do anything to stress your skin. Use water that is comfortably warm – not too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures can dry out and irritate all types of skin. Washing your face too aggressively to cleanse oily areas can make skin that’s prone to dryness worse.

Don’t Skip the Toner

If you think that using a toner every time you cleanse your face is too drying for your skin, you’re likely confusing toner with astringent. Astringents are typically alcohol-based and formulated with ingredients that counter oily skin and acne. Astringents can definitely be too harsh for your combination skin, but a soothing, gentle toner is exactly what your skin needs.

Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliation is a step that people with combination skin often skip because they aren’t quite sure which type of exfoliant is best for their skin. Harsh, “scrubby” type exfoliators can clean pores, but they also tend to irritate more sensitive and dry areas of your skin. However, if you skip exfoliation, you’re doing an incredible disservice to your skin.

Proper exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This is beneficial for multiple reasons. First of all, shedding those skin cells allows the fresher, more vibrant complexion underneath to come to the surface. Plus, exfoliation helps keep skin cells from settling into pores where they can mix with sebum, bacteria, and sweat, which can cause inflammation and acne. Exfoliation is a great skincare tool for all types of skin, including finnicky combination skin.

The secret is to choose an exfoliant that’s gentle and non-irritating. An enzymatic exfoliant is perfect for combination skin because it gently removes dead skin cells from the surface. Rather than using abrasive additives, the enzymes work to loosen the “glue” that binds old, dry skin cells to the fresh, healthy skin below.

Don’t Forget to Moisturize

It can’t be said enough. Your skin requires hydration and moisturization, no matter your skin type – even if your skin is extremely oily in some areas. To keep your skin healthy, moisturize it regularly as part of your daily skincare routine. You don’t need a thick, heavy moisturizer to do the trick either. A lightweight moisturizer such as OZNaturals Sea Infused Moisturizer is perfect for restoring balance to your skin.

Also, don’t skip out on moisturizing your oily areas. It might not seem like it, but oily skin can suffer the effects of a lack of moisturization. When this happens, your skin goes into overdrive to protect itself by producing even more oil. If you have problem skin areas that require special treatments, such as fine, dry skin around your eyes, flakiness or discolorations, choose a gentle, natural moisturizer for your entire face and then add in specialized products to use specifically on the areas that are causing you concern.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

Finally, one of the most important things you can do for your combination skin is to make a habit out of sunscreen. UV rays from the sun damage your skin, causing it to age faster and even make existing skin conditions worse. Your skin can easily become inflamed, irritated, and discolored from regular sun exposure, but the real risks are in the long-term damage you could be causing.

Wear your sunscreen religiously and develop sun-smart habits. Avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10am and 4pm, be mindful of UV rays that come through windows, and don’t assume you’re safe from the risks of exposure on cloudy days.

Choose Quality Skincare That You Trust

Feeling good about your skin requires trusting and feeling good about everything you put on it. Having combination skin means you’re facing challenges that other skin types never deal with. Choosing quality skincare products should be one of the top priorities on your list. Our Combination Skin Regimen can help take the guesswork out of your daily skincare routine and deliver beautiful, visible results. Read labels, know what you’re putting on your skin and choose responsibly for your most vibrant, beautiful complexion ever.

"Acneic;All Types;Combination;Dry;Loss of Elasticity;Oily;Rosacea;Sensitive;UV Damage "