Combination Skin Care

Normal skin usually has a healthy skin texture with no visible, dry or oily patches of skin. A minimal amount of skin care is required to keep the skin healthy looking. Daily cleansing is always recommended no matter what skin type you may have. A night moisturizer is always a good idea to ensure the skin stays in good condition with a healthy glow.

Dry skin is lacking the moisture needed to keep the skin supple looking and therefore has a flaky, dry look. Dry skin needs a daily moisturizer plus possibly a heavier, overnight cream to keep it in a healthy condition.

Oily skin is characterized by shiny skin that usually results from overactive sebaceous glands. Daily cleansing, as well as a possible astringent from time to time is needed for this skin type.

Combination skin has skin qualities from both dry and oily skin. If there is an oily area around the forehead, nose, and chin, it is often referred to as the T-zone. The rest of the skin on the face and neck can display dry qualities however, which results in a combination of both skin types.

Combination skin is therefore treated differently than dry or oily skin would be alone. Since combination skin has qualities from both dry and oily skin each area of the face should also be cared for differently.

Starting with the oily area or the T-zone, this area as well as the rest of your face, should be cleansed at least twice a day with a non-oily face wash or cleansing cream. If you choose to use an astringent, a non-abrasive astringent can be applied to this area only, about once a week. Astringents can tend to dry the skin out, so be careful where you use it.

Secondly, the dry areas of your skin need plenty of moisture! Only the dry areas of skin, such as the cheeks and neck, should have a moisturizer applied twice a day in the morning and then again at night.

Finally, the use of facial masks is recommended in the care of your skin. Combination skin may require the use of two different masks to adequately meet your skin's needs.

The oily T-zone area should probably have a clay mask applied weekly, which you can make quite easily yourself at home. Just take a mixture of powdered clay and hot water until it forms a consistency of paste and apply the mixture gently on the oily areas of skin. The skin should feel tightness as it dries, therefore tightening the pores which help to lessen the amount of oiliness to your skin. Next, wait a few minutes and rinse with warm water.

The drier areas of skin require a moisturizing mask, consisting of cooked oatmeal and maybe a teaspoon or two of olive oil added to the paste. Lightly rub the oatmeal paste over the dry areas of skin and wait around 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Whatever mask you choose to use, including the masks you can find in your favorite skin care section of the store, your skin should feel refreshed and renewed!

A makeup tip: If you choose to use liquid foundation, try to find one that is made especially for combination skin, to better handle the oily and dry areas of your skin.

With combination skin care it may require a little more time for the regimen, but it will be well worth your time and efforts to see healthy looking skin.