Combination Skin
Combination skin has both oily and dry zones — typically an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with drier cheeks. It is the most common skin type and requires a balanced approach.
Characteristics
- •Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with drier or normal cheeks
- •Pores are larger in the T-zone, smaller on cheeks
- •May get breakouts in the T-zone while cheeks feel tight or flaky
- •Skin can feel oily and dry at the same time — confusing to treat
- •Products that fix one zone may worsen the other
- •Seasonal shifts — may become oilier in summer and drier in winter
What Causes It
Combination skin is largely genetic — different areas of the face have different densities of sebaceous glands. The T-zone naturally has more oil glands than the cheeks. Hormonal changes, climate, and product use can exaggerate the difference between zones. Using products that are too rich for the T-zone or too stripping for the cheeks widens the gap.
Best Ingredients
The perfect ingredient for combination skin. Controls oil in the T-zone while strengthening the barrier on drier cheeks. 2-5% concentration.
Provides lightweight hydration everywhere without adding oil. Helps balance both oily and dry zones.
Use targeted on the T-zone only (0.5-2%). Clears pores without over-drying cheeks.
Versatile active that addresses both oily T-zone concerns (acne, sebum) and dry cheek concerns (redness, uneven tone). 10-15%.
Calming and hydrating without being heavy. Balances all skin zones without worsening either.
Normalizes cell turnover across both zones. Start with low concentration (0.25%) applied everywhere.
Ingredients to Avoid or Limit
Very heavy creams (all over)
Rich creams are fine for cheeks but can clog T-zone pores. Apply thicker products only where needed.
Harsh, stripping cleansers
They dry out your cheeks while doing nothing permanent about T-zone oil. A gentle, pH-balanced cleanser works for both zones.
Recommended Routine
Morning (AM)
- 1.Gentle gel-cream cleanser
- 2.Niacinamide serum (all over)
- 3.Lightweight moisturizer (heavier on cheeks if needed)
- 4.SPF 30+ (mattifying on T-zone, or use one formula everywhere)
Evening (PM)
- 1.Oil cleanser (dissolves SPF)
- 2.Gel-cream cleanser
- 3.Salicylic acid on T-zone only (2-3x/week)
- 4.Retinol (alternate nights, all over)
- 5.Moisturizer (lighter on T-zone, richer on cheeks)
Routine Tips
- ✓Use one gentle cleanser for the whole face — gel-cream textures work well for both zones
- ✓Multi-mask: apply a clay mask on the T-zone and a hydrating mask on cheeks simultaneously
- ✓Apply lighter moisturizer on the T-zone, richer cream on cheeks if needed
- ✓Use targeted treatments: BHA on T-zone only, heavier moisturizer on cheeks only
- ✓Niacinamide serum is the single best product for combination skin — it balances both zones
Common Mistakes
- Treating the whole face as one skin type: Your T-zone and cheeks have different needs. Use products strategically by zone.
- Using oil-stripping products everywhere: Your cheeks are not oily — treating them like oily skin damages the barrier.
- Skipping moisturizer on the T-zone: Even oily zones need hydration. Use a lighter formula, not no formula.
- Over-exfoliating: Using BHA on the entire face when only the T-zone needs it irritates the drier areas.