5 Combination Skin Mistakes You're Probably Making (& What to Do Instead)

Out of all the skin types, combination skin is one of the most common I see in my skin clinic.

It happens to be my skin type, too!

Think of combo skin as the Gemini of the skin types. Or the halfway point between dry skin and oily skin.

With cheeks crying out for moisture and a self-saucing T-zone, figuring out a skin care routine for combination skin can be tricky.

So, I wanted to recap some of the combination skin type mistakes I've seen in my work as a dermal therapist... and made as a combo skin-haver.

Oh, and I'll tell you the best practices and products for combination skin to try instead!

What Is Combination Skin?

The thing with combination skin is you’ll know if you have it.

Every person is different, and the amount of oil you produce will depend on the activity of your sebaceous (oil) glands.

But generally, people with combination skin have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), while the cheeks are a little drier.

You may also notice you have larger pores in some areas of your face, but not in others.

Ditto with dehydration, dry or flaky patches of skin, and acne breakouts.

Rather than having one consistently across the face, you're most likely experiencing all of the above in different localised areas.

Combination skin may also be oiler in summer and drier in winter, and lifestyle factors can affect your combination skin type a lot.

Eg. You might start breaking out when you're on your period, leading you to think your skin is oily, only to swing back the other way with dryness once your period ends.

How to Look After Combination Skin.

Now we know what some of the common combination skin type characteristics are, let’s chat about skin care for combination skin and how to look after it.

Having the right skin care is very important for combination skin types, because using the wrong skin care can cause imbalances in certain areas.

Skin care for combination skin is a bit of a see-saw, so it's about knowing how to use your products and learning to listen to your ever-changing skin.

Even though it's a very common skin type, I see many of the same mistakes time and time again when I talk to my clients with combo skin.

Here is a basic guide for combination skin, including my tips for building a skin care routine for combination skin.

Watch the video below for the quick version, or read on for all the details.

1. Over-Cleansing With Harsh Cleansers.

The mistake: A lot of people are using the wrong cleanser for combination skin.

We tend to opt for strong cleansers that feel like they really ‘clean’ the skin to help eliminate excess oil...

But when you over-cleanse, it can irritate the drier areas of the face while also prompting an over-production of oil.

The solution: If you have combination skin, you always need a gentle cleanser in your routine.

What's the best cleanser for combination skin? Well, I personally prefer to have two different cleansers on the go:

• An everyday cleanser - CeraVe Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser 236ml is effective at cleaning the skin, but equally hydrating and leaves the skin balanced.

• An exfoliating cleanser - Something gentle with salicylic acid like the Cosmedix Clarify Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser is perfect for post-workout or on days my skin is feeling extra oily because it helps clean out the pores and remove excess oil.

Need a new cleanser? We've rounded up our favourite budget cleansers for each skin type in this handy YouTube video below!

2. Exfoliating Too Often.

The mistake: Exfoliating too often is bad for most skin types as it can dry out the skin and lead to skin irritation.

However, if you have combination skin, you may not notice you’re over-exfoliating as quickly as someone with a sensitive skin type - and by then it may be too late.

How often you exfoliate is really up to you and your skin type, but the most I recommendation for the full face is two or three times a week.

The solution: Find your T-zone is waaaaay oiler than other areas of your skin?

Good news! You can exfoliate those oily areas more often with a chemical exfoliant or a quality physical/scrub exfoliant.

I'll never stop advocating for a nose scrub to help clear blackheads and congestion.

Aspect Illuminating Polish is great for use on your T-zone, as is the Cosmedix Purity Balance Exfoliating Prep sprayed onto a cotton round and swiped across oily areas pre-makeup.

Medik8 Press & Glow 200ml is also a good combination skincare pick because it's a PHA exfoliant (polyhydroxy acids, the most gentle exfoliating acids).

This resurfaces the skin, brightens and balances the complexion, without stripping your drier areas of the face.

You can read a full Medik8 PHA Toner review on Beauty IQ here.

3. Using the Wrong Moisturiser For Combination Skin.

The mistake: A moisturiser is one of the most important products you can have in your skincare routine.

Kind of like over-cleansing, scrimping on moisturiser in an effort to reduce oil is counterintuitive as it's basically like telling your skin to produce more oil because you're running out. Yeah.

But then when you use a thicker moisturiser, you feel greasy too. It's tough.

The solution: The best moisturiser for combination skin is usually a lightweight moisturiser for all over the face that is both gentle and hydrating.

Then, you can switch up your moisturisers as the seasons change, and your skin along with it.

Gel texture moisturisers like Murad Age Reform Nutrient-Charged Water Gel that contain humectant (water-loving) ingredients will hydrate the skin without feeling heavy.

These are handy to have when your skin is feeling more oily than usual, or if you live in warmer, humid climates.

mesoestetic hydra-vital light is another one I'm loving at the moment because it's very lightweight, but also hydrates dry patches without weighing down oily skin.

Switching to a thicker cream may be necessary during winter, or even using different moisturisers over different parts of the face.

We've rounded up the best moisturisers for every skin type in this YouTube video below!

4. Forgetting You Can Multi-Mask!

The mistake: Masks are almost always marketed to use over the full face, however this may not work for combination skin.

E.g. Clay may be too strong for dry areas on combo skin, and hydrating masks may be too heavy for the oiler parts.

The solution: Multi-mask!

Yes, this means using different masks on different areas of your skin, at the same time!

E.g. If you have a super oily T-zone, try popping on a cleansing mask like the Cosmedix Clear Deep Cleansing Mask or Aspect Exfoliating Clay Mask just on your T-zone.

Both of these detoxifying masks are perfect for oily, problem skin that needs a good clear out.

Then, apply a creamier, nourishing hydrating mask like Aspect Probiotic Mask on the rest of your face where you need that extra dose of hydration.

Win win.

5. Ignoring Lifestyle & Hormonal Factors.

The mistake: Finally, it’s very important to remember that while combination skin is common, it ebbs and flows thanks to lifestyle and hormonal factors.

This includes things like periods of stress, hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause etc…) and even seasonal changes.

The solution: Start listening to your skin and act accordingly.

I know, it sounds very Gwyneth and woo woo, but from my work in-clinic, I see a lot of people tend to do their skin care on autopilot.

They'll stick to a certain skincare routine and just do it every morning and night, without thinking about it too much.

Combo skin needs a bit more attentiveness, and even reactiveness to what your skin is feeling like at any given time.

Then, you can sub skin care for combination skin in and out accordingly.

So, to my fellow combo skin-havers, I hope this guide on how to care for combination skin has been helpful.

You've got this!

Want to read more on the best products for combination skin? Check out one of these articles below:

• I Have Dehydrated Combination Skin & This Moisturiser Gave Me My Glow Back

• Here Are the 10 Best Cleansers for Combination Skin

• How to Care for Combination Skin with Alpha-H Skincare