We definitely weren’t that surprised to learn that combination skin is the most common skin type out there. While many people think they have oily or dry skin, more often than not, it’s actually a combination of both. As with most skin types, there is more than one factor at play, and when it comes to combination skin, it’s totally normal to be oily in some areas and dry in others. It can also appear and disappear depending on age, as well as being easily affected by stress, hormones, and the weather.

How do I know if that’s what I’ve got?

When your skin is either dry or oily, taking care of it is a pretty straightforward process. But when you’re dealing with a little bit of both, things start to get complicated. The first thing to do is identify what you’re experiencing, then you can get down to treating it, stat.

If you do suspect you may have combination skin, you can get a clearer picture by doing a super simple test at home. Start by cleansing your skin with a gentle formula, then pat dry and wait. Make yourself a cup of coffee and spend ten minutes scrolling through your feed, then drop everything and check back in on your skin. If you find that your cheeks, jawline, and temples are dry but your T-zone area appears shiny, the signs are most definitely pointing to combination skin.

Why, oh why is it happening to me?

There are many factors that lead to your skin type. Genetics is one of the main factors and can even determine the amount of oil your skin produces because they regulate cell production. People often have varying sizes of sebaceous glands, with overactive sebaceous glands causing more oil production and resulting in combination skin.

Hormones are another factor to consider and can cause your skin to over-produce oil in some areas while drying out in others. Once you hit menopause, however, your skin will produce much less oil and you’ll be left with dry skin only.

So, what can I do?

The secret to combination skin lies in finding a balance between treating oily and dry areas at the same time. One of the biggest issues is that often, people with combination skin are afraid of using moisturiser and sunscreen, as they’re generally associated with creating more oiliness. This is not true, and by choosing the right products and using them properly, can actually help control oil production.

It’s essential that you cleanse regularly using a gentle, balancing formulation to avoid drying out the complexion and leading to further oiliness on problem areas. Trilogy’s Balancing Gel Cleanser has been created with exactly this in mind, and it’s blissfully free of any comedogenic ingredients that can block pores and increase oiliness and breakouts.

Regular exfoliation is key, but again choose a gentle formula and go easy. Only lightly exfoliate dry areas, paying particular attention to the oily parts prone to breakouts. Trilogy’s Vitamin C Polishing Powder definitely nails the gentle exfoliating action while giving skin the glow factor, so comes highly recommended!

Lastly, hydrating your skin is a must no matter what your skin type. You can even use two different moisturising formulas at the same time –  a lightweight, oil-free one for your T-zone and cream or even oil for the driest areas of your face. Trilogy Mattifying Moisturising Lotion is a great option for the former, as it balances both water and oil to mattify the skin. It also has rosehip, jojoba, and grape seed oils to soften and hydrate, lemon myrtle to help reduce shine, and even salicylic acid to mildly exfoliate.

Care for your combo skin well, and it will reward you for it accordingly.