Combination Skin Products

People often complain that they have oily or dry skin and they don't know what products to use. But have we ever thought about people who have oily and dry skin together. Combination skin is the most difficult skin type, not only for those who have it, but also for skin care product manufacturers. Most of the people have a T-zone combination skin, i. e. oily skin in the forehead, nose and chin, with dry skin in the cheeks. Tackling two types of skin on the same face leaves many in a dilemma as there are few products available in the market that is overloaded with oily skin, dry skin, anti wrinkle skin care products.

Combination skin type can be easily identified by washing your face with water and drying it using a very soft cloth. The dry areas would appear flaky and tight, while the oily regions look shiny, often with blackheads and pimples. Once the skin type has been identified, it is extremely important to use the right products. People with this type of skin product, often make the mistake of using them only for oily skin, which further deteriorates the dry regions. Hence, products for combination skin are designed keeping in mind that oiliness is removed from the skin without depriving the dry areas of essential moisture.

Skin Care Regimen for Combination Skin

Like any other skin types, combination skin care also involves normal skin care regime of cleansing, toning and moisturizing along with occasionally exfoliating the skin. It differs from other skin types as they should be lightweight and mild to avoid clogging pores in the T-zone.

Cleansers
Using a gentle gel based or mild foaming facial cleanser helps remove the oil from T-zone without drying the skin. Combination skin cleansers should be light weight with a mild fragrance for gentle cleansing.

Toners
For a combination skin, using a skin toner becomes a must in order to control the shine on the oily regions as well as tighten pores. These oily regions visibly standout from the dry areas, so use an astringent based toner, whereas, for the dry areas use a mild alcohol free antioxidant toner.

Moisturizers
Skin moisturizers are essential for all skin types. As the skin ages, the collagen in the skin depletes leading to wrinkles and age spots. So, using a good combination skin moisturizer helps control these signs of aging and keeps skin looking young and radiant.

Best Products for Combination Skin

Though less in comparison to other types of skin, there are still many skin products available today. It is difficult to name one as the best skin care product for this skin type, as there are many other factors like weather, humidity, pollution, diet etc. that make a difference in the suitability of the product from one person to another. Many cosmetic brands manufacture moisturizers, toners and cleansers especially designed for combination skin care. The basic idea here is that, the product should be helpful in removing dirt and grease, prevent acne and moisturize the skin by preventing flaking and peeling. So depending on popularity and feedback, these are some combination skin product reviews:

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Available at most drug stores, I chose this sensitive skin cleanser over other products, as it suits most skin types. It is gentle, mild and effective with a light texture and fragrance. Many might be tempted to buy other attractively packaged cleansers, but with minimum negative effects and reasonable price, this is a sure winner.

Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
A highly recommended product as per the reviews, it has mild astringent properties and highly suitable for most combination skins. Its gentle, balancing formula leaves you face feeling clean, soft and soothed without creating a big hole on your pocket.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
This oil-free moisturizer is suitable even for oily skin as it controls oil and moisturizes the skin. It comes in gel form and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth without greasiness. A safe lightweight product for acne prone combination skin, it has a clean and soft soothing scent. It is extremely popular with teenagers and is considered one of the best face moisturizer for combination skin. It has also been voted the winner of Teen Vogue Reader's Choice Awards.

One must remember, a product that suits one person might not suit another. As combination skin is often prone to acne breakouts, choosing combination skin products that also prevents acne is always a good idea. But remember to choose mild products that are gentle to the dry sensitive areas. Apart from these, there are also many natural products like manuka honey and grape seed extracts that have proved beneficial for combination skin. One must have patience to discover the right product to suit your skin type, one that gives a flawless, shine free but glowing skin.