Skincare for Combination Skin

First, you need to find out if your skin is oily all over the face, or just in certain areas. A good idea is to use a "neutral" gentle skin soap bar for a week. Wash your face and pat dry. Wait a half hour, then use blotting paper or eyeglass tissues pressed against your chin, cheeks, nose and forehead in that order.

If the first two yield no damp looking or translucent spots, then those areas are not oily. If the last two give you the damp spot, or make the paper stick, they are oily, and that means you have combination skin, or an oily T zone as it's often called. Women with combination skin may even have dry skin on other areas, such as the cheeks.

Your skincare routine should include a gentle face wash or soap, which is used twice a day. If you feel the T zone is that oily, you might also apply an astringent to those areas only, in the morning before putting on your makeup. During the day, you can carry special powdered papers for blotting the oily zones, and a pressed powder compact for touching up your makeup and drying those oily areas.

If you wear makeup regularly, be sure you choose foundation that is not oil or cream based. This may eliminate most stick foundations. Also beware of oil-based products like mosquito repellant and SPF protection.

Remember though, that if, in testing the oiliness of your skin you found your cheeks felt pulled, then they need moisture. Be sure to apply a generous layer of moisturizing lotion and let it absorb completely, before putting on your non-oily foundation. When cleansing your skin at night, apply a moisturizing cream or lotion as soon as you dry these areas, as they are better absorbed when the skin is still damp.