Do I Have Combination Skin? Discover the Shocking Truth About Combo/Oily Skin!!!!

Combination skin – a little dry here, a little bit oily there – is anything but the best of both worlds.

Because dry skin and oily skin tend to respond better to different types of products, it can be tricky to find the right one to help your skin look its best.

Combination skin is usually oily in the T-zone (the forehead, nose and chin) while dry everywhere else.

Combination skin can be prone to the larger pores, blackheads and shininess of oily skin, along with the flaking and tightness of dry skin.

Because products for dry skin will likely make oily skin worse (and products for oily skin will zap essential moisture from dry skin), combination skin is a delicate balancing act that can be tricky to master.

How To Deal With Combination Skin

While combination skin is usually attributed to genetics or hormonal changes, it could be that the products you are using on your skin are accentuating the problem.

Products that are too harsh can strip away natural oils, causing the skin’s oil-producing glands to go into overdrive, producing excessive amounts of sebum that can make oily skin worse. They can also make dry skin even drier.

The right toner or moisturizing products, however, can help skin look and feel healthier.

Many experts recommend mixing it up by using products that are suited for oily skin on the T-zone and products suited for dry skin everywhere else.

Layering products can also be beneficial, especially if you use a lightweight moisturizer with healing botanicals over your entire face, then add an extra hit of hydration in the form of a richer, thicker lotion on areas where skin is dry.

That, however, could be time-consuming, especially for those living busy lives with little time left over for skin care.

To improve the appearance of combination skin:

• Skip soap. Soap can be drying, with isn’t good for dry or oily skin types. Instead, use a creamy, lightweight cleanser that helps melt away excess oil and hydrate skin without clogging pores.
• Consider a toner. Toners can help tighten pores while gently lifting away excess oil. Using them on the T-zone can help even up skin differences.
• Moisturize. Using a lightweight moisturizer will hydrate dry skin and prevent oily skin from producing excess oil, which can clog pores and result in blemishes. Use a lightweight moisturizer in order to tackle both types of skin with the least chance of irritation. A gel-based moisturizer is a good option.
• Try gentle exfoliation. Both dry, flaking skin and oily, blemished skin can have you reaching for the exfoliating cleaners, but combination skin calls for a gentler approach. Exfoliate using glycolic acid-based products, which help lift away the skin’s dead surface cells without damaging skin. Scrubs can cause microscopic scratches that can become even more irritated by harsh products. Use a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliant helps skin shed dead skin without abrasion, which will unclog pores and alleviate oily skin while gently smoothing the texture of dry, rough skin.
• Follow up with a night cream. After exfoliating, your skin is not only more receptive to the active ingredients in a nourishing night cream, it is also more vulnerable, making that cream an essential part of skin care. Use a whipped formula that doesn’t go on to thick, so oily areas won’t become irritated, but dry skin still gets the thirst quenching it needs.
• Use a retinoid. Excellent anti-aging products, vitamin A-based retinoids also help address the enlarged pores of oily skin along with the fine lines and wrinkles associated with dry skin. “A retinoid should be the foundation of any topical anti-aging regimen,” according to Dr. Paul M. Friedman, co-author of the book “Beautiful Skin Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Better Skin.”
• Read labels carefully. Products designs for very dry skin will exacerbate oily skin problems.

Best Foods for Combination Skin

Eating foods that nourish skin from the inside out can help improve the texture, tone

• Berries. Berries are packed with antioxidants that can help protect skin from the damage caused by free radicals. Blueberries, cranberries and raspberries also offer a boost of hydration to quench parched skin.
• Almonds. Almonds and other nuts have essential fatty acids that help control inflammation, protecting skin against fine lines, sagging and discoloration, New York-based dermatologist Dr. Doris Day told Prevention magazine. Fatty fish – salmon, tuna and halibut – also provide healthy omega-3s.
• Whole grains. Whole grains are low in sugar, so they prevent glycation, which happens when excess sugar attaches to the skin’s protein cells, causing them to break down. The loss of these proteins, usually collagen and elastin, cause skin to develop fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.
• Tea. Both green and black teas offer skin-friendly benefits. Both contain high levels of EGCG, which protects against signs of aging, especially the breakdown of collagen.
• Cruciferous veggies. Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale all fall into this category of superfoods, which not only protect against free radical activity, protecting collagen and elastin from damage caused by exposure to toxins, but also encourage the body to rid itself of toxins, which can beautifully benefit ravaged skin.

Smart Tips for Any Skin Type

No matter what type of skin you have, however, treating it with care is important.

Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins. While the skin acts as our armor and is our first line of defense for protection against pollutants, it can eventually show the effects. Water will help flush away accumulated pollutants, much to the relief of skin.

Wear sunscreen, every day, even if the sun isn’t shining. Some UV rays can trigger signs of aging, while other UV rays can potentially lead to skin cancer. Both might be avoided with the regular use of sunscreen.

And if you’ve ever heard the Moody Blues song “Nights in White Satin,” let the title remind you to use a butter-smooth pillowcase to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Sleeping on one’s back is best, Francesca Fusco, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, told Allure magazine, but if you are a side or stomach sleeper, choose your fabric wisely.

“Satin or silk is best,” she said. “Or buy the softest, highest-thread-count fabric you can.”