Skincare For Combination Skin
The Best Routine For Combination Skin
Combination skin is not always easy to identify. Combination skin can often times mean your skin is oily, sensitive and dry at the same time in different places. It can be tricky to take care of it well - finding the perfect balance between moisturising without creating excess oils. Discover products that are made for your skin. We've got the tips you need to understand this type of skin and to find the best routine to adopt to take care of it. Shop for products based on your skin concerns with L'Occitane.
But First, What Is Combination Skin?
While oily skin has the particularity of presenting an excess of sebum over the entire face, combination skin is recognised by the presence of excess sebum located only on the T zone (forehead, nose, chin) . The skin on the cheeks is normal or dry. Not sure? Take a sheet of tissue paper and place it over your entire face for a few moments. If the paper has greasy streaks where the forehead, nose, and chin is, but not elsewhere, you have combination skin.
Other characteristics of combination skin include bigger pores on the T zone, and your skin being subject to more visible irregularities like blackheads.
What Are The Causes?
Why do we have combination skin? First of all, the presence of shine on the face is a completely normal and a natural phenomenon. The sebum allows your skin to protect itself against external aggressions and dryness. However, in the case of combination skin, there is excessive sebum production exclusively on the T zone.
This characteristic is often hereditary and results from internal factors such as hormones and their possible dysregulation. During adolescence, the skin will also tend to be more oily due to the increase in hormone levels. It is therefore complicated to control this “fatty” aspect of your skin, because it is a question of its physiology.
Good Habits To Adopt
- Hydration! Whether on inside, by drinking enough water (1.5L), or 6 to 9 glasses per day, or on the outside, by moisturising your skin.
- Eat healthy and balanced, limit sugar and excess fat. Vitamin B6 (green vegetables, potato, banana, egg, etc.) and vitamin C (blackcurrant, parsley, raw red pepper, kiwi, etc.) are also great.
- Omega-3s are also good: they allow good oxygenation of cells and thus act on the epidermis. You can find it in salmon, tuna, nuts…
- Vitamin A (carrot juice, sweet potato, spinach) and vitamin E (sunflower seeds, hazelnut oil, sardines) are also said to have a positive effect on the skin.
- Find the Perfect Routine for Your Combination Skin: Choose skincare products that balance oil production without stripping moisture. Look for gentle cleansers, lightweight moisturisers, and targeted treatments that regulate shine and clarify pores.
Taking Care of Combination Skin
Cleanse & Moisturise
Thoroughly cleanse your face morning and evening with a gentle cleanser. It is an essential step to rid your skin of the oily film of sebum and any impurities that can become encrusted throughout the day. Especially if you wear makeup, you must remove makeup residue so that the pores do not clog. Be careful, however, never to "strip" your skin with products that are too abrasive or irritating, because the skin will tend to produce more sebum to defend itself.
Moisturising your skin is important so your skin is fresh and luminous. Just because parts of your face tend to be oily, doesn't mean they don't need their hydration fix. Good hydration allows the skin of your face to be protected from external aggressions and dryness.
Sun Protection
Protecting your skin from the sun is very important to preserve beautiful young skin, as long as possible. In summer, when the skin is exposed to the sun, it tends to thicken, which makes it harder for the sebum to escape - you might even feel that your skin is drier.
Therefore, always apply SPF protection when you plan to be out in the sun. In addition, your skin will "age" better, the sun being the number one cause of premature skin ageing!
Combination Skincare Routine
1. CLEANSING
Your routine begins with a thorough cleansing of your face. In the morning, when you wake up, it’s essential to eliminate the impurities that may have accumulated on your skin overnight. Opt for a gentle gel cleanser, such as Source Réotier Purifying Cleansing Gel. Rich in calcium and minerals, it helps strengthen the skin’s barrier function while promoting hydration and protection. The result? Skin that feels fresh, soothed, and visibly more radiant to start your day.
In the evening, after a long day exposed to pollution and environmental aggressors, follow a double cleansing routine. Start with an oil-based cleanser, such as our Cleansing Oil-To-Milk, followed by a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities.
2. TARGETED TREATMENTS
After cleansing, toners and essences help restore skin balance, refine texture, and boost hydration, an essential step for combination to oily skin.
Use Source Réotier Balancing Essence to reduce excess sebum, strengthen the skin barrier, and leave your skin fresh and plumped. For added radiance, try Immortelle Precious Enriched Water, which hydrates, smooths skin texture, and removes residual impurities.
Don’t forget to exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin cells and improve absorption of your skincare products.
And who doesn't love a little pamper session?
3. SERUM
A serum is the little boost that will deeply treat your skin problem. This is because they have active ingredients that target areas of the skin that other products cannot reach. Before going to bed, take the time to apply our Immortelle Reset Serum, while massaging your face while stretching your skin outwards.
Does your skin have dark spots or acne scars? Apply our Reine Blanche Serum in the morning, before moisturising your face. Its illuminating action helps to make your complexion more radiant and evens your skin tone.
4. MOISTURISER
To hydrate your combination skin, opt for a lightweight moisturiser that won’t overload your T-zone, which already produces excess sebum. Our Source Réotier Mattifying Fluid is the perfect choice for oily or combination skin—providing up to 10 hours of hydration while helping control shine and refine skin texture. If you're looking to boost radiance while keeping skin balanced, try the Source Réotier Glow Gel-Cream. This light, pearlescent moisturiser combines glow-boosting rice peptides, hyaluronic acid, purifying lavender essential oil, and 25% calcium-rich Réotier water. Skin feels plump, smooth, and deeply hydrated, with a fresh, radiant finish that lasts all day. If your cheeks are dry or have a tendency to tighten, apply a richer cream such as our Shea Light Comforting Cream, with 5% Shea Butter.
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Healthy, hydrated and radiant skin isn't hard to achieve with the right products. Explore our full collection of skincare, such as moisturisers, cleansers, serums, and more. With luxurious textures to nourish and protect and enriched with natural ingredients, give your skin the care and pampering it deserves.