The best skincare routine for combination skin
A simple routine suggested by the experts starts with a gentle cleanser in the morning, followed by vitamin C or niacinamide, a lightweight moisturiser and sunscreen that should be reapplied throughout the day.
At night, cleanse the skin again before applying an active (like retinol) and topping with moisturiser. When introducing actives, it’s important to consult an expert who can customise your routine according to your skin’s needs and tolerance. Introducing too many actives at once can lead to irritation and make it harder to understand what your skin actually responds to.
With skincare, texture matters, too. Dr Srishti Mohapatra, internal medicine consultant, aesthetic physician and head of R&D at The Wellness Co, suggests that “lightweight gel creams, lotions and fluid emulsions work well for combination skin, providing hydration without feeling heavy or occlusive.”
Skincare ingredients and actives to look for
Combination skin can be confusing because we are often trying to treat one face as two different problems. The oily areas tend to be treated aggressively while the drier zones are left wanting more hydration.
Many of us with combination skin also try to skip moisturiser because it feels heavy on the skin. By midday, however, that familiar dryness around the mouth can start to appear. Dr Mohapatra explains that combination skin benefits from a “zonal” approach. A lightweight, barrier-supportive moisturiser can be applied more generously to dry areas, with a lighter layer on oilier zones.
Ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and squalane can help hydrate the skin without making it feel heavy. Maintaining a healthy skin barrier is also key to keeping the skin resilient over time. Here are the actives worth incorporating into your combination skin routine, according to the experts we consulted:
Salicylic acid
Oil soluble salicylic acid can be particularly useful for the T-zone. It helps with congestion and clogged pores, particularly around the nose, forehead and chin. For combination skin, you do not necessarily need to apply it across your entire face. Using it selectively on oilier areas can help target congestion without unnecessarily drying out the cheeks.
AHAs (such as glycolic or lactic acid)
These can help with texture and dullness, but the key is to introduce them slowly. For combination skin, using an AHA two to three times a week may be enough rather than applying it daily. Over-exfoliation can leave the skin irritated and compromise the barrier, so more frequent use is not necessarily going to deliver better results.
Retinoids
Retinoids can be useful for overall skin health, but one common mistake is treating them like a moisturiser and using too much too soon. Dr Chhabra recommends starting slowly with a pea-sized amount around twice a week. Buffering with a moisturiser can also help, particularly on areas that tend to become dry or sensitive. If you are new to retinoids, give your skin time to adjust before increasing the frequency.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is one of the easiest actives to incorporate into a combination skin routine. It works across both oily and dry zones and can help regulate sebum and blemish marks without stripping the skin. It’s also gentle enough for many people to use daily, which makes it a popular choice for combination skin.
