Combination skin needs careful attention because it has a blend of oily and dry patches. The centre panel or T-zone, across the forehead and down the nose and chin, tends to be oily, and needs to be treated like oily skin. However, the other areas are prone to dryness and flakiness from lack of moisture, and need to be treated like dry skin.
Having said this, some combination skins don’t follow the T-zone pattern and can have patches of dry and oily skin in other arrangements. If you are unsure of your skin’s oily and dry areas, press a tissue to your face an hour after washing it. Any greasy patches on the tissue signify oily areas. In this article, BEBE AFRIKANA presents to you the balanced care for combination skin.
READ ALSO SPECIAL DAILY CARE FOR OILY SKIN
SPECIAL CARE FOR COMBINATION SKIN
Skin that has combination of dry and oily patches requires a dual approach to skincare. Treating your entire complexion like oily skin will leave the dry area even drier and tighter than before. In the same way, treating it only like dry skin can provoke excess oiliness and even an outbreak of blemishes. This means you need to deal with the different areas of the skin individually, with products to suit. This special care for combination skin isn’t as complicated and difficult as it sounds, and the result will be a softer, smoother and clearer complexion than before!
A dual approach to skincare will double the benefits for combination skin, and it needn’t be terribly time consuming.
Step 1: Choose and oil-based eye makeup remover to clear away every trace of eye makeup from this delicate area which is prone to dryness. Use a cotton bud to remove any stubborn traces. Splash with cool water afterwards to rinse away any excess oil.
Step 2: Use a foaming facial wash in the morning. This ensures oily areas are clean, and clear pores to prevent blackheads. Massage a little on to damp skin, especially oily areas. Leave for a few seconds to dissolve the dirt, and then splash clean with cool water.
READ ALSO NOURISHING CARE FOR DRY SKIN
Step 3: In the evening, switch to a cream cleanser to keep dry areas of skin clean and soothed. This will balance excess oiliness or dryness in your complexion. Massage well into your skin, concentrating on the drier areas, and then gently remove with cotton wool pad.
Step 4: To freshen your skin, you need two different strengths of toner to deal with the differing skin types. Choose a stronger astringent for oily areas, and a mild skin freshener for drier ones. This isn’t as costly as you think, because you use only a little of each. Sweep over your skin with cotton wool pads.
Step 5: Smooth moisturizer on to your entire face concentrating on the drier areas. Then blot off any excess from the oily areas with a tissue. This will give all your skin the nourishment it needs.