How To Identify and Manage Combination Skin

What Is Combination Skin?

As mentioned above, combination skin is one of the five primary skin types. Your skin type is largely determined by how much sebum (natural oils) your skin produces. Oily skin generally overproduces sebum, for example, whereas dry skin can develop due to sebum deficiency. When it comes to combination skin, research shows that there may be an imbalance in sebum production, which leaves some parts of the face feeling oilier than others.² Combination skin is generally predetermined by genetics, but your skin type can change over time and may be influenced by hormones, stress, your environment, and even seasonal shifts.

How To Tell if You Have Combination Skin

If you're not sure whether you have combination skin, here are some common signs to look for:

• Shiny, greasy-looking skin around the nose area that tends to get oilier throughout the day
• Enlarged pores and/or blackheads around the nose (but not on other areas of the face)
• Dry, flaky, or peeling skin around the cheeks and/or jawline

You can also try using the “watch and wait” method to determine whether you truly have combination skin. Simply wash your face, wait approximately 30 minutes, and observe your skin closely in the mirror. If you notice excess shine only around your T-zone, it means that you most likely have combination skin. When in doubt, consult a board-certified dermatologist, who can help you accurately identify your skin type.

Skincare Routine Tips for Combination Skin

When building a skincare routine for combination skin, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Here are some of our top tips for combination skin:

Keep your routine simple

Skincare for combination skin doesn’t need to be complicated. However, your daily routine should include a few essentials, at a minimum: a gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturizer, and broad-spectrum sunscreen (for daytime). Always check the product label when choosing products to ensure that your chosen formulas are suitable for combination skin.

Stay consistent

Consistency is key if you want to get the most out of your skincare routine for combination skin. Once you’ve created your daytime and evening routines, try to stick to them every day for best results.

Consider double cleansing

In the evening, cleansing twice—first with an oil-based cleanser and then with a water-based cleanser—can have many benefits for combination skin. We recommend gentle formulas that are developed with dermatologists, like CeraVe’s range of cleansers for combination skin.

Look for non-comedogenic and oil-free products

People with combination skin may be prone to oily skin concerns around their T-zone, such as excess shine and enlarged pores. Choosing skincare products that are labeled “oil-free” and “non-comedogenic” can be good options for combination skin, as these formulas won’t clog your pores or leave your skin looking greasy.

Update your skincare routine each season

As mentioned earlier, combination skin can be affected by seasonal changes, so it can be beneficial to adapt your skincare routine ahead of these shifts. You may prefer to use a richer face lotion, like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, in the winter when the weather tends to be drier and colder. Then, in the summer, you might want to try a lightweight gel-cream that absorbs excess oil, like CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream, when humidity and temperatures are at their highest. To learn more, check out our skincare routine tips for every season.

A Simple 4-Step Routine for Combination Skin

To balance the unique needs of combination skin, you’ll need a morning and evening routine that effectively cleanses, hydrates, and refreshes your skin—without over-stripping it or disrupting the skin’s protective barrier. Here are four daytime and evening steps to incorporate when creating a balanced skincare routine for combination skin:

Daytime Routine

Step 1: Cleanse with a gentle foaming face wash

The Cleveland Clinic recommends using a water-based, foaming cleanser for combination skin.³ We recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, which helps remove excess oil around the T-zone without drying out your skin or disrupting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Our Foaming Facial Cleanser also contains three essential ceramides and other beneficial ingredients that help maintain the skin’s moisture balance, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Step 2: Target specific skin concerns

Facial serums and treatment gels are a great option for addressing specific skin concerns, such as pore congestion around the nose or flaky skin on the cheeks. If your combination skin is prone to blackheads, for example, you can try CeraVe Acne Control Gel, a non-drying acne treatment with salicylic acid that clears acne and helps minimize the appearance of pores. To help replenish moisture in skin that’s on the drier side, try a lightweight hydrating serum, like CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Step 3: Apply a hydrating eye cream

The skin around your eyes is incredibly delicate, making it susceptible to signs of aging and fatigue. A hydrating eye cream can help improve the appearance of puffy, tired-looking eyes and minimize the look of dark circles and fine lines. One excellent option for your daytime routine is CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Eye Cream. This non-greasy eye cream with 5% pure vitamin C and caffeine is designed to reduce signs of fatigue and visible signs of aging for smoother, brighter, and more even-looking skin around the eyes.

Step 4: Finish with a moisturizer that includes sunscreen

Sunscreen and moisturizer are the last two must-haves in a daytime routine for combination skin. Rather than layering on a sunscreen after your moisturizer, try a lightweight moisturizer that includes sunscreen in its formula—like CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion. This oil-free facial moisturizer is non-greasy and will leave your combination skin with a matte finish. It's formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, and includes broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to help protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Remember to re-apply as directed to maintain sun protection.

Evening Routine

Step 1: Wash your face again before bed

For your evening cleanse, you can use the same face wash again or try an exfoliating formula—like CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser. This salicylic acid cleanser can help care for combination skin by gently buffing away dead skin cells and removing excess oil, dirt, and makeup that may have accumulated on your skin throughout the day.

(If double cleansing is part of your skincare routine for combination skin, you’ll want to use an oil-based cleanser—like CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm—before the aforementioned gel cleanser.)

Step 2: Use a non-drying facial toner

CeraVe Hydrating Toner is one of our favorite products for combination skin. This non-drying liquid formula is applied to your skin after cleansing to remove any leftover residue. The hydrating, pH-balanced formula will leave your skin feeling moisturized, refreshed, and soothed. It’s an excellent option for thoroughly removing impurities without stripping your skin of much-needed moisture.

Step 3: Apply a nighttime eye cream

To give the skin around your eyes a little extra care while you sleep, try CeraVe Eye Repair Cream. This moisturizing eye cream with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and MVE Delivery Technology helps provide lasting hydration and brightens the appearance of the entire eye area.

Step 4: Complete your routine with a nighttime moisturizer

Finally, apply a nighttime moisturizer as the final step in your routine—we recommend CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. This face moisturizer with three essential ceramides helps restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier. It also features hyaluronic acid and niacinamide in an oil-free formula that won't clog your pores.

For help choosing the right products for your specific skin type and concerns, use our Find My Skincare Solution tool.