How to Care for Combination Skin the Right Way

Our Go-To Skincare Routine for Combination Skin

Need some help forming a skincare routine for your combination skin? Below, check out some of our go-to steps. Of course, we suggest visiting a board-certified dermatologist who can help you form a personalized routine that fits your skin type and concerns. 

STEP 1: Cleanse Gently

It’s best to use skincare products tailored to your specific needs, and this is especially true for combination skin types. Morning and night, use a gentle cleanser to rid your skin’s surface of dirt, excess oils and lingering impurities. It can be creamy, foaming or gel-based, as long as it’s non-irritating. To help prevent blemishes in oily areas, we like the CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser. The best type of cleanser for combination skin is one that can cleanse and balance oil without over-drying your cheeks or other dry patches. At night, always remove your makeup with a makeup remover wipe or cleansing water first. This helps ensure that your pores are free from buildup while you sleep.

STEP 2: Consider Balancing With a Toner

After cleansing, a toner can help to restore and balance your skin’s pH levels. Look for one formulated to help hydrate dry skin and minimize oil at the same time, like the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 5 Percent Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner. It refreshes and smoothes your complexion while removing excess residue.

STEP 3: Moisturize Often

Having combination skin isn’t an excuse to skip moisturizer. Similar to SPF, all skin types need hydration. Stick to oil-free moisturizers that won’t add additional grease to your T-zone. The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Mattifying Moisturizer helps to target oil for a dual mattifying and pore-refining action, making it a great base to wear underneath makeup. If you prefer a gel formula, try the Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer for a more lightweight finish.

STEP 4: Protect With SPF

The number-one, non-negotiable skincare product that everyone should be wearing every day — regardless of your skin type — is broad-spectrum sunscreen. It’s essential to protect skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, even when it’s cloudy outside. If you have combination skin, look for a lightweight, non-greasy option like the SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30.

The Best Serums for Combination Skin

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Glycolic Acid Serum

For a serum that will help exfoliate and balance combination skin, look no further than this potent little bottle. It contains glycolic acid which works to improve skin texture and tone, plus hyaluronic acid to guarantee moisture.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

If you struggle with breakouts on your combination skin, we recommend trying this retinol serum. It works to resurface uneven skin tone and texture left behind from pimples, and even contains niacinamide to ensure a soothing application. If you’re new to retinol, introduce the ingredient slowly by incorporating it into your routine once or twice a week, and then work your way up to using it more frequently. Your dermatologist can help you determine if the ingredient is right for you.

SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF

If you have acne-prone combination skin, we love this Silymarin CF formula that works to minimize the appearance of breakouts and keep your skin looking matte. Bonus: Vitamin C improves skin dullness as well, to give you a brighter, smoother-looking complexion.

Tower 28 Beauty SOS Intensive Redness Relief Serum

Combination skin can sometimes mean stubborn breakouts that seem to stay red for weeks at a time. Combat the appearance of these pimples with this redness relief serum that helps calm and smooth the area. The hypochlorous acid promises to balance out the skin, which is pretty much a dream for combo-skin types.

The Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Micro Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides Plumping Cream

For a moisturizer that will give you a boost of hydration and won’t sit too heavy on your combination skin type, try this drugstore favorite. It has hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help moisturize the skin and smooth out fine lines. The consistency is so good it won’t leave you feeling greasy, either.

Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid

This lightweight option combines kale, green tea and hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin and keep it looking calm. It will help give you that lit-from-within glow without leaving you looking excessively shiny.

Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream

There’s a good reason why this water-based moisturizer is a combination skin favorite — it works to keep the skin looking calm, hydrated and shine-free. It has calendula extract to help visibly improve the appearance of redness and discoloration, giving you hydrated, glowy skin in a snap.

Renée Rouleau Daily Mattifying Solution

Keep shine at bay with this mattifying moisturizer that’s chock-full of good-for-your skin ingredients like witch hazel, totarol, honeysuckle extract and sodium hyaluronate. Combined, the brand guarantees a smoother, mattified and clear complexion.

Bioderma Hydrabio Gel-Cream 

This lightweight gel-cream formula is a must try if you have combination skin. It helps boost hydration and radiance, all while keeping the skin matte, fresh and never shiny.

The Best Toners for Combination Skin

Thayers Rose Petal Toner with Witch Hazel

Clarify the skin with this witch hazel-infused toner and thank us later! Your combination skin will drink this one up for a matte, balanced finish. Not to mention, it has aloe vera for extra hydration.

Lancôme Absolue Rose 80 Toner

If your acne-prone combination complexion has resulted in dark marks and discoloration over the years, opt for this revitalizing toner that works to brighten the skin. It has salicylic acid plus sodium hyaluronate to help gently exfoliate, as well as e the addition of rosewater to help  moisturize and soften.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

Minimize pores with this toner made with f glycolic acid, grapefruit extract and aloe vera. The glycolic component works to gently retexture and soften the skin, while the aloe nourishes and hydrates.

INNBeauty Project Down to Tone Resurfacing Acid Toner

This toner is made with  lactic,  salicylic, malic, gluconolactone and citric acid to help brighten the complexion, plus niacinamide to soothe.

The Best Face Washes and Cleansers for Combination Skin

La Roche-Posay Purifying Foaming Facial Wash

Mattify your skin with this foaming facial wash that contains prebiotic spring water and ceramides to balance out the complexion. Our favorite part is that it won’t leave your skin feeling dry or stripped post-cleanse.

Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel

Deeply cleanse congested combination skin with this gel that works to minimize the appearance of large pores and breakouts. It has salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and clarify the skin, plus volcanic water to hydrate and cleanse.

Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Nourishing Jelly Cleanser

This gel option is rich in antioxidants and a must-try on your drier areas if you have combination skin. It combines elderberry extract, a prebiotic complex and squalane to help balance out, brighten and soften the skin.

BLISS Clear Genius Clarifying Gel Cleanser

Salicylic acid is combined with Brazilian sea water in this detoxing gel formula to help improve the look and feel of skin. It works to keep the complexion looking matte while still radiant, and it can help decongest the skin, too.

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Cleanser

AHAs, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid are combined in this cleanser for a thorough and brightening wash. It helps even out uneven skin tone and rough texture over time.