5 Ingredients that work best for combination skin

Combination skin can feel like it’s difficult to treat – one day oily, next day dry, most days both but in different areas! We are all guilty of getting carried away by skincare trends that may not necessarily be beneficial for our skin but it’s best to tailor your routine so that you’re using ingredients that specifically address your skin concern.

Combination skin is dry or normal in some areas and oily in others. It is a very common skin concern that mainly shows up around the T-zone – nose, forehead, and chin. These areas generally excrete more oil, while cheeks appear dry and sensitised.

People with combination skin can also experience blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples, often in the oily T-zone area.

While combination might feel like the trickiest skin type to deal with, it essentially boils down to skin that is craving balance. The secret to rebalancing combination skin is to feed it with the right ingredients. By layering gentle ingredients in a consistent and simple routine, you’ll ensure that both the oilier and the more sensitive areas receive the right level of care.

Ingredient #1 Superoxide Dismutase

Choose a gentle, soap-free cleanser for your combination skin. Cleansers that do not contain soap help to prevent inflammation and excessive dryness. 

Superoxide dismutase is a protective ingredient that helps the skin barrier to ward off free radicals and environmental stressors. It protects the skin from unnecessary damage, soothing it and evening out the complexion.

Combination skin types benefit from using a non-foaming cleanser that includes superoxide dismutase because this ingredient adds a layer of protection for sensitised skin by keeping the skin’s natural defences strong. It also minimises pimples and blackheads by eliminating impurities from the skin.

Find it in: Renew Gel Cleanser

Ingredient #2 Hyaluronic Acid

This wonder hydrator is non-comedogenic –  it hydrates without clogging pores, making it ideal for both acne-prone and oily skin and also dry, flaky skin. 

Combination skin can overcompensate and produce extra oil due to dehydration, so layering moisturising ingredients in your routine is key. 

Hyaluronic Acid is best applied as a serum. After cleansing, apply a couple of drops to damp skin to lock-in moisture and boost the skin’s hydration levels. By incorporating this humectant ingredient into your basic routine, you will keep combination skin sufficiently hydrated, reducing the risk of sebum overproduction.

Unlike heavier moisturising creams  and lotions, a hyaluronic acid won’t make skin feel greasy, making it the perfect hydration remedy for unpredictable combination skin.

Find it in: Pure Hyaluronic Serum

Ingredient #3 Peptides

Peptides are the building blocks for key proteins that the skin needs to stay supple and strong, like collagen and elastin. 

When used in skincare, they help to build up a stronger skin barrier. The skin barrier is the skin’s first defence against bacteria, UV rays,  pollution, and other toxins and is easily damaged through lifestyle habits and over-exfoliation.

By including peptides in your combination-skin routine, you also help ease inflammation, repair sensitised skin, and even-out skin tone.

Find it in: Recover Eye Cream

Ingredient #4 Lactic Acid

Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that works on all skin types and is particularly beneficial for combination skin. Because it is ultra-hydrating and a sensitive-skin hero, this ingredient will gently remove dead skin cells and impurities without causing irritation.

The magic of using lactic acid for combination skin is that it boosts your skin’s natural ability to keep itself moisturised, resulting in more balanced oil production.

Find it in: NMF Lactic Acid Toner

Ingredient #5 Squalane

By now you’re getting the picture: layering on lightweight hydration is key for addressing combination skin. To that end, enter squalane: an immensely penetrative natural ingredient that can travel deep down into the dermal layers. Found in moisturising products, it’s an excellent alternative to other oils that are too heavy or greasy for combination skin. Like hyaluronic acid, squalane is also non-comedogenic – it will not clog pores. This ingredient is found naturally in the skin, but depletes as we age. It’s therefore an essential ingredient to add to your daily skincare routine.

Find it in: Hydrate Lightweight Moisturiser

Top TIp! Your extra weapon against combination skin: Add a clarifying facial spritz to your routine and use it throughout the day to keep combination skin mattified, clarified, and hydrated.