Woman checking her skin in a mirror

Combination skin, oily skin, what's the difference?

Oily and combination skin both have a recurring problem with sebum and shine. Combination skin, however, has certain specific features that make it hard to identify and even harder to treat. Oily in some places but dry in others, sometimes sensitive, difficult to control because it changes with time… People who have mistaken their skin type for combination skin often choose the wrong products, and the result can be symptoms getting worse instead of better. Here's a little guide to help you sort it out and distinguish between a combination skin and an oily one.

How to recognise oily skin

With oily skin, you can see that there is excess sebum with all the related signs: shiny nose, open pores, a dull complexion and an oily sensation that gets worse as the day goes on. Not to mention the effects of heat, which just makes the problem worse still. The oily areas are located differently depending on whether the skin is oily or combination.

Oily Skin

Oily skin: the whole face is affected, and skin condition is the same at all times

T-Zone

Combination skin: only the T-zone displays excess sebum, with the cheeks and edges of the face having a tendency to dryness, but this varies depending on the period

With oily skin, the scalp is oily too, the hair getting greasy again very quickly between shampoos. In fact, there is excess sebum production in every part of the body that has sebaceous glands. This is a good thing in that the purpose of sebum is to protect the skin, but it comes at a cost - the resulting appearance of the skin and hair is often a burden.

How to identify combination skin

With combination skin, the areas of the face outside the T-zone are normal at best, but in the worst case scenario they are dry and reactive. This imbalance makes it even harder to choose the right kind of product, since in some places it only needs water whilst in others it needs water and oil.

Not to mention that combination skin is very unstable and its behaviour changes in response to environmental factors! Women with combination skin often complain that their skin is impossible to manage and that they just don’t understand how it works!

What causes combination skin?

It’s really hard to know exactly why you have combination skin. Skin balance is affected by many different factors:

Age
Age At the age of 35 for women and 45 for men, sebum production naturally starts to fall.
Emollient
Unsuitable products In attempting to deal with too much shine, people with oily skin tend to use too many stripping and astringent products.

Learn to manage combination skin


More than any other skin type, combination skin has to be closely observed day after day. You have to pay attention to how it feels in order to adapt how you treat it where necessary. 
 

Sun

In summer, a tendency to “oily skin” risks being more marked, so don’t hesitate to change your hygiene and product routines. 

Cold

On the other hand, in winter the “dry skin” tendency takes over and the skin requires more nourishment. As soon as the skin begins to feel tight, you must respond by switching to richer products.

makeup

Some everyday situations can also impact the skin, so changing your make-up or skincare product can be a delicate matter. The skin might react badly and blemishes might appear, or, on the contrary, it might develop desquamation or red patches.

There’s no doubt that combination skin can be hard to handle and sometimes it can be really disheartening. Finding the right products can be a real minefield in some cases. 

Be sure to get advice from a health professional, such as a pharmacist.

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