Mastering Your Skincare: A Guide for Combination Skin Routines

We all stress over our skin, but combination skin? It’s the trickiest of all the skin types to navigate. That’s because you have to tackle patches of dry, oily, and normal skin all at once. Meaning? Your combination skin routine has to pack a dynamic punch.

At MD GLAM, we’ve mastered the art of managing combination skin. And don’t worry—you don’t have to use a million different products to give your skin the TLC it deserves. 

With the right quality products and skincare lifestyle tips, your dry and oily patches can live harmoniously and thrive on a simple but powerful combination skin routine. 

Curious what that regimen looks like? Keep reading. 

Identifying Combination Skin

First things first—what is combination skin?

This skin type is characterized by skin that’s oily in some areas and dry in others. Usually, the oiliness accumulates in your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), whereas dryness tends to present along the jaw, cheeks, and hairline. 

As for why you have combination skin, there’s no black-and-white answer. It could develop for several reasons, spanning:

• Genetics
• Environmental factors
• Hormones 
• Stress
• Treatments or products
• Natural aging
  

Despite its origins, managing combination skin comes down to one thing: finding products that balance these opposing skin concerns. 

Skincare Routine for Combination Skin

Let’s face it—stress is inevitable, and you can’t alter nature or your genetic makeup. That means your best course of action is a solid combination skincare routine that delivers on your skin’s diverse needs.

Naturally, most people assume targeted products for each problem area is the logical step to approaching skincare for combination skin. Stick to high-quality, multi-tasking skincare products that do more with less. 

Here’s our blueprint for a combination skin routine that keeps your skin happy, healthy, and balanced:

Cleansing

Cleansing is a vital part of your skincare routine for more reasons than you think.

For starters, the most obvious benefit—it eliminates grime that could build up and trigger an overproduction of sebum (oil). Secondly, it preps your skin to absorb all the juicy nutrients of your subsequent skincare. 

The catch? Most cleansers are way too harsh for your skin’s varied needs. When they’re too overpowering, they strip your complexion of its healthy, natural oils, damaging your moisture barrier in the process.

The secret lies in using potent yet gentle facial cleansers that remove grime and sweat without compromising your skin’s barrier. Easier said than done, right? Not with MD GLAM on your side.

Our holy grail: MD GLAM Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser

Reason: This cleanser is powerful enough to clear your pores and melt the day away without stripping your skin of its supportive oils. But this cleanser goes a step further—delivering a hydrating dose of anti-aging vitamins and minerals that seep into the skin, even as the cleanser is washed away. 

A clean, balanced complexion plus a boost of skin-loving ingredients—combo skin perfection. 

Exfoliating 

Next step? Exfoliating—this is crucial for keeping your skin silky smooth and purified. That said, exfoliation for combination skin isn’t one-size-fits-all. 

Like specific cleansers can be too harsh, most exfoliators can be even harsher. Sure, they can strip your skin’s natural oils, but more dangerously? They can cause micro-tears in your skin. 

This further weakens your skin's barrier, exasperating dry, flaky patches, redness, and signs of sensitivity. Oy, vey.

Our holy grail: MD GLAM Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub 

Reason: This powerful formula pulls all the dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria from your pores without ever causing micro-tears on the skin. How? The magic lies in its extra-fine exfoliating particles that gently buff away impurities while keeping your barrier intact. 

Pro-tip: Exfoliate every other day to avoid irritating your skin. And on the days you aren’t exfoliating? Try supplementing with triple-cleansing for an even deeper cleanse. 

Toning 

Not so long ago, toners were used to wipe off any residue your face wash might have left behind. But with a solid cleansing routine, your face should already be thoroughly prepped and primed once you get to this step. 

Today, toners are all about nourishing and replenishing your skin post-cleanse. For combination skin, it should also balance oil production. This is so all your oily and dry patches get just the right amount of replenishment they need—no more, no less.

Our holy grail: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist 

Reason: With a blend of skin-soothing botanicals, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin—this gentle toner balances your skin post-cleanse while delivering all-day hydration. The best part? Its proprietary phyto botanical blend immediately reduces redness. 

Moisturizing

We know what you’re thinking—your forehead and chin are oilier than your cheeks and hairline, so T-zone skincare should focus on mattifying, while the rest of your face should receive deep hydration. Right?

Choosing a balancing moisturizer gives you stabilized hydration across your entire face. In other words, your T-zone isn’t triggered to produce more oil, while your cheeks and hairline get the adequate hydration they need. 

That said, not all moisturizers contain these balancing properties. 

Our holy grail: MD GLAM DMAE Antioxidant Day Moisturizer 

Reason: This lightweight moisturizer contains DMAE, which boosts hydration and promotes firmness without congesting any areas prone to oiliness. It’s also enriched with antioxidants like Vitamins C and E for shielding your skin against environmental stressors. 

Pro-tip: At bedtime, opt for more intense, overnight hydration with night creams for combination skin. Our Hyaluronic Acid Night C-Complex is made with specially sourced, low-molecular hyaluronic acid that moisturizes your skin on a cellular level. 

Let’s just say they don’t call it our “Fountain of Youth in a jar” for nothing. 

Protecting

Alas, our final and perhaps most important step is sun protection.

When it comes to combination skin, UV rays can potentially make all your problem spots more… well, problematic. The sun can cause already-dry skin to dry up further and oily skin to produce more oil, making SPF for combination skin a non-negotiable. 

The problem? As important as they are for skin health, many sunscreen formulas are notorious for causing acne and leaving behind that dreaded white cast. Plus, most are designed just for sun protection, offering no other benefits.

Our holy grail: MD GLAM Sunshout Sunscreen SPF 50

Reason: This sunscreen is specially formulated to deliver broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF-50 without clogging pores or causing breakouts. And since combo skin thrives on multi-tasking skincare products, this SPF also comes enriched with vitamins and antioxidants that further protect and soothe your dynamic skin. 

Beyond choosing the right products, the right habits can make all the difference in harmonizing your ever-fluid complexion.

Combination Skincare: Lifestyle Tips

Skincare, especially for your skin’s intricate needs, isn’t skin-deep. 

Here are some skincare lifestyle tips to nourish your complexion from the inside out:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat skin-supporting foods
• Make time for exercise
• Don’t switch products frequently
• Always wear sunscreen outside
• Refrain from taking hot showers
• Make sleep a priority
• Balance your stress levels
• Consult your dermatologist for lingering issue
  

MD GLAM: Skincare with Versatility in Mind 

Combination skin gets a bad rap, but that’s just because it’s misunderstood. With the right combination skin routine, your multifaceted complexion can flourish. 

Just remember the three magic words: gentle, multitasking, and balancing. 

At MD GLAM, Dr. Cat formulates each and every product to embody these qualities, targeting the nuanced needs of combination skin. The result? No more guesswork—just products that work with every part of your complexion. 

It’s time to flip the script on combination skin.