How to take care of combination skin?

Combination skin is one of the most common and difficult to care for. If not cared for properly, the skin will be damaged and prone to premature aging than other common skin types.

For effective facial care, you must first understand what type of skin you have. There are 5 main types of facial skin: dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, normal skin and combination skin. In particular, combination skin is a special skin type, characterized by the appearance of two or more different skin types on the face. Specifically, the T-zone of the face (which is the central part of the forehead, nose and chin) due to the concentration of many oil-producing glands, it will be greasy, prone to dirt, and prone to acne. The rest of the facial skin is normal or dry.
To know if you have combination skin, there is a simple way that you wash your face with a regular cleanser, pat dry. After an hour, you check your skin condition, if the T-zone appears oily and the cheeks, temples, and eye area are dry, you definitely have combination skin.
Combination skin is one of the most common skin types and also one of the most difficult to care for. People with combination skin will have some characteristics such as:
Oily skin in the T-zone due to excessive oil production. Large pores in the T-zone: Because this is an area with many sebaceous glands, which often have to be opened to secrete oil, most of them have large pores. Besides, pores can also be blocked by dead cells, dirt, makeup that has not been removed, ... making pores more and more open. You can shrink your pores by cleaning them regularly to keep them clear. Blackheads and whiteheads appear more in the T-zone: When excess oil is trapped in the pores, combined with dead cells will produce acne. If the pore is completely blocked, a whitehead will appear. If the pore is not completely blocked, the mouth part of the pimple opens on the surface of the skin, causing an oxidation reaction that causes the black color. Skin can get dry in areas outside of the T-zone. If you have combination skin, you sometimes have to deal with acne caused by excess sebum, while also dealing with flaky, itchy skin. due to being too dry.

Combination skin can be hereditary or the result of improper use of cosmetics. Using cosmetics that contain ingredients that cause excessive dryness can trigger some areas of the skin to produce more oil, while drying out other areas. In addition, living habits and living environment also affect the skin. If you live in a polluted environment, use drugs, often stress, ... will affect the regulation of oil on the skin.

The key to combination skin care is to create a balance on the skin, find a way to provide moisture to the dry skin areas, without increasing the oily shine in other skin areas. If combination skin is not cared for properly, the skin will be damaged and more susceptible to aging than other skin types. To make your combination skin healthy, take some care:

Combination skin should use any face wash is a concern of many girls. Facial cleansers with mild ingredients are an appropriate choice. A gentle cleanser that clears sebum in the T-zone without over-drying the rest of the skin. You should wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed to help wash away dirt and bacteria that accumulate on the skin.
You should prioritize choosing products with natural ingredients, avoid products with excessive fragrance, because these chemical fragrances can make the skin dry and acne worse. .

Exfoliation plays an especially important role with combination skin. Exfoliating will help the skin become bright, better absorb nutrients. Exfoliation also helps open and unclog clogged pores in oily areas of the face, while helping moisture seep into dry areas.
It is recommended to periodically exfoliate once or twice per week to remove dead skin cells from the face. Do not use exfoliating products that are too strong or rub them hard on the face. Should choose products with safe ingredients, gentle bleaching properties so that the skin is clear, clean, and well absorbed.

Experts recommend girls with combination skin to use different moisturizers for different facial areas. Use a highly moisturizing, oil-based cream for dry skin around the cheeks, temples, and around the jawline. Use a light water-based moisturizer for oily skin, helping this skin area to be moisturized and rejuvenated without adding shine.

Trying to avoid putting your hands on your face is essential for people with combination skin. Hands contain a lot of dirt and bacteria that you can't see. If you often put your hands on your face, you will accidentally put these agents on your face to clog pores, causing acne.

You should have oil blotting paper in your wallet to deal with excess oil in the T-zone during the day when you are going to school or work. Oil blotting papers will effectively absorb temporary oil without damaging your makeup.

Whether it's winter or summer, you should use sunscreen every time you go outside. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it 30 minutes before leaving the house for maximum effect. Usually, the higher the SPF, the better the protection, but no cream can provide 100% protection from UV rays. Therefore, you should combine skin protection with a mask, sun-protective clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors for a long time. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if you sweat or swim.

Masking is an effective way to nourish the skin by providing nutrients directly to the skin. Masking for combination skin will be even more effective if you apply multiple masks at the same time that are suitable for each skin area.

Regular exercise helps reduce stress, improves physical and mental health. Exercise increases blood circulation, carrying nutrients and oxygen directly to skin cells. At the same time, good blood circulation will also carry away waste products from the skin, including free radicals that can damage the skin. Regular exercise is a way to help beautify your skin from the inside, regardless of your skin type.
Modern life with a lot of pressure from work, study, family will make you sometimes fall into a state of stress. Stress not only affects your health but can also make your skin worse. Stress does not cause acne but can worsen existing acne. There have been many studies showing an association between stress and acne. One study observed college students for several months, during exam time when stress levels increased, acne was more common.
There are many ways to reduce stress such as exercise, yoga, meditation,... Besides, one of the most important ways is to get enough rest, go to bed early. Getting enough sleep not only helps the body reduce stress and fatigue, but also restores the skin.
Combination skin is a type of "fastidious skin", but if you know how to take care of combination skin by using cosmetics, skin care, and skin protection, it is important to have a beautiful skin from combination skin. not too difficult.
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Reference sources: kiehls.com, webmd.com, colorescience.com, lorealparisusa.com