Everyone has a type—a skin type, that is. Some people have oily skin, while others experience dryness year-round. However, some folks have a bit of both. Combination skin is classified as simultaneously experiencing shininess from excess oil on the surface of the skin and dry patches on other areas. Combination skin typically causes increased oiliness in the T-zone—your forehead, nose, and chin—which can often include blackheads, whiteheads, and large pores. Dry patches elsewhere on the skin may be flaky or red.
While diet, stress, and even the weather can affect the balance of your skin, combination skin is often genetic in nature. But that doesn’t mean you have to put up with oil and dry patches forever. Certain moisturizers and cleansers can offer the relief you need during the dry winter months and the hot summer season. With the right ingredients for combination skin, you can reach your skincare goals and create a long-term routine that best works for you.
5 Best Ingredients for Combination Skin
1. Lactic Acid
A form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), lactic acid helps improve the skin’s appearance by acting as an exfoliant to buff away dead skin cells and reveal a more youthful appearance. This AHA also helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles.
People with combination skin benefit from using a product with plenty of lactic acid because this ingredient exfoliates away excess dead skin cell buildup on dry patches and unclogs pores on oily areas. When choosing a resurfacing or exfoliating product, check out our Seaglow Overnight Serum AHA Treatment. The exfoliation promotes cell turnover to reveal brighter, clearer, and smoother-looking skin¹.
2. Bentonite Clay
This substance is responsible for absorbing dirt, oils, and impurities from the skin². Bentonite clay contains a healthy balance of minerals, including magnesium, iron, and calcium, and it’s used in a variety of skincare products. People with combination skin benefit from using a product with bentonite, as this substance detoxifies and unclogs pores in oily areas.
If you’re looking for a cleanser for combination skin, our Ocean Cleanser contains a balance of bentonite and lactic acid, a combination that both exfoliates dead skin cells in dry patches and unclogs impurities from oily areas. This cleanser is safe for daily use and is pH balanced.
3. Hyaluronic Acid
When used in skincare products, this substance is responsible for helping the skin retain water. It’s commonly found in moisturizers, serums, and ointments, as hyaluronic acid is crucial in quenching the skin.
When selecting a moisturizer, choose humectant-based moisturizers, which help store water in the skin rather than promoting the production of oil, which leads to greasiness. Our Hyaluronic Sea Serum contains a healthy balance of hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom, and seaweed. This trio helps the skin retain water and remain hydrated all day long³.
4. Seaweed
This key ingredient offers bountiful benefits for combination skin because it’s rich in nutrients that help keep skin hydrated and balanced, so it looks smoother and healthier. The vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants support the skin barrier for that soft, supple feeling⁴.
People with combination skin often experience overly dry or overly oily patches under the eyes. Dark circles can make dark spots appear worse, especially since that area is sensitive. Apply our Ocean Eyes Age-Defying Serum with the attached roller ball to help cool and brighten the skin under the eyes. Its key ingredient, seaweed, helps the skin maintain its natural barrier for an age-defying look.
5. Squalane
Acting as a natural antioxidant, squalane provides lightweight, lasting hydration. This compound is a derivative of squalene, a naturally occurring lipid found in plants⁶. It’s a perfect ingredient for combination skin, as it boosts hydration in rough areas⁷ to help rebalance and replenish.
Our Seabiotic® Water Cream combines a healthy dose of squalane and a prebiotic and probiotic, plus seaweed* to help seal in moisture, making it a perfect moisturizer for combination skin. When using this cream, make sure to use it as a last step, preferably after applying a serum, to help seal in and absorb moisturizing agents.
*The probiotic in this formula is nonviable. This means it is not a live organism.
Sources:
1. *Based on a third-party consumer perception study conducted over 4 weeks on 32 women ages 37-65.
2. Berry, J. (22 May 2019). Bentonite clay: 11 benefits and uses. Medical News Today. Retrieved on July 26, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325241
3. *Based on a third-party clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 32 women ages 37-65 (including; expert skin grading, instrumental measurements & consumer perception study).
4. Rostamian, M. (9 August 2022). Seaweed for Skin: Benefits and How to Use. Byrdie. Retrieved on July 26, 2023, from https://www.byrdie.com/seaweed-for-skin-4782388
5. *Based on a third-party consumer perception study conducted over 4 weeks on 32 women ages 37-65.
6. What is Squalane? Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved on July 26, 2023, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/squalane/
7. *Based on a third-party consumer perception and clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 31 women ages 25-65.