How do you take care of combination skin?

• Of all skin types, combination skin is the only one that combines two distinctly contrasting characteristics.

• This means that treating combination skin requires you to both moisturize and manage excess sebum to eliminate shine and imperfections.

• Laboratoires FILORGA has developed highly specialized treatments capable of treating all the features of combination skin at once.

Combination skin stands out from other skin types due to the fact that it combines characteristics specific to both oily skin AND dry skin and is normally present in two distinct areas of the face.

This means that combination skin features:

• Shine concentrated in the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin.

• Drier skin on the cheeks and the rest of the face.

Each of these areas will have its own distinct texture and complexion, as well as very specific characteristics.

Imperfections and blackheads: two telltale signs of oily skin

Oily skin is generally shiny in appearance with enlarged pores. The latter often goes hand in hand with acne problems. This can be caused by:

• Increased sebum production: sebum is a fluid composed of lipids that plays a crucial role in protecting the skin and maintaining its moisture levels. Overproduction of sebum, called hyperseborrhea, gives the skin its shiny, greasy appearance. Several factors, like hormones, dehydration, particulates in air pollution, or an unbalanced diet, can be responsible for hyperseborrhea.

• An accumulation of dead cells in the pores: this phenomenon is known as hyperkeratosis and happens when skin cells that have reached the end of their lifespan clog pores, making them more visible and leading to the formation of blackheads.

• Bacterial proliferation and inflammation: the excess sebum and dead cells mentioned above create an environment conducive to the proliferation of certain bacteria, particularly Cutibacterium acnes. These feed on sebum and release irritating fatty acids. When hyperseborrhea develops, the resultant proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes can trigger an inflammatory response that causes the development of pimples.

The defining characteristics of dry skin

Dry skin includes:

• A feeling of tightness.

• A rough texture, occasionally combined with rashes, cracks, or scaly patches.

• Frequent itching or irritation.

• Reduced elasticity and a dull complexion.

• Skin that appears “scaly” overall.

• Heightened sensitivity to temperature variations.

Oily and dry areas will vary in severity and extent, depending on the individual. Occasionally, the skin will only be slightly dry, with the skin on the cheeks simply looking like normal skin.

As combination skin is indeed a combination of two different skin types, it makes sense that to take care of it, you have to meet the needs of both.

What oily skin needs

To treat oily skin, sebum is the first thing you should focus on. Given its crucial role in protecting the skin from external aggressors, it’s important not to try to completely suppress sebum production but instead to achieve optimal balance.

To do this, we use:

• Products containing cleansing ingredients that regulate sebum production and moisturize the skin without irritating it.

• Creams with a light texture and mattifying qualities that reduce shine.

And we avoid:

• Excessively heavy, rich treatments, which can overload the skin’s surface with lipids.

• Scrubs or overly aggressive treatments that can dry out the skin and, consequently, stimulate excess sebum production.

What dry skin needs

Dry skin is a consequence of a lipid deficiency in the epidermis. This outer layer of the skin consists of cells connected to each other by a kind of cement made up of lipids, which helps to maintain cell cohesion and form an impermeable protective barrier.

When people have dry skin, this lipid cement fails, causing skin cells to separate. This leads to excessive evaporation of moisture, providing a wealth of opportunities for external pathogens.

Care should therefore be taken to provide dry skin with lipids in order to restore epidermal cell cohesion and ensure effective skin barrier function. Laboratoires FILORGA’s experts recommend the use of creams rich in lipids like squalenes, fatty acids, or ceramides. They also advise against cleansing the skin with excessively hot water to avoid further damage to the skin barrier.

Combination skin is quite unstable and needs to be monitored carefully. This is because its oily and dry characteristics don’t always behave predictably and can vary from one week to the next. This means you need to regularly adjust your skincare routine and lifestyle. Here, the most effective recommendations are the simplest ones, like drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of sleep, and eating well.

Our experts recommend the following treatments for combination skin:

For gentle cleansing

Our AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) micro-peeling cleansing gel from the SKIN-PREP range rids the skin of impurities, clarifies, and reduces shine. It also has smoothing properties and provides protection against the harmful effects of pollution.

Designed for combination to oily skin and inspired by the cleansing practices used in aesthetics clinics, its formula contains three types of AHA combined with a PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid) to smooth the skin’s surface.

To moisturize and mattify

Three exceptional skincare treatments, specially formulated for combination to oily skin:

• HYDRA-HYAL water cream. This moisturizing cream incorporates an innovative complex featuring two types of hyaluronic acid to help restore optimal moisture levels, thereby plumping the skin and preventing skin aging. With an added botanical astringent, the formula also works to tighten pores and provide lasting mattifying benefits, leaving the skin with a smooth texture.

• TIME-FILLER 5XP cream-gel. This anti-wrinkle facial treatment simultaneously targets 5 types of wrinkles thanks to its 5XP core formula, which is inspired by 5 techniques used in aesthetic medicine.

• NCEF-REVERSE MAT is a multi-correction, mattifying, anti-aging facial fluid with a high concentration of NCEF to boost skin youthfulness and quality. This formula works simultaneously to smooth wrinkles, reduce skin sagging, and improve complexion evenness. It combines NCEF*, Laboratoires FILORGA’s unique polyrevitalizing complex, with proven anti-aging active ingredients (hyaluronic acid, collagen, and vitamins A, H, and E). 

*New Cellular Encapsulated Factors