Foundation Tips for Combination Skin

Tips for Using Foundation with Combination Skin

Anyone who pays attention to beauty tips and skincare advice knows that each of us has a basic skin type. They vary according to the way our skin behaves to a number of issues. For example, skin type can often be more easily recognized during the dead of winter, when heating systems and low humidity can make things less comfortable. At such times, those of us with naturally dry skin really know what we’re dealing with. This article is geared towards foundation tips for COMBINATION SKIN.

The most common terms used to describe skin types are dry or aging skin, oily, skin, sensitive skin, and combination skin. Combination skin is the most common type which seems to have a “split personality,” because it has areas that might be dry and flaky, like papery thin skin beneath the eyes, but which might also have larger pores and oily areas on the chin and nose.

Such conditions are often called the “T zone” because you might be able to easily draw an imaginary T on your face, with your forehead, nose, and chin forming the T, and the remainder of the face forming what we can describe as the dry skin zone. Yet, combination skin is not always recognizable by the appearance of a T zone on the face.

Related: Top Foundation Tips for Dry Skin

How Do You Know You Have Combination Skin?

In general, you can say that you have combination skin if you deal with BOTH dry skin and oily skin on your face at all times. Additionally, those with combination skin may find they are developing clogged pores or shininess to the skin at the exact same moment they notice fine lines and wrinkles appearing. Many people with combination skin have uneven skin tone, such as that papery or dry skin paired with larger pores elsewhere.

Also, the team of beauty experts at Cosmopolitan say that you can do a simple blotting paper test to determine whether or not you have authentically combination skin. Just test the T zone and if it makes oil appear on the blotting paper, while the cheeks yield very little, it is likely you are a combination skin type.

The good news is that most people live with such conditions, and that means that there are lots of products designed to address the unique and unpredictable demands of such skin.

Related: Effective and Easy Foundation Tips for Oily Skin

Why Skin Behaves Erratically?

So, why on Earth does your skin produce too much oil in some areas and not enough in others? The cause of combination skin is usually very simple and relatively impossible to control, i.e., they are genetic. We all inherit our skin type in the same ways we inherit bone structure and eye color.

The causes of combination skin can also include:

• Skincare products that are wrong for the area on which they are used, i.e., a moisturizer may be too oily and clog pores or a cleanser or serum may be too strong and strip the natural oils from the skin
• Stress can cause the skin to produce too much or too little sebum, leading to discoloration, dryness, breakouts and more
• Your level of exercise is too low and your circulation is not able to deliver the amount of nutrients and moisture necessary
• You are not using enough sunblock or sun protection

As you can see, there is not a single cause behind the development of combination skin, and that means there is also no universal remedy or treatment for it. One skincare expert says it this way, the “thing to keep in mind with combination skin is there’s no one-size-fits solution. It depends on how dry your dry areas are naturally and how oily your oily areas are. It comes down to this: You’ll have to divide and conquer by caring for different parts of your face differently.”

This can make it difficult to develop a functional skincare routine, and it can also make it very difficult to determine which cosmetics to use. For example, if you have a matte-finish product, it will make fine lines and wrinkles, or dryness, even worse, while it tones down the shininess or naturally oilier areas.

Before we talk about the “how” of applying foundation, let’s look at a few basic treatment and care options that can help you address the combination skin situation.

How to Deal with Combination Skin

Experts will all agree that there are many things anyone with combination skin can do to begin enjoying better conditions. The most basic skincare steps include:

Exfoliating – The process of removing dead and dry skin cells in order to force the skin to begin producing new cells is called exfoliation. Unfortunately, if you do it too aggressively to the drier areas of skin it can cause irritation. So, don’t be too rough when exfoliating, but do use an exfoliating cleanser. There are exfoliating products with a coarse texture and they are often part of daily cleansing. Buy a gentle formula and use a light touch. There are also exfoliants that use skin-safe acids to slough away dead skin cells, but they may be a bit too irritating if your drier skin is also sensitive. A liquid BHA exfoliant (and even one that is weightless and leave-on is best.

Think Gentle – The products you are using on your skin could be formulated too harshly for your combination skin conditions. Rather than risk triggering too much oil production or inflammation, opt for formulas that are designed for combination skin and which are also fragrance-free. Rather than trying to find multiple products to apply to the different T-zone or other areas, a gentle cleanser or other product is best.

Related: Exfoliation 101: What It Is, Why to Do It, and Top Exfoliation Tips for Success

Apply Sunscreen – We often fail to realize how frequently our skin is exposed to the damages caused by UV light. When you apply sunblock, it can keep the skin safe as well as properly balanced and hydrated. It also prevents long-term damage to the cells that can lead to premature skin aging.

Think Cool – Believe it or not, the use of products at room temperature can be irritating to some combination skin types. This is why experts suggest storing them in the refrigerator to help them work a bit overtime reducing inflammation and redness. They are also going to go on less fluidly, and this can keep oil production in check, too.

Mix It Up – While we suggested you try not to use multiple formulations at all times, we do suggest that you mix up the formulas you use throughout a day. For example, cleanse the face with a lighter foaming formula in the morning to eliminate any oily buildup from the night before. Then use a cream cleanser in the evening to get the skin fully moisturized for the upcoming night’s rest.

Tone It – One step that a lot of people with combination skin will skip is toning. This is because they fear that it might dry out the drier areas. However, not all toners are the same, and you can find them stocked with antioxidant ingredients that will fight any inflammation, and yet they will not dry out your skin.

Balance It Out – The growing awareness of the different needs of combination skin has caused beauty product manufacturers to begin pairing dual formulas in single containers. They might call them balancing products and allow you to address the needs of your combination skin as they emerge. For example, there may be a mattifying moisturizer paired with a hydrator, and you can apply them on an as-needed basis.

Mask It – Skin masks are all of the rage these days and you’ll find them in formulations for any sort of need. Think of them as a key component in your skincare regimen and you’ll be able to address your skin’s changing needs. For example, you can use a mask every week for hydrating the skin as well as a purifying mask to take out excess oils or impurities, and even a toning or balancing mask each week.

Know the Goods – One thing that anyone with combination skin MUST learn is the products or ingredients that work best and those that they must avoid. A good rule of thumb is to skip anything that uses heavy fragrance. In fact, going for fragrance-free formulas is a major step in the right direction. Look at sensitive skin formulas, all-natural, and those that are lightweight. You may need to be very careful about mattifying formulas that further dry out the skin, and try to find lotion or gel-based formulas – particularly with cleansers. Skip any toners that are without antioxidants and skin-replenishing compounds.

With these basic tactics, you can start to experience positive changes and improvements in the skin. After that, it comes down to choosing the right cosmetics and learning how to apply them best for your skin type. Now we will get in to the foundation tips for combination skin.

Related: How to Choose the Right Contour Colors for Your Skin Tone

Foundation 101: Combination Skin Edition

Now that you are aware of the best ingredients and products to use on combination skin, it comes time to learn how to tackle the most challenging issue relating to applying makeup to combination skin: foundation.

Foundation is a key step and it is crucial that you find the right match. Not only do your want to pick the perfect shade, you”ll want to find a foundation that works for your combination skin.

For the most part, you will find foundation as a matte, liquid, stick, or dewy formula, and not all work well with any skin type. Those with combination skin are tole that a “satin finish liquid foundation” is often the best. Why? This is because it allows dry skin to get the brighter, healthier look that is the goal of foundation, and yet it also prevents oilier areas of skin from taking on too much sheen.

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And while we wish it was as easy as selecting a formula in the right shade, there is more than just foundation tips for combination skin, there is also a process:

Cleanse just before applying – By hydrating the skin (gently) you ensure that the formula applies with a bit more smoothness

Hydrate – Using a lightweight, matte moisturizer immediately after cleansing is helpful in keeping the skin as hydrated as possible

Prime – A primer is a step many people skin, but that is unfortunate as a primer is able to hide imperfections, smooth lines, and hide overly large pores while adding a bit of balance to the overall skin tone

Correct – Those with combination skin can have redness on their drier areas as well as darker circles under the eyes. Before applying the foundation, it is the perfect time to address the discolorations with counteracting hues. For example, yellow-toned concealers can hide the deep purple of circles under the eyes while greener hues of concealer can address areas of red

Build – If you are unfamiliar with the concept of buildable foundations, now is the moment to dig in and learn more. There are formulas designed to be used to help contour or accent the areas of the face desired, such as highlighting cheekbones or slimming rounder areas of the face. They also make it easier to address combination skin types. It may take practice to learn how to build and blend, but it will be well worth it because such techniques ensure you can use the right product on the specific area of the face.

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Highlight – Those with combination skin should do what they can to draw the attention away from difficult areas through the use of accenting techniques. For example, learn how to apply blush to give your whole face a more radiant glow. Add a lot of focus to your eyes or your lips (one or both at the same time is fine), as this can make it even easier to reduce or distract with a challenging complexion.

In the end, combination skin is the most common type and you are not alone in your struggles to make it look and feel its best. Take what you have learned here and start shopping around for products designed to meet your changing needs, learn how to care for your skin in the best ways possible, and take time to determine the right foundation and cosmetics for your needs. Soon, you’ll start to get compliments on your healthy complexion and forget that your skin type was ever a challenge. We hope you found these foundation tips for combination skin helpful.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Makeup Primer

More Great Foundation Tips for Combination Skin:

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN TYPE

6 ways to control combination skin

The Top 5 Ingredients Best For: COMBINATION SKIN