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Combination Skin

Balance Where It Matters Most

Combination Skin

What it is? How Does it appear? Why it matters.

Combination skin means having both dry and oily areas on your face at the same time—typically an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with dry or normal cheeks. It’s a skin type, not a condition, and it's extremely common—especially among melanated skin, where oil production can vary seasonally or hormonally.

You'll notice this skin type when your forehead gets shiny by midday, but your cheeks feel tight or flake. It’s often misunderstood and mistreated—folks either strip the oil or over-hydrate, throwing the whole face out of sync.

Finding balance is key. When you treat combination skin with intention, you allow your natural barrier to reset and glow. You don’t need five products—you just need the right ones for your zones, layered with care.

Causes

  • Genetics plays a significant role in oily skin, particularly in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Inherited predispositions can lead to overactive sebaceous glands, which produce an excess of sebum (oil), causing an oily sheen on the face. If your parents or close relatives have oily skin, you're more likely to experience it as well.

  • Hormonal fluctuations, particularly the decrease in estrogen during menopause and perimenopause, can significantly impact skin dryness and flakiness on the cheeks. This is because estrogen plays a vital role in maintaining skin's moisture and elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen and sebum (an oily substance). When estrogen levels decline, these processes are reduced, leading to dry, flaky, and sometimes itchy skin, especially on the cheeks, and other areas. 

  • Over-cleansing the T-zone, especially with harsh products, can lead to breakouts due to a disrupted skin barrier and increased oil production. Stripping the skin of its natural oils triggers the sebaceous glands to overcompensate and produce more sebum, leading to clogged pores and acne. Harsh cleansers with ingredients like alcohol or strong surfactants can also irritate the skin, causing further inflammation and breakouts.

  • For most skin types, tightness after washing is often a sign that the cleanser is too harsh, stripping away essential oils and disrupting the skin's natural moisture barrier. This is especially true for dry or sensitive skin, which are more prone to moisture loss. Other factors like overwashing, using hot water, or waiting too long to moisturize can also contribute to this sensation.

  • Over-cleansing with skincare products can exacerbate enlarged pores, particularly in the center of the face, by stripping away the skin's natural oils and triggering increased sebum production. This excess oil, combined with dead skin cells and other debris, can then clog pores, making them appear larger and more prominent. ​

Symptoms

  • Oily forehead/nose/chin

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  • Dry or flaky cheeks
  • Breakouts in the T-zone
  • Tightness after washing
  • Enlarged pores in the center of the face
What causes it, and how do you know if you have it?

Your skin is doing the most—and it needs ingredients that multitask just like you. These botanicals help regulate oil, soothe dryness, and support an even, glowing complexion without causing chaos.

Ingredients That Help (with functions): 

  • Hyaluronic Acid: A potent humectant that attracts and retains moisture in the skin, providing hydration without being heavy. It's ideal for balancing moisture in combination skin, hydrating dry patches without increasing oiliness in the T-zone.

  • Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Niacinamide regulates sebum production and stimulates ceramide production, restoring the skin's protective barrier. It also helps reduce inflammation, minimize pores, and improve skin texture.

  • GDL (Glucono delta-lactone): Gentle Exfoliation: GDL is a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), a gentle exfoliant suitable for even sensitive skin types. It helps remove dead skin cells and improves texture and tone without excessive irritation or dryness that some other exfoliants can cause.                                                                                          Hydration: GDL is a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture in the skin, which is helpful for balancing the dry areas in combination skin.                                                                                                                 Antioxidant Benefits: It has antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from environmental damage. 

  • Shiitake Mushroom Extract: Brightening and Even Skin Tone: Shiitake mushrooms are a natural source of kojic acid, known for its ability to inhibit melanin production, which can help reduce hyperpigmentation and create a more even skin tone.                                                                                                                                                    Anti-aging Properties: Rich in antioxidants, shiitake mushrooms can help fight free radical damage that contributes to premature aging, fine lines, and wrinkles.                                                                                    Anti-inflammatory: Shiitake contains compounds like beta-glucans and antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for soothing irritated or inflamed skin, which can occur in combination skin types.                                                                                                                                  Improved Skin Barrier Function: Shiitake contains vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and ceramides, which are important for strengthening the skin's protective barrier and maintaining hydration. 

  • Willow bark extract: Gentle Exfoliation and Acne Fighting: Willow bark extract contains salicin, a natural precursor to salicylic acid, offering gentle exfoliation and helping to unclog pores and reduce breakouts without the dryness or irritation sometimes associated with synthetic salicylic acid.                                                Reduces Inflammation: It has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe redness and irritation, which can be helpful for both the oily and drier areas of combination skin.                                                                       Balances Oil Production: Willow bark extract can help regulate sebum production, preventing excess oiliness while maintaining hydration in drier areas.                                                                                                      Refines Pores: The presence of tannins in willow bark extract can help minimize the appearance of pores, which is often a concern for individuals with oily T-zone.                                                                                     

  • Bentonite Clay: This clay is effective at absorbing excess oil, dirt, and impurities from the skin, detoxifying and unclogging pores in oily areas.                                                                                                                               

  • Aloe Vera: Aloe vera soothes and calms irritated skin, reduces inflammation, and has astringent properties that help to absorb excess oil. It's also non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores.                                                     

  • Green Tea: Green tea is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. It detoxifies the skin, helps prevent acne, and soothes inflammation.

Suggested Products:

Suggested Solutions That Actually Work
Finding the right mix doesn’t have to be a guessing game. These DSB favorites are handpicked to bring balance to your dry-and-oily life. Each one supports combination skin with multitasking ingredients that hydrate, clarify, and restore harmony—no irritation, no drama.

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