Skincare Routine for Oily and Combination Skin

To identify oily or combination skin, check for enlarged pores, spots and shininess. Combination skin can also be dry in some areas. Whether you’re oily or combination, you’ll need to choose the best products for your skin type – enter Fragrance Direct!

Firstly, it’s important that you understand the cause of any changes to your skin’s condition. Oiliness can change seasonally, and can also be exacerbated by hormone imbalance, diet and stress. Dryness can be the result of these factors, as well as of genetics, UV exposure, indoor heating, long baths or showers (which can strip the skin of natural oils), and the ingredients found in some cosmetics, cleansers and medications.

Luckily, we’ve got a range of products that’ll help you to figure out the best skincare routine to suit your needs.

Choosing the right moisturiser for oily or combination skin seem like a tricky task. It’s important to choose a cream that won’t clog your pores and cause further oiliness, but that will also help to moisturise any dry areas you might have. If you can’t find the perfect cream for your skin, it’s ok to use a combination of products that work for you.

Guinot Hydrazone Toutes Peaux Moisturising Cream 50ml This moisturiser is great for oily skin – it lightly hydrates using water-filled-micro-spheres, leaving your pores clog-free and your skin feeling soft all-day long. It’s great for ensuring the right balance and helping your skin to glow without appearing oily.

Derma V10 24/7 Dry Skin Cream 100ml If you have combination skin, this cream is great to use on dry areas. It helps to rehydrate and keeps skin looking and feeling soft and supple. It’s great for sensitive skin, too, and can help to prevent dryness after washing or showering in hot water.

If you have oily or combination skin you need to be sure you're using the right cleansing products as a base to your skincare routine to avoid increasing oil production or dryness. Our favourite face washes, cleansers and toners for dry and combination skin can be found below.

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash This face wash is one of the best on the market for oily skin, having been specifically designed to remove dirt and balance excess sebum, which is one of the main causes of oiliness. Even better, it’s packed with Spruce Knot and Grapefruit Oil, which are anti-oxidant rich ingredients known to help purify the skin, as well as Moringa Oil, an anti-inflammatory which makes this face wash a great option for those with acne.

T Zone Charcoal Face Wash 200ml This face wash has been designed to unclog pores, ultra-purify the skin, and treat dry areas gently, so it’s great for combination skin. It promises to leave you shine-free, and to help prevent the build-up of dead skin cells which can lead to blemishes.

Guinot Demaquillant Hydra Sensitive Gentle Cleanser If you have oily or combination skin, you should consider using a gentle cleanser to remove makeup and excess dirt. This one has been designed to maintain balance whilst gently removing impurities, without damaging, drying or irritating your skin.

Dermalogica Multi Active Toner 250ml This ultra-light toner has been specially formulated to leave oily and combination skin looking fresh, bright and clear. It cleans and preps skin, ready to absorb a nourishing moisturiser.

Face Masks and treatments are particularly beneficial for those with oily and combination skin; they can add some much-needed moisture to dry areas, help to unclog pores, reduce blemishes and improve smoothness. Treat yourself to a little R and R and help your skin to look and feel amazing at the same time, with our picks of the face masks and treatments for oily and combination skin.

Stendhal Hydro Harmony SOS Anti Shine Mask 75ml To purify your skin and absorb excess sebum, choose this anti-shine mask. Designed to be used just once or twice a week on oily or combination skin, this mask has been formulated using Captinine H, which helps to lock in moisture, and infused with Detoxinase, which detoxifies skin.

Clinique Smart Custom Repair Serum 50ml Our favourites Clinique have brought us the perfect skincare product, not only for oily or combination skin, but for every skin type. This serum addresses the appearance of uneven skin tone, lines and wrinkles, promotes firmness and radiance, works wonders on dry patches, helps to unclog pores and reduces the appearance of blemishes – we think it might be just a little bit magic!

Tips for oily skin

• Wash your face at least twice a day (morning and night) • Exfoliate to clear your pores – a good scrub once a week can work wonders • Eat a healthy diet – fresh fruit, vegetables and lean proteins (avoid greasy food) • Carry blotting paper in your bag in case you have a breakout • Never skip moisturiser – it might feel counterproductive, but using the right type of moisturiser for your skin can actually help to reduce oil

Tips for combination skin

• Use a mix of products that have been created for both dry and oily skin – don’t be afraid to experiment until you discover what works best for you • Wear sunscreen or make sure your foundation has at least SPF 20 in it (to reduce the effects of UV) • Maximize the benefits of your routine with a night cream – let it work its magic overnight • Don’t touch your face too much – our hands carry a lot of germs, so try not pick or squeeze your skin

For more great skincare advice, check out our 15 Minute Morning Skincare Routine, which has all the information you need to get your skin glowing in no time. Once you have your skin sorted, why not let your hair down – check out our guide to Heat Free Hairstyles.