The right combination

Skincare guru Louise Tear on how to best tackle combination skin.

If you have a shiny and oily T-zone with dry cheeks and enlarged pores, then you probably have combination skin.

And while it might be the most common skin type it's also the most frustrating to live with.

After all, combination skin takes a dual approach to skincare.

We caught up with top facialist Louise Tear to find out her tips for tackling combination skin.

The keyword, Louise says, is balance.

"Tackling both dry and oily skin is a common problem but in a weird way if you have combination skin you're actually in luck it's the most common skin type which means there are tons of skincare solutions out there for you," reassures Louise.

"Beware of treating your entire complexion like oily skin as it will leave the dry areas even drier and tighter than before," she says.

"In the same way, treating it only like dry skin can provoke excess oiliness and even an outbreak of blemishes."

Your first step is cleansing. Louise says it's best to avoid harsh cleansers that are formulated for oily skin or milky cleansers that are formulated for dry skin and instead use a moisturising facial wash.

The foaming action of these will help strip through the oil on the greasier parts of your skin but won't dehydrate the cheeks at the same time.

"After cleansing, use a gentle exfoliator," she advises.

"Many women with combination skin find they tend to get spots around their nose and gentle exfoliation will go a long way to help reduce this."

The final step in your skincare program is your moisturiser.

During the day, when beating the shine is what counts, you should use mattifying products to soak up the sebum produced in your T-zone without drying out your cheeks.

Mattifying products tend to use ingredients like witch hazel or talcum powder to soak up oil without irritation.

"At night, choose oil-free creams or light moisture lotions, which will supply your cheeks with extra hydration without over-stimulating the oil in your T-zone," Louise adds.