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Skincare routine for combination skin

Combination skin is oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and normal or dry on the cheeks. It needs products that balance rather than strip: a gentle cleanser, a medium-weight moisturizer and daily sunscreen.

This is a general example, not your routine. The products that suit you depend on your age, concerns, ingredients you avoid and budget. The free quiz picks them for you in about two minutes.

Build your own routine →

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What combination skin needs

The trick is to choose products that suit both areas, instead of treating one and upsetting the other. A gentle cleanser doesn't dry out the cheeks, a light-to-medium moisturizer doesn't make the T-zone greasier, and sunscreen goes everywhere.

Morning routine

1
Cleanser
Gentle cleanser
Preps the skin without irritating it.
Gentle, not stripping. If your cheeks feel tight after washing, the cleanser is too strong for them.
- ExampleEstée Lauder Daywear Glow Boost Gel Cleanser 125ml19,60 €Notino →
2
Moisturizer
Balanced-texture cream
Locks in moisture and strengthens the skin barrier.
One cream for the whole face. You don't need two moisturizers. Just use a little less on the T-zone.
- ExampleLierac Hydragenist The Gel-Cream 50ml≈ 32,82 €Typical price in Greece
3
Sunscreen
SPF 30–50, broad spectrum
Essential every day, even when it's cloudy.
A light fluid suits both areas. It won't feel heavy on the T-zone or dry on the cheeks.
- ExampleLa Roche-Posay Anthelios Oil Control Gel-Cream SPF50+ 50ml21,16 €Notino →

Evening routine

1
Makeup & sunscreen remover optional
Cleansing balm, oil or micellar water
If you wore makeup or sunscreen, dissolve it first with one of these, then use your cleanser (double cleanse). On bare-skin days you can skip this step.
- ExampleLierac The Intense Cleansing Oil 150ml15,72 €Notino →
2
Cleanser
The same cleanser as in the morning
Removes what's left of the day and preps your skin for your night care.
3
Moisturizer
The same moisturizer as in the morning
A simple moisturizer works morning and night — your skin doesn't need a separate night cream.

What to avoid

Products made for very oily skin on the whole face. They can dry out the cheeks.
Heavy creams on the T-zone.
Exfoliating the whole face often. If you need it, focus on the T-zone a few times a week.
Assuming your skin stays the same all year: it often gets oilier in summer and drier in winter.

Make it yours

If you also have enlarged pores, blackheads, dehydration or dark spots, the quiz adds a treatment for it, and it leaves out any ingredient you want to avoid. It also suggests an eye cream if you choose an eye-area concern.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Some ingredients, such as retinoids, are not recommended. The example routine above contains none, and the quiz asks about it and leaves them out of your routine. Check any product with your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know I have combination skin?

A few hours after washing, your forehead, nose and chin look shiny while your cheeks feel normal or slightly tight.

Do I need different products for different areas?

Usually not. A balanced routine works for the whole face. Some people like to use a targeted treatment, such as a BHA, on the T-zone only.

Why is my skin oilier in summer?

Heat and humidity increase oil. Many people with combination skin prefer a lighter moisturizer in summer and a richer one in winter. Retake the quiz when the season changes.

What about blackheads on my nose?

Choose “Clogged pores / blackheads” in the quiz: it adds a salicylic acid (BHA) treatment a few evenings a week.