How To Crush The Balancing Act That Is Combination Skin

Got oily or combination skin? Then chances are a shiny t-zone is something you’re keen to manage. Good news: we've pulled together the lowdown on how to minimize excess oil and turn your shine into a different kind of glow.

Shiny skin is something those with dry skin probably dream of. If only they knew, right? Because while dry skin comes with its own set of grievances, an oily t-zone, that starts across your forehead, works its way down your nose, then culminates all over your chin, is certainly no picnic. Sure, it’s completely natural, and in fact combination skin, which is characterized by dryness over the cheeks and oiliness in the t-zone, is considered to be the most common skin type in the world. But still, it's frustrating at the best of times...

It's important to remember, however, that the amount of oil your skin produces is not entirely under your control. So, our first piece of important advice? Don’t sweat it too much; there’s only so much you can do. Instead, focus on the things you are able to influence by adhering to some smart shine-busting skincare tactics.

But First, What Causes Oily Skin?

Your skin type is entirely determined by how much sebum your skin produces. Sebum is an oily, waxy substance that’s produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermis, near the base of your hair follicles. Sebum is actually super important for the health of your skin because it works hard to seal in moisture and keep your skin lubricated. It also helps to protect it from external factors like allergens and pollutants.

Depending on how much sebum your glands produce, your skin type will either be dry , normal, combination or oily. And when it comes to a shiny t-zone, oily or combination skin types are those most commonly affected. 

Sebum: The Good & The Bad

While an oily t-zone is often frowned upon, excess sebum is not all bad. Sure, it can lead to things like blocked pores, blackheads and pimples, but it also results in a stronger barrier function which reduces your likelihood of developing sensitivities to certain skincare ingredients. Oh, and get this, it also slows down the development of premature wrinkles. Hurray for sebum! 

On the other hand, skin that produces too little sebum is frequently partnered with things like redness, irritation and sensitivities thanks to a compromised barrier function that’s less able to keep the skin moisturized and shielded from harm.

Of course, in a perfect world we would all have 'normal,' perfectly balanced skin. Sadly, that elusive perfect world simply does not exist.

What Makes The T-Zone Particularly Oily?

Whether you have oily or combination skin, the t-zone, which includes the forehead, nose and chin, is notorious for being the oiliest area of the face. And the reason is pretty simple: the t-zone contains more sebaceous glands than anywhere else. Nothing more complicated than that.

Your Dos & Don’t For A More Balanced T-Zone

Do you feel like your skin produces way more oil than your bestie’s? Well, you can thank genetics, hormones, your age and the weather for the most part. And unfortunately, these aren’t factors you can control. However, you can still do your bit by making smart skincare choices. Here’s how…

1. DO Choose The Right Cleanser

Harsh cleansers can strip your skin dry, triggering your sebaceous glands to produce even more oil – which is definitely not the result we’re aiming for. This makes your cleansing choices super, like super, important.

Avoid strong sulfates, harsh alcohols and synthetic fragrances for starters, and concentrate on ingredients that are effective at reducing oil, but don’t remove it completely. Things like kaolin and activated charcoal are great for mopping up excess oil and detoxifying the skin, so give our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser a go which blends coconut-derived activated charcoal with balancing hydrators like aloe vera and reishi mushroom.

Also, try to avoid hot water when cleansing your skin as this stimulates sebum production. You have been warned.

2. DON'T Forget To Moisturize

You might feel tempted to skip moisturizer because surely it’ll do nothing but make your skin feel and look even more oily, right? Wrong. Skipping moisturizer actually signals your skin to produce more oil. Yes, just like poor cleansing. Instead, choose the right kind of moisturizer – lightweight and oil-free – to help keep your skin balanced.

If your skin is also feeling a little dehydrated, it’s also wise to layer up with a light moisture-boosting serum like our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. Just a thought.

3. DO Try Salicylic Acid

As skincare ingredients go, salicylic acid is arguably the most important one to have in your shiny t-zone arsenal.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). BHAs are chemical exfoliants that break down the bonds between skin cells to encourage them to slough away more efficiently. Kind of like glycolic acid. However, unlike glycolic acid which is a water-soluble AHA, salicylic acid is fat-soluble which means that as well as providing exfoliating benefits, it’s also able to penetrate into your pores to help balance sebum. Salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities which makes it a shoo-in if your oily t-zone goes hand-in-hand with acne breakouts. 

Try our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant with combines this little gem with the aforementioned glycolic acid as well as hydrating powerhouses, glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

4. DON'T Strip Your Skin With Harsh Toner

Toners are fabulous, but here’s the thing: you don’t want yours to get rid of sebum altogether. This means that oil-reducing toners are probably best avoided.

Gentle, alcohol-free toners, on the other hand, that help to create harmony at the surface of your skin by balancing sebum and improving hydration? We’re all over those. Look for ingredients like witch hazel, niacinamide, zinc and MSM which help do just that. Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner, for example, has your name all over it.

5. DO Introduce Your Skin To Tea Tree Oil

Another great ingredient for balancing an oily t-zone is one of our all-time favorites: tea tree oil. Just like salicylic acid, tea tree oil is proven to contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it downright awesome for killing acne-causing bacteria on the surface of your skin. It's also a natural astringent which means it helps to regulate and control sebum production.

Tea tree oil, however, is pretty potent, so if you’re introducing it into your routine for the first time, treat it with respect. Our Tea Tree Super Serum+, for example, is well tolerated by the skin, but should still be patch tested first. Also, you may find just two or three applications a week is enough to bring harmony to your oily or combination skin. 

6. DON'T Make Friends With Occlusives

We’ve talked about many of the good ingredients but, don't forget, there are also some terrible ones you should avoid like the plague – most notably, occlusives. Now, don’t get us wrong, occlusives are awesome if you have a dry complexion or a chronic skin condition like eczema, because they leave a kind of thin film on the top of your skin which prevents water evaporation and helps to truly lock in moisture at a surface level. However, this barrier can also block up your pores which is terrible news for an oily t-zone – literally inviting acne breakouts along for the party.

Your best bet is to avoid occlusives at all costs. To be honest, they’re usually thick in texture so aren’t the kind of thing you would naturally go for anyway, but still, it’s worth knowing that things like petroleum jelly, rich cocoa butter, beeswax and coconut oil are not your ideal skincare friends.