Skincare can be a confusing game. One week, your skin feels dry and dehydrated, the next it's oily and prone to breakouts. Add in seasonal changes, hormones, and stress, and it’s no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed when choosing the right skincare.
Before we can effectively treat common skin concerns – from breakouts to the appearance of fine lines – we need to get back to basics: your skin type.
Your skin type is largely genetic and sets the tone for how your skin behaves every day. Unlike skin conditions, which are influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, your skin type stays relatively consistent over time.
Skin Types 101 – What Are They?
Your skin type is largely determined by how much oil (sebum) your skin naturally produces, and generally falls into one of four main categories:
Normal: The skin feels balanced – not too oily or dry – with minimal congestion and a comfortable, smooth, even texture.
Dry: The skin produces little to no oil and often feels tight and can look dull and flaky.
Oily: The skin type produces more oil than average and often appears shiny, especially in the T-zone. It may also be prone to congestion or breakouts.
Combination: A mix of dry or normal areas with oilier zones, typically across the forehead, nose and chin.
While your skin type is largely determined at birth, it doesn’t stay completely fixed.
Hormonal changes – especially during puberty and menopause – can shift how your skin behaves.
In your teens, an increase in oil production can push the skin into an oilier or combination skin type.
Post-menopause, that oil flow can slow dramatically. If your skin has always leaned towards oily, you might now experience what we’d call post-oily dry or post-oily combination skin. Even with less oil, visible pores may remain – a lasting imprint of your skin’s oilier past.
Your skin type forms the foundation of your skincare routine and determines what your skin needs day to day. And when those needs are met consistently, you're less likely to develop common conditions like breakouts, dehydration, or sensitivity that require more targeted support.
That’s why it’s important to choose products that balance hydration and support barrier function, without stripping or overwhelming the skin.
So how do you know if what you're dealing with is your skin type – or a condition that's developed over time?
Is It a Skin Type or a Skin Condition?
Understanding the difference between skin type and skin condition is key to getting your skincare right. Your skin type forms the baseline – it's how your skin naturally behaves, day in and day out. Skin conditions, on the other hand, are influenced by things like environment, hormones, stress, or even incorrect product use, and tend to come and go.
Skin conditions – such as dehydration, sensitivity, acne, pigmentation, or visible signs of ageing, and can affect any skin type.
Today, we're focusing on combination skin – not only because it's one of the most common skin types, but because it's often misunderstood. When treated incorrectly, it can give rise to some of the skin conditions we’ve just mentioned – but that needn’t be the case with the right skincare.
What Exactly Is Combination Skin?
We know combination skin can be confusing, so we’ve answered the most common questions to help you understand it better and care for it with confidence.
Q: What is combination skin, exactly?
Combination skin is when different parts of your face behave in different ways. Usually, the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is oily, while the cheeks or outer areas are dry, normal, or even sensitive.
Q: What does it look and feel like?
The oily areas might feel greasy by midday, look shiny, or be prone to congestion and breakouts. The drier areas may feel tight, appear dull, or show visible signs of sensitivity, dehydration and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Q: Why is combination skin so tricky to manage?
Because you're working with competing skin types on the face, rich, nourishing creams might support dry areas but feel too heavy or pore-clogging in oilier zones. On the flip side, clarifying or mattifying products that help control shine through the T-zone can leave the cheeks feeling tight, dehydrated, or stripped. That’s why a well-thought-out zone-aware approach is essential.
Q: Can my combination skin change throughout the year?
Not exactly. Your skin type stays the same, but how it behaves can shift with the seasons. In warmer months, oil flows more freely and, when supported with regular exfoliation, will minimise the chance of breakouts. In cooler weather, oil can thicken or solidify slightly – think of it like butter in the fridge – making it more likely to clog and congest the pores, especially if surface hydration or exfoliation is lacking.
The wrong type of cleanser, not enough moisture protection, or hormonal changes, there’s no wonder your skin can feel like it’s constantly changing – even though your underlying skin type remains the same.
Q: What’s the secret to managing combination skin?
Managing combination skin isn’t about finding one miracle product; it’s about building a routine that respects the different needs across your face. That means being consistent with the basics, staying adaptable with the seasons, and applying products expertly designed for the needs of the combination skin type.
At Aesthetics Rx®, we know it's a careful balancing act, and that's why we've created formulations that are perfect for combination skin types. Let’s look at a step-by-step routine that will keep the skin visibly calm, comfortable and radiant.
How to Care for Combination Skin — A Targeted, Balanced Approach
Keep it simple and balanced. Avoid overcomplicating your routine or overwhelming your skin. The goal is to use gentle, multi-tasking products that support both the oilier and drier zones, helping your skin stay clear, hydrated and comfortable without tipping the balance in the wrong direction.
Step 1: Cleanse Without Stripping
Aesthetics Rx® Refining Mousse Cleanser is a silky soft, sulphate-free foaming formula that gently lifts away excess oil, makeup, and impurities – without disrupting the skin’s natural balance.
Perfect for combination skin, it refreshes without over-drying, leaving skin smooth, clear, and visibly radiant.
Key ingredients/benefits:
Salicylic Acid – Deep-cleans pores and helps visibly reduce congestion and breakouts.
Lactic Acid – Gently exfoliates for a visibly smoother texture and enhanced radiance.
Davidson Plum Extract – Provides a natural solution to visibly brighten and calm the skin.
Step 2: Gentle Exfoliation
Aesthetics Rx® Biofermented Enzyme Peel is a gentle gel-based exfoliant that dissolves dead skin cells and clears surface buildup without friction, granules, or irritation. Ideal for combination skin, it smooths and visibly brightens while respecting both oily and sensitive zones.
Key ingredients & benefits:
Proteolytic Fruit Enzymes – Gently break down dead skin cells to promote renewal and visible radiance.
Botanical Extracts – Visibly smoothes and brightens without disrupting the skin’s natural balance.
pH-balanced, non-abrasive formula – Suitable for even the most sensitive or reactive skin types.
Step 3: Hydrate and Rebalance
Aesthetics Rx® Daily Moisturiser Combination is a lightweight, oil-balancing hydrator that delivers moisture where it’s needed and controls shine where it’s not. It leaves the skin feeling smooth, comfortable, and perfectly balanced — never greasy or stripped.
Key ingredients & benefits:
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract – Known for its mattifying properties, it helps support balanced oil flow, leaving skin looking clearer and more refined.
Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid – Attracts and retains moisture to restore hydration for a firmer looking skin.
Vitamin E – Delivers antioxidant protection against free radical damage to improve the appearance of premature ageing.
Step 4: Always Protect
Aesthetics Rx® Ultra-Protection Sunscreen SPF50+ is a lightweight, physical sunscreen that delivers broad-spectrum protection, without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue. Its sheer, matte finish sits beautifully under makeup and suits even the most sensitive or breakout-prone skin.
Key ingredients & benefits:
Zinc Oxide – Provides gentle, non-irritating protection by reflecting UVA & UVB rays.
Non-comedogenic base – Helps prevent the visible signs of congestion, making it ideal for oilier T-zones.
Fragrance- and chemical filter-free – Reduces the risk of irritation for sensitive skin types.
Use daily as the final step in your routine to protect and maintain healthy-looking and visibly balanced skin year-round.
Bonus Tip: Boost Your Skin with Targeted Tools
Aesthetics Rx® Derma Roller is a professional-grade micro-needling tool designed to elevate your skincare routine at home. Used weekly, it supports skin renewal by enhancing the absorption of active ingredients.
Key features & benefits:
Supports Collagen – For firmer-looking skin and minimising the appearance of fine lines.
Boosts absorption – Enhances the penetration of serums and active ingredients.
Improves tone and texture – Encourages a more even and visibly radiant complexion.
Combination Skin and Common Skin Conditions
Combination skin often comes with added complexity, and it's not unusual to experience dehydration, breakouts, or sensitivity.
Here's how to adjust without disrupting your basic routine:
Dehydrated: Skin may feel tight or look dull, even in oilier areas. A lightweight hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid, like Aesthetics Rx® Vitamin B Serum, helps visibly replenish moisture and reduce water loss without adding heaviness.
Acne-prone: If breakouts are appearing in the T-zone, focus on reducing congestion and supporting the skin’s natural balance. Our Ultimate Serum combines salicylic acid and niacinamide to visibly minimise pores and clarify the skin. It’s ideal for oily areas but gentle enough for drier zones too.
Sensitive: If your skin feels reactive or easily irritated, calming the skin’s microbiome is key. Aesthetics Rx® Microbiome Balancing Mist delivers nutrient-rich, barrier-supportive ingredients that hydrate and visibly soothe — day or night.
Once your foundational routine is in place, adapting becomes easier. Seasonal shifts, stress, travel or hormonal changes can all affect how your skin behaves, even if your skin type remains the same.
There’s no need to overhaul your skincare. Small tweaks, like adding our Instant Rescue Face Mask in winter to keep the skin visibly calm or our Hydrogel Sheet Mask during humid months for an added boost of hydration, can make all the difference to your basic skincare routine.
If you’re unsure what your skin needs next, our Aesthetics Rx® skincare professionals are here to help.
Combination Skin? You’ve Got This.
Understanding your skin type and knowing how to support it is the foundation of a results-driven skincare routine. Combination skin may come with a few more challenges, but with the right formulas, a little adaptability, and a solid routine, you can keep things in balance.
The most important step? Start with the basics, pay attention to your skin when changes occur, and adjust when needed. And if you’re unsure what your skin is trying to tell you, we’re here to help.
Want help creating your ideal combination skin routine? Explore our product recommendations, try our A Rx® Expert or connect with an Aesthetics Rx® skin professional for personalised guidance.