The 3 Step Guide to Managing Combination Skin

When it comes to skincare, advice can sometimes be a little confusing. We're told to purchase products for our specific skin type, which makes sense, but what if our skin is both oily and dry?

One of the most common skin types is a combination skin, where the cheeks are dry and the T-Zone (the forehead, nose and chin) are oily. For this skin type you may often be recommended products targeted for an oily skin. You use them for a while and notice improvements in your T-zone, but your cheeks may dry out and even start to flake. So what can you do? You don't want to start using products for dry skin, because that will only aggravate your T-zone, but you're tired of dealing with dry skin on other parts of your face.

This is where multi-moisturising comes in. Multi-moisturising has become very popular and involves simply applying different products to different areas of your skin depending on your skin type in that specific area. 

If you are unsure of your skin type please visit Stem Organic's Skin Type Guide.

We have put together a simple 3 step guide for keeping your combination skin healthy, clear and perfectly balanced.

Step 1: Cleanser

This is a step many of us are tempted to skip, especially at night when we may feel too tired to remove our makeup, but this first step may just be the most important as it is the base of the whole routine.

Cleansing removes dirt, oil and impurities that have accumulated on the skin. By cleansing our skin, we help to prevent breakouts as well as prep our skin for the next step.

We recommend a gentle cleanser that won't strip your skin of its natural oils and is suitable for all skin types. We don't like harsh cleansers containing drying ingredients, as the harsh chemicals in these products can actually make your skin worse.

A gentle cleanser such our Gentle Cleansing Milk is ideal for removing dirt and grime without upsetting your skin's delicate pH balance. It is a natural cleanser containing organic Aloe, Chamomile and Echinacea.

Step 2: Toner

Toners are often underrated, but we hope to change that perception. A good toner will help to remove any excess traces of makeup and environmental pollution, refine the pores and hydrate the skin in preparation for your serum, oil or moisturiser.

Benefits toners offer your skin

• Soothe: toners soothe, replenish and smooth the skin's surface, reducing blemishes and calming redness and irritation
• Balance: toners work to restore and balance the delicate pH levels of your skin
• Protect: toners remove residue and impurities left after cleansing and can assist in tightening pores, allowing less dirt, oil and toxins to penetrate the skin
• Hydrate: toners hydrate the skin, reducing the signs of ageing and preparing the skin's surface for effective absorption of your serum, oil or moisturiser
• Anti-ageing: as well as hydrating the skin, many toners contain antioxidant rich ingredients that fight ageing and stimulate cell regeneration

Our Antioxidant Toning Infusion is jam-packed with antioxidants to keep your skin bright and healthy. It is a natural antioxidant rich toner containing organic olive leaf, green tea & B5, which combine to fight ageing, reduce skin damage and improve the natural moisture retention capacity and renewal of your skin.

Step 3: Moisturiser(s)

Moisturisers help to lock hydration into your skin and protect it against environmental aggressors such as pollution. Don't skip this step, even if your skin is very oily. By not using a moisturiser your skin will try to overcompensate by producing more oil. This in turn, can result in breakouts.

For combination skin it doesn't make sense to use just one product if you have two skin types.

For your oilier T-zone, we recommend our Balancing Face Fluid which contains soothing aloe and antimicrobial willow bark to help control excess oil and keep your skin clear and radiant without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

For the rest of the face we recommend our Hydrating Face Fluid which will provide that quench of hydration your skin so desperately craves. It is a rich, yet rapidly absorbed face fluid that is full of essential fatty acids, emollients, vitamins and minerals. Containing Organic Macadamia, Shea & Vitamin E.

We hope this simple, yet effective, guide makes it a little easier for you to keep your combination skin in check. It doesn't have to be complicated, a few simple tweaks in your current routine will set you on the path to balanced skin once more!