Just as each case of combination skin is unique, so too do we give our clients with combination skin a unique, individualized experience here at Ecobeautica. We strive to give you the customized experience you need by finding the root cause of your combination skin. By doing this, we can come up with the right products and services to manage your skin.
Do You Have Combination Skin?
When hearing others talk about dry or oily skin, those with combination skin may be able to relate to the problems of both. That’s because combination skin is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of different skin types, especially dry and oily skin. Those with combination skin usually have:
- An oily T-zone (the T-shaped area comprised of the forehead, the nose, and the chin) and dry cheeks
- A T-zone that becomes oilier or drier depending on the season
- Acne
- Blackheads
- Breakouts and dry patches at the same time
- Large pores, especially on the nose
- Shiny skin
In short, combination skin has oily and dry areas at the same time but in different places. The oily areas of the skin can be aggravated by heat and humidity while dry air can worsen dehydrated areas of the skin.
It’s also possible that the wrong skin-care routine or the wrong skin-care products are worsening your combination skin.
The Right Mix of Ingredients
Do you find yourself struggling to normalize the dry and the oily areas on your skin? While there are products for combination skin, not everyone with combination skin will benefit from using them. Those with extreme combination skin may have to be more diligent with their skin-care routines. They may be better off combining products meant for dry skin and products meant for oily skin.
At Ecobeautica, we understand that the best strategy for combination skin, extreme or not, is usually to divide and conquer. Combination skin may benefit best from a skin-care routine that uses products for oily skin on oily parts of the face and products for dry skin on dry parts of the face.
Generally, you’ll want to use alpha hydroxy acids, emollients, and humectants on dry areas of the skin. Save the astringents, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol for the oily sections. Using products for oily skin on dry areas might just make them drier, and using products for dry skin on oily areas will probably make them oilier.
You may also want to use products that contain antioxidants and sunscreen to protect and replenish your skin. Sunscreen will shield your skin from sun damage, allowing your skin to repair itself. Giving your skin a good dose of antioxidants could rejuvenate your skin, support skin renewal, and strengthen your skin’s defenses against environmental damage like sun damage.
Non-comedogenic products could also be a good idea for your combination skin, especially on oiler areas. These products are designed not to clog your pores.
On One Hand, Dryness
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) could be extremely beneficial for dry areas of the skin. AHAs are naturally occurring acids that work to exfoliate, cleanse, smooth surface wrinkles, stimulate cell renewal, support moisture retention, loosen clogged pores, and lighten the appearance of discolored areas of the skin.
Emollients and humectants can work together to hydrate your skin. Emollients can prevent water evaporation by covering the skin in a protective film, promoting water retention in the process. Humectants attract water to the outermost layer of the skin, which would be protected by emollients, and keep the skin soft and moisturized.
There are many kinds of AHAs, emollients, and humectants that could benefit the dry areas of your combination skin. You can learn more about them by checking out our page on dry skin.
On the Other Hand, Oiliness
Oily parts of the skin need effective cleansing that doesn’t leave anything behind. You may want to use a milk cleanser for makeup removal followed by a rinseable detergent cleanser to ensure that no residue is left behind.
You may also want to use astringents (otherwise known as toners, fresheners, or clarifying lotions) to tighten your pores and dry your skin. Lemon extract is an astringent worth considering as it also has good oil removing and cleansing properties.
Isopropyl alcohol and ethanol may dry and normalize oily areas of your skin. They may even have an astringent effect on your skin as well, tightening your pores.
For examples and more details on how these ingredients work for the oily areas of your skin, check out our page on oily skin.
Ecobeautica and Your Combination Skin
We at Ecobeautica are dedicated to customizing your spa experience to what you need. A consultation with us will give us a better understanding of the root cause of your combination skin and will let us know how to tailor our services to your skin’s needs. Some of the services we may choose to offer for your combination skin are our signature Ecobeautica Facial, the Classic European Facial, the Oxygen Facial, and a peel.
Our Ecobeautica Facial would be designed around the specific needs of your unique combination skin. Taking care to use specific ingredients on specific areas of your face, we may combine a number of different services to give your skin the best care possible. We may use a variety of different masks, peels, or even color light therapy to balance your skin.
Our Classic European Facial deeply cleanses and exfoliates the skin, wiping away excess oils and lifting dry, flaky skin. We use this facial with serums that contain collagen, antioxidants, and vitamins so we can nourish and revitalize your skin. This facial will hydrate drier parts of your face and even out the oilier sections.
Our Oxygen Facial uses 90-95% pure oxygen to support your skin’s ability to absorb serums infused with hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts, antioxidants, collagen, or whatever else would work best for your combination skin. This gentle facial makes it easier for your skin to absorb moisturizing agents, hydrating dry areas of your skin and making you look younger.
A peel may work wonders on certain areas of your combination skin, especially dry sections. A chemical peel would lift away dull, dry, flaking skin to let the newer, fresher skin cells underneath have their chance on the surface. The result? Minimized fine lines, lightened dark spots, and younger-looking skin.
It takes a full understanding of your combination skin to know how best to take care of it. We want to know your combination skin from the surface down to its root cause so we can give you the best care possible. If you want better care for your combination skin, book an appointment with us online or call us at (718) 382-9200 ext. 1. You can also visit us at our Brooklyn location on Ocean Avenue between Kings Highway and Quentin Road.