Combination skin is one of the most common skin types and yet, for those of us with it, it remains a challenge to find appropriate skincare products.
This is not in the least due to the different concerns that you have to balance at different areas on the face, which requires a tactical approach and more steps than those with soley oily, balanced or dry skin.
The skin type is categorised by dryness in some areas like the cheeks and jaw, and excess oil in the others - the latter of which is typically found at the T-Zone aka the nose, forehead and chin. While combination skin may fluctuate with the seasons, it is generally genetic and so there’s not much you can do to prevent the dryness and oil from forming. But, all is not lost, there’s practices that you can incorporate into your routine so as not to excacerbate the situation. This includes regular cleansing and exfoliation to counteract the overproduction of pore-clogging sebum that can cause breakouts, and removing harsh ingredients like alcohol that may lead to flakiness and irritation.
Incorporating serums into your routine with a lightweight gel, lotion or liquid texture can go a long way in creating that glowy ungreasy finish you’ve dreamed of. This product type is particularly good for layering and so can help you adapt your routine to the specific needs of each facial zone.
We consulted Aesthetic Doctor Dr Kajal Babamiri to find out more.
Should you use a serum for combination skin?
“Yes!”, Dr Babamiri explains, “Serums are great for combination skin as it needs hydration to balance the moisture levels. Serums tend to be lightweight and hydrating, they are also concentrated and are packed with active ingredients like vitamin C and hydroxy acids”.
What are the benefits of serums?
“Serums absorb very quickly, which is great for when you have limited time in the morning”, she reveals. “Serums include the ingredients and vitamins needed to promote long-term skin health and in the short term; brighten, plump and hydrate skin”.
What are the ingredients to look out for? Is vitamin C good for combination skin?
“Vitamin C is perfect for combination skin, as it reduces pigmentation, and hydrates it too”, says Dr Babamiri. “Other ingredients to look out for includes peptides, which help to build a stronger skin barrier, and lactic acid to gently remove dead skin cells and impurities without causing irritation. Don’t forget hyaluronic acid though, this hero ingredient hydrates the skin without clogging pores, making it ideal for all skin types”.
Shop the best serums for combination skin below
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Tropic Pure Lagoon Blemish Prevention Serum
If your skin is prone to a flare up or three, this could be the serum for you. Tropic’s Pure Lagoon Blemish Prevention Serum is formulated to help clarify and clean up blemish-prone skin. In fact, an independent clinical study found that excess sebum (that oily feeling on your skin) was reduced by an average 36 per cent after 28 days of using this serum.
It’s formulated with prebiotics, bioflavonoids, vitamin B3 and zinc which are all shown to slow to production of sebum and refine pores, which can all lead to less breakouts. It also includes hyaluronic acid which can help to keep your skin hydrated, so you’ll be left with glowing (non-oily) skin in no time.
Buy now £44.00, Tropic
Allies of Skin Prebiotics and Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster
Allies of Skin’s active ingredient-packed formulations are simple but effective in their calming of stressed-out skin. This booster, to be used daily, contains a winning antioxidant-rich cocktail of niacinamide, prebiotics and probiotics that work together to refine and brighten, declog pores and fortify the complexion’s natural barrier. The texture is extremely lightweight and it’s easily layerable with the current and future products in your bathroom cabinet.
Buy now £65.00, Cult Beauty
Emma Hardie Midas Touch Super Serum
The botanical skincare label sets the bar high with the naming of its Midas Touch Super Serum but luckily, it delivers. The formula has been clinically tested and put through its paces to ensure that results are seen quickly after just a month of usage. While remaining lightweight on the skin, it packs a serious hydrating punch as well as harnesses filling spheres to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The complexion is left dewy and plump.
Buy now £58.00, Space NK
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum
TikTok hit label Peter Thomas Roth is on hand to banish dryness and flakiness with its Water Drench collection. The product line-up includes this moisture-boosting formula that has an impressive 75 per cent hyaluronic acid complex. With this supercharged ingredient at its heart set alongside silk proteins and minerals, you are treating your skin to long-lasting hydration without feel heavy on the oily parts of the face.
Buy now £56.00, Cult Beauty
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Healing is azelaic acid’s MO and proves to be a total game-changer in busting blemishes. Excess oil production can clog the pores and cause breakouts - and that’s when you’ll call in this booster from Paula’s Choice. The formula combines the named ingredient with salicylic acid as well as plant extracts that work for counteract hyperpigmentation, minimise spots, calm redness and speed up the healing process of previous black and whiteheads and scars.
Buy now £40.00, Paula’s Choice
Kora Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum
A glowy finish (no grease included) is what model-turned-beauty entrepeneur Miranda Kerr has created with this serum from her Kora Organics line. As the name suggests, the components are all organic and are made up of essential nutrients and a superfruit complex of acerola cherry, orange, lemon peel and Kakadu plum to enrich the complexion with the radiance boost of vitamin C. It’s lightweight with a pleasant citrus scent that can be mixed and matched with other skincare favourites without balling.
Buy now £63.00, Space NK
Biossance Squalane and Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
If you’re just diving into the world of skincare, prepare to find squalane everywhere among the latest launches. The ingredient that mimics the skin’s natural production of squalene (with an e) has come a long way in a short time and is now hailed as one of the best moisturising components on the market. It also takes a starring role across Biossance’s range where the skincare label is a bellwether of its usage. In this particular serum, it’s set alongside glow-giving vitamin C for brightening and hydration as well as white shiitake mushroom for its lightening effect on dark spots.
Buy now £49.00, Space NK
Caudalie Vinosource-Hydra SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum 30ml
Parched skin has met its match with this super serum from Caudalie. From the second that it hits your complexion, it immediately gets to work imparting the ultra-hydrating combination of hyaluronic acid and organic grape water that give long-lasting results. Its lightweight yet holds its own and there’s no oil within the formula so it shouldn’t excacerbate overproduction. Leaves skin feeling silky smooth in its wake.
Buy now £30.00, lookfantastic
VICHY Liftactiv H.A Epidermic Filler Smoothing 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
There has been a surge in the number of injectables in recent years but Vichy has designed this intensive product to save you from going under the knife - or rather, the needle. While offering a superior level of hydration, it has also been proven to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines as well as dark circles, blemishes and pesky marks that won’t seem to heal.
The combination of active ingredients get to work nourishing, while remaining totally non-invasive. You’ll find Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C and B within the formulation to support your skin’s natural barriers and giving it a soft, supple finish. The product can be used on all skin types including those with sensitive skin and is non-comedogenic.
Buy now £28.50, lookfantastic
111SKIN Y Theorem Repair Light Serum NAC Y2
This multi-tasking hero from 111SKIN is a reparative, high performance product that has you covered whether its sun damage, acne scarring, or inflammation. It has a light, water gel-like consistency that smoothes over the skin with a cooling effect and melts immediately on contact. It spotlights the brand’s NAC Y2 complex, a signatue of the label that was created in conjuction with space scientists and contains collagen and elastic to shield against external aggressors. This is combined with brightening liquorice root, the anti-inflammatories calendula and niacinamide as well as hyaluronic acid for added moisture.
Buy now £215.00, lookfantastic
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
Founded in 1989 by Dr. Murad, the eponymous brand was the first in the science-based clinical skincare game, and the American-based brand’s Youth Renewal Serum showcases the expertise.
Combining three retinol technologies as well as hyaluronic acid, it will minimise visible signs of ageing as well as preventing the effects you can’t see yet.
You’ll reverse years of ageing in just two weeks. Not a time machine, but the next best thing.
Buy now £80.00, Murad
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
When breakouts leave behind an unwanted sourvenir, call in mandelic acid to lighten, smooth and kiss goodbye to the scarring remnants. This topical treatment from The Ordinary gets to work offering a gentle exfoliation.
In this formula, mandelic acid combines with glycolic to take a slow but steady approach that ensures it can be tolerated by all skin types. There’s also HA (aka hyaluronic acid) to hydrate and plump. The lightweight texture is quickly absorbed and leaves a healthy glow.
Buy now £6.90, Space NK
