Combination skin Archives

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As thirty keeps getting closer, I’m pregnant and winter is doing its tricks on my skin, it’s even more important to focus on hydration and gentle products. I’ve switched to a very gentle face wash and I have made sure to add lots of good natural oils in my routine. I’ve actually noticed getting the best results by treating my skin gentler – skipping any harsh treatments – while still using effective products.

I am so excited to share with you my ultimate favorite skincare products for sensitive combination skin. I also listed some winter makeup favorites. These products are something I repurchase and use all the time and, well, can’t live without. As they’re all gentle and hydrating, they work pretty universally for most skin types.

The best products for dry, sensitive combination skin

If you have noticed your skin feeling dry after shower, there’s redness on your cheeks or overall you’re looking to even out your skin tone – check out these star products.

Quick routine map for dry, sensitive combination skin: start with a gentle cleanser and toner, add a lightweight moisturizer, seal dry areas with facial oil, use soothing masks when needed, and keep winter makeup hydrating rather than drying. For more routine help, see my best oil cleansers for sensitive combination skin and my guide to which vitamin C derivatives are gentler.

Skincare basics for dry combination skin

Luonkos Radiant Oil Cleansing

If you wear makeup, the first step in your routine should be an oil cleanser. Luonkos Radiant oil cleansing cake is a wonderful product, that gently soaks off the makeup while giving the lovely benefits of natural oils to my skin. My skin feels soft and pampered after using this – and even heavy makeup is gone. Special points for minimal eco packaging.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Orange Flower Face Wash

Switching to a gentle milky cleanser has been a game changer for my skin. Before, I had noticed my skin feeling tight and a bit dry after cleansing. I used to use gel washes, which work for my skin in summer. Neal’s Yard Remedies Orange Flower Wash feels nourishing and dreamy on the skin, while cleansing any remaining makeup, dirt and sweat off. If there’s one product you change this winter, let it be this!

Madara Comforting Toner

Is it too much to say this toner has saved my skin? I guess not, because this truly should be on everyone’s shelf. Madara’s Comforting toner balances the pH of the skin after cleansing, while giving lots of hydration with the help of hyaluronic acid. Chamomile extract and cornflower extract calm down the skin. I used to have so much more redness and dryness, but after switching to this product I’ve seen a clear change.

BYBI Beauty C-Caf Cream

It’s surprisingly difficult to find good moisturizers for combination skin. But here’s one! Bybi’s C-Caf Cream is a wonderful lightweight (but not too light!) moisturizer, that works perfectly under makeup too. It brightens the skin with Vitamin C and Caffeine. This also contains the popular ingredient called Squalane, which is a great antioxidant and a moisturizing agent.

Pure Beauty Arganöljy

In the evening I mix a pump of this oil to my lotion. Argan oil is the queen of oils, because it suits mature, dry or even acne-skin. This is one of the best products for acne scars as well. I’ve used Pure Beauty’s argan oil the most, because it’s odourless, lasting and good quality.

As for my lips, the best natural lip balm I’ve found is Hurraw! moon balm. Sixth year in the row, this is why my lips are (mostly) never dry.

Special picks for dry combination skin

BYBI Beauty Bakuchiol Booster

You’ve probably heard of Bakuchiol by now, but if you haven’t, it’s the next best thing to retinol. Actually, it’s better. This natural plant-based miracle ingredient works just like retinol, without irritating the skin. Because even though there are actual studies on the anti-ageing properties of retinol, it’s not that suitable for many skin types. I personally haven’t been able to use retinol products – before this! I love to add a drop or two of bakuchiol booster to my lotion in the evening. You see the benefits of this more in the long run, but I notice my skin being smoother while using this product.

Evolve Beauty Radiant Glow Mask

This mask is something I always need to have stocked. It’s such a miracle product, that makes my skin baby smooth, radiant and even. If there’s a big day coming and I want my skin looking at its best, I use this mask. This mask is 2-in-1, so it exfoliates your skin with coconut shell powder, while pampering it with almond oil and raw cacao powder.

P.S. I have written a whole post about it here.

Evolve Beauty Bio Retinol Gold Mask

If there’s ever been a royal face mask, it’s this. Whereas the radiant glow mask exfoliates the skin and reveals a brand new skin underneath, this gold mask nourishes and tackles signs of ageing. Kaolin also gently deep cleanses. It contains argan oil (my favorite oil!), and bio-retinol from Bidens Pilosa plant. My skin feels bright, nourished and firm after using this mask.

Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil

Throughout my pregnancy, I’ve used Weleda’s body oils. I like the essential oils in them. You can’t prevent stretch marks from happening just by moisturizing your skin, but it does help with the itching and keeps the skin elastic – at least on the outside. (We’ll see how I feel about this after my pregnancy and if I do or don’t end up with stretch marks. So far my skin has made it through.) I’ve really started to embrace these daily oil rituals. It’s a great time to bond with the baby and thank my body for the big task its handling.

Winter makeup favorites

Makeup can – and is – the continuum of your skincare. You know I have a special spot in my heart for natural makeup. There’s just something about getting the benefits of natural oils and extracts, while still getting the same results than synthetic makeup.

Lily Lolo’s mineral makeup base belongs on my list of best “foundations”. It just works whether it’s acne you want to hide or dryness you’ll battling. Even though it’s a powder product, mineral makeup melts on the skin and looks very natural. I also love Lily Lolo loose mineral eyeshadows. They’re super reflective so just one color on the eye makes a whole look.

In winter the eye are also tends to get dry and for that the best solution is a hydrating and lightweight concealer. Madara’s Luminous Perfecting Concealer is one of the best.

As for the perfect winter powder, Zuii Lux Finishing Powder gets the award. It feels soft and satin-like on the skin, definitely not dry. Make sure to also check out Zuii’s Lux lipsticks – they’re super pigmented and comfortable on the lips.

Natural perfumes by Unique Beauty

These past years my nose (and head) has gotten really sensitive to synthetic scents and I haven’t used a perfume in years. And oh how I’ve missed spraying my signature scent before hurrying out the door! Perfumes are definitely a luxury product, one that you use just for yourself to enjoy the uplifting feeling the scent gives you.

Unique Beauty’s Hygge is a sweet vanilla -based scent, that has a fruity twist from raspberry, plus cherry and violet flowers. It’s truly such a unique scent, one that is not too overwhelming or too mild. I love vanilla, but some natural vanilla scents are too heavy and musky. Hygge manages to be fresh. It just makes me smile – it’s the scent I’ve been looking for for a long time.

If you haven’t been able to use perfumes, but still miss them – perhaps try a natural one? Based on my experience they’re much more lighter, while still giving out a nice scent. Unique Beauty also sell smaller versions, if you want to try samples first to find the perfect match for you.

So – there are some of my holy grail products for dry, sensitive combination skin. If you try a gentler winter routine, I would love to see what works for you on Instagram @charlottaeve.

How to determine your skin type: quick test

To determine your skin type, wash your face, skip products and wait about an hour. Then look at your bare skin in natural light. Check pores, shine, flaking, tightness and where you get impurities.

If your skin feels balanced and pores are barely visible, your skin type is probably normal.
If your T-zone shines but your cheeks feel normal or dry, your skin type is probably combination.
If most of your face gets shiny and pores are visible, your skin type is probably oily.
If your skin feels tight, flaky or dull and pores are tiny, your skin type is probably dry.

Knowing your skin type is not that tricky; you just need to evaluate how your skin looks and feels. Focus on your skin’s qualities, such as your pores and the overall look.

Typically a beauty therapist can help you to determine your skin type. Luckily I happen to be one! Knowing your skin type has massive benefits; it basically means it’s easier to find suitable products that work.

To determine your skin type, take a look at your bare skin. Can you see your pores clearly and what’s their size? Are there impurities and if so, what kind? Does your skin look dry or shiny? If your pores are large or there are impurities, you most likely have combination or oily skin. If you can see flaking, tightness or fine dehydration lines, you’re most likely dry.

There are four skin types: normal, dry, combination and oily.
Now you might think, wait, what about sensitive skin or acne? Sensitive skin is actually not a skin type, it’s more of a feature. You can be sensitive to some ingredients. And acne is a skin condition, which I’m a little too familiar with, especially hormonal acne. You can read more about my acne struggles here.

I should also note that your skin type or your skin’s qualities can and will change with age, as your skin produces less collagen, oils and sebum. In other words, your skin gets more dry and loses firmness.

This means that mature skin is not a skin type per se, it’s just your skin type except more dry. Products advertised for mature skin are usually creamy and nourishing. What that means is that choosing mature skin’s cream (“anti-age cream”) for dry skin might be the right choice and vice versa.

Skin type cheat sheet for evaluating pores, oiliness and dryness — Skin type cheat sheet for evaluating pores, oiliness, dryness and impurities.

Different skin types and their characteristics

Your next read: How to build a skincare routine for all skin types

Normal skin

On normal skin the pores are very small or not visible at all. The skin is even and it doesn’t really have impurities, excluding the occasional spot here or there. It can get dry or sensitive on some occasions, but usually there’s no problem with it. I would still recommend taking good care of your skin, because it’s easy to take it for granted.

When it comes to skincare products, you have the most room to play. It all depends on your personal preference and what do you feel your skin needs: more hydration or lighter products? Explore products for normal, combination or dry skin.

Combination skin

Probably the most common skin type.

Combination skin is a mix of normal, dry and oily skin. Usually the T-zone is more oily and the pores are visible, but the cheeks are almost normal or even dry. Impurities, enlarged pores and dryness all go within this skin type. With a good skincare routine combination skin can look close to normal – with the exception of enlarged pores, which you can’t really minimize at home.

Combination skin might be prone to breakouts, so a good wash routine is crucial to keep those pores clean. But don’t fool yourself by choosing the most purifying products; oily skin is a different story. Lightweight and hydrating products are the core to your routine. You might benefit from products that contain AHA or BHA, especially if you have impurities. It’s likely that you need different types of products for different occasions (say, lighter products for summer vs. extra moisture for winter).

I have combination skin, so my skincare recommendations on this blog should be helpful to you. If your skin is both dry and reactive, continue with my sensitive combination skin product guide. For more Patyka context, read my Patyka skincare review.

Links marked with * are affiliate links. Product names and availability may have changed since this guide was first published; stale routes were checked and updated in July 2026.

Quick picks for combination skin:
Patyka Hydra Booster Blue Serum (+ other Patyka Hydra line products)
*Pura D'Or Organic Argan Oil (actually awesome for all skin types)

Oily skin

Oily skin has a tendency to impurities. The pores are visible and likely enlarged. Skin gets oily and shiny. Even oily skin can be sometimes dry and sensitive, but the biggest problem is the oil production and impurities.

A good wash is important to keep the pores clean, but don’t overdo it. A little bit of oil on the skin is a good thing – but more about that below in the dry skin section. You also need to hydrate and moisturize. If you really struggle with impurities, I would definitely recommend adding a purifying serum, that works its magic under your lotion.

I have a blog post for the best moisturizers for oily skin. If clogged pores are your main worry, read the post about blackheads next.

Quick picks for oily skin:
Neal’s Yard Remedies Palmarosa products
The Body Shop Drops of Youth / Edelweiss serum line

Dry skin

An acid mantle is the skin’s barrier, which consists of sebum and sweat. That protects the skin from dryness, bacteria, air pollutants and other external threats. Dry skin type doesn’t produce enough sebum, which is why the skin can appear dry, flaky or dull. Basically the acid mantle isn’t working properly. Dry skin has small pores or they aren’t visible at all.

Feeling like your skin gets tight after a shower is probably all familiar to you. Dry skin demands oil and moisture. It can’t take certain ingredients and it can react to things like weather quite dramatically, since the acid mantle isn’t fully there to take the hit. In other words, dryness can cause redness and sensitivity. There might be the occasional spot here or there, but it’s quite rare.

Your skin can be problematic but with the right products it can almost be perfect. Take good care of your skin, find the right moisturizers and don’t forget to exfoliate too. (Yes, even dry skin needs exfoliating). Oil cleansing can also suit dry skin well; here are my favorite oil cleansers.

I have dedicated a post for dry skin with a lot of product recommendations. You’ll find the best products for dry skin here!

Quick picks for dry skin:
*Clarins Soothing Toning Lotion
*Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Rich Cream
The older L’Occitane Aqua Reotier cream I originally mentioned appears to be discontinued, so I would now look for a similar lightweight hydrating cream instead.

Hopefully you now know how to determine your skin type and were able to learn a thing or two from this post. Make sure to also check out my post on how to build a skincare routine for all skin types. If you are comparing home devices after sorting your routine, my CurrentBody Skin LED mask review is a separate deep dive.

For skin-type questions and daily skincare talk, you can also find me on Instagram @charlottaeve.

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10+ products for sensitive combination skin