I am a FragranceNet.com Brand Ambassador, but all product suggestions and opinions are genuinely my own. #FragranceNet
Any other “happy” members of the combination dehydrated skin family out there? I swear, this has to be one of the most finicky skin types because it can be all of them at once. And how do you even treat a skin that is dry, oily, acne-prone, and sensitive, often all at the same time? It took me years to figure it out, but I think I finally cracked the code. The secret lies in finding the right products, and it doesn’t just come down to the brand-appointed description. To find a potential winner I look at the ingredients, and they often help me determine with a high degree of accuracy whether the product will work for me or not. I know you all expect me to show my skincare routine today, but treating combination dehydrated skin goes beyond the face. Let’s start with the face first, though…
First of all, just because my skin can be oily and acne-prone, it doesn’t mean I need a harsh cleanser. In fact, this is the worst thing I can do to my skin, because by disrupting the acid mantle I am making it more vulnerable to breakouts, dryness, loss of moisture, and UV rays. These days I stick to cleansers with pH5.0-5.5 which is the most comfortable state for the skin to be in. I bought some testing strips on Amazon a while back and never use a cleanser without checking it for alkalinity anymore. One of my recent favorites – Decleor Aroma Cleanse Fresh Purifying Gel [$135 $49.69 for 33.8 oz, available here] – has a pH5.0, and I’ve been using it almost daily for the past 5 months, so I definitely had plenty of time to test it. Good news: I still love it like I did on day 1, and I’m so glad that I got a giant salon-sized bottle because this is one of the best and gentlest cleansers I’ve ever tried. I would even say I like it more than another cult favorite by Cetaphil, just because it also has some skin-caring properties and oils in the formula that actually linger on the skin in small quantities. This giant tub retails for $135, but you can get it deeply discounted from FragranceNet. This is one of the best deals I’ve seen on the site, and if you’re looking for a good gentle cleanser you should totally check it out while it’s still in stock.
Another tricky thing about combination dehydrated skin is the body, which is often as finicky as the face. I can have oily back and chest, dry legs, arms, and feet, and a few random spots that get irritated from just about anything. How do you even deal with that? The answer is – body milks, lotions, and emulsions, basically anything that is moisturizing, not too heavy, and runny enough to “spread itself” without you having to rub the skin too much. I constantly share my favorite findings with you, and here’s another suggestion: Biotherm Anti-Drying Body Milk [$24.49 for 13.4 oz, available here] that smells like sweet oranges. This lotion to me is the equivalent of cashmere socks – not a necessity, but feels oh so good to use every day!
And let’s not forget the head! Mine shifts between oily and dry all the time [another awesome perk of combination skin], when the scalp is either itchy and flaky in the winter, and oily in the summer. Bumble And Bumble Sunday Shampoo [$23.09 for 8oz, available here] is a once a week treatment that thoroughly cleanses the scalp of any product buildup, excess oils, residue, and dry flakes. It also contains rosemary extract that works as an astringent, providing antibacterial properties and normalizing oil production. Basically, I use it on Sundays to rebalance the scalp, and then quench the strands in nourishing masks and gentle shampoos the rest of the week. Works like a charm!
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What are the biggest struggles for your skin type? Have you tried any of the products above? Let me know in the comments!
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I have the exact same type of skin!
It’s such a pain to deal with, isn’t it? 🙂
I could use the Sunday Shampoo! That sounds a lot like my scalp.
It works so well! I was surprised how different it is from other shampoos on the market. I think you would really like it, Destany.
Mine is just plain dry, but I’m curious about the Decleor Cleaner since I like the toner and moisturizer I’m using now from the brand
I think this cleanser would work well for dry skin type, because it won’t make it any drier.
I have rosacea and I feel like in the last few years the choices I have for products “tailored” for my skin has greatly increased, which takes the guesswork out for me – I’m not as into skin care as other things, I’m more routine driven with skin care
That is great news, Judy, I’m glad that more and more cosmetic companies are making products for rosacea and ultra sensitive skin types in general.
My back is sometimes oily as well. I know it is bad, but I almost never lotion it, especially during the summer.
I know how you feel, I barely use any lotion on my back and chest because those areas on me are prone to breakouts.
Sunday shampoo sounds great for weekly build-up.
It’s amazing, and much gentler than most other SLS shampoos that are clarifying by nature.
I am oily but dehydrated. I haven’t tried the Decleor cleanser but I love their Aroma night cream.
I haven’t tried the Aroma night cream, but this cleanser is the bomb, girl!
Thanks so much for these recommmendations! Combo skin can be hard to treat!
I know, right? I feel like it’s the worst skin type because you never know what products to use.
I am dry, dry, dry. Did I mention dry? I pile on #allofthemoisture day and night just to keep from cracking apart and flying away on the wind. lol That Biotherm body lotion sounds heavenly.
If your skin is super dry, Biotherm lotion might be a bit too lightweight for you. It’s definitely targeted more for combination skin type.
That’s my skin type too. I love your recommendations!
Thank you! Let me know if you try any of it, I would love to hear what you think.
These are awesome suggestions!
Thank you!
I love B&B products! My skin is mostly oily but my under-eye area has been really dry lately. The changes never end =(
Right? I swear, my skin is all over the place after I hit 25.