Combination Skin

It is enough of an issue if your skin is either oily, or dry, but when you have a combination of the two, it can be confusing and downright irritating. The most common form of combination skin is to have an oily middle and lower forehead, oily nose, some middle cheek area, and chin - also called the T-zone - but then to have a dry outer cheek and perhaps outer forehead too. 

 

Under normal conditions the middle of the face produces more oil than is necessary, and is enough to supply the outer part of the face with oil when it slowly disperses. The T-zone produces more oil than other areas as a protective measure, as the middle of the face will come into more contact with external factors (food, weather, etc. ) and there are more sensitive body parts around which to protect (eyes, nose, mouth). The oil should even out steadily and not be noticeable. 

 

However when there is an imbalance, this oily area can be susceptible to changes. You may have issues in your T-zone such as:

• Enlarged pores
• Acne
• Shiny skin

 

When there is an imbalance in your t-zone, the outer areas of your face may not be receiving enough oil, tending to be drier and showing signs of:

• Flaking
• Irritation
• Tightness, especially after cleansing

 

 

Combination skin can result from a mixture of genetics making you tend towards an overactive T-zone, and internal or external factors which trigger your T-zone. Triggers could be things such as:

• Touching your face too much
• Hot, cold, or especially dry weather
• Hormones
• Medicine

 

So what is happening in your T-zone?

 

Here, things are not going as planned. Your skin may just look shiny in places, but not have any other issues. This could very easily develop into a situation where pores become blocked by dirt, pollution, and dead skin cells that become trapped by the oil. When a pore becomes blocked, this can result in pimples and acne.

 

 

What are our tips to combat combination skin?

 

Cleansing your skin is essential in order to avoid issues with an overproduction of oil in your T-zone. Overcleansing can lead to further skin issues, so cleansing the right amount is essential. Natural soap is therefore great to combat combination skin. The glycerine in natural soap is a great humectant, holding water in your skin and keeping it hydrated. Hydrated skin avoids excessive oil production as a result of dry skin. A high glycerine content is often missing in industrial soaps and cleansers. Properly hydrating the skin is the essential first step to avoid an overreaction due to dry skin and overcleansing. Natural soaps also support the skin barrier by replacing the old dirty oils by new clean ones. When your skin has enough oils on its surface, and is not completely stripped after cleansing, your skin will be less likely to over-react and produce more oils than are necessary.

 

Our Juniper Wood Natural Soap has these ingredients, which are especially suited for combination skin: 

 

• Hempseed oil moisturises without clogging pores. It can help regulate oily skin, while keeping it moisturized and acne-causing bacteria at bay. 

 

• Juniper wood oil not only smells heavenly, it helps to calm aggravated skin, and help break the cycle of inflammation