Combination Skin 101: How to Build a Routine That Actually Works

CeraVe is a brand that dermatologists often recommend, especially for folks with finicky skin. This cream-to-foam cleanser incorporates hyaluronic acid to help your skin retain moisture. It also has fatty molecules called ceramides that help reinforce your skin barrier, your outermost layer of skin and first line of defense against things like allergens and UV radiation.

Science and health journalist Malissa Rodenburg, who has both combination skin and eczema, found this formula effective at removing the day’s grime without being overly harsh on her skin. She points to the “creamy texture that is neither too thick nor too thin,” and says: “When I started using this face wash, I was dealing with an active eczema breakout. After using this face wash for two days, my face was less inflamed and no longer itchy.”

Rodenburg appreciated this cleanser’s gentle formula. “I liked the texture and the way my skin felt smooth and clean after use, but not like it was stripping off any of my body's essential oils,” she says.

I’ve been using this unassuming cleanser for years. My skin tended to be more combination before retinol use. But even though I’ve moved into more “dry skin” territory, this cleanser is the one that’s stuck with me through thick and thin (or dry and moisturized, rather).

The Ordinary is known for having a no-frills, good-results approach to skin care, and I appreciate any item that costs less than $10. This serum is great for those areas of the face that need a bit of extra moisture.

It took me some trial and error before I learned to use hyaluronic acid properly. Since it draws moisture from the surrounding environment, you’ll want to apply it to damp skin, then lock it in with a moisturizer.

I find the texture of this serum slightly tacky. But it’s great for when my cheeks start looking a bit flaky, whether from actives or from brutal Midwestern winters.

If the price on this makes you flinch, I can assure you that you’re not alone. But there’s a reason folks with combination skin skimp elsewhere so they can afford this vitamin C serum.

Health and science writer Mary Dennis says she noticed a “light, sort of metallic smell” (not uncommon with vitamin C serums). Otherwise, she loved this serum: “Spots faded, and skin felt tighter and plumper. The wrinkles on my forehead and around my eyes feel smoother.”

She also speaks for all of us who are trying to save money when she says: “I didn't want to like it; it's expensive, and their customer service is rude. But the product is just amazing.”

For a more-attainable vitamin C serum, I like this formulation from K-Beauty juggernaut Innisfree. It’s lightly moisturizing without being greasy.

Unlike many other vitamin C serums, this one has a faint, citrusy scent that I found quite pleasant. And with regular use, I do feel it made my skin appear brighter and more even-toned. Plus, for around $30 a bottle, it’s an investment that’s a lot easier to justify.

La Roche-Posay’s Pure B3 Retinol Serum is a great beginner retinol serum. The 0.3-percent concentration and the addition of hyaluronic acid help to make this powerhouse ingredient less irritating. The serum lightly moisturizes but absorbs quickly, so those with combination skin will likely be pleased with the resulting finish.

Fitness writer Natasha Caleel could have done without the formula’s lightly floral fragrance, but she says it faded quickly. And using the serum made a difference for her skin. “I did notice a bit of improvement in my fine lines and wrinkles even after just a couple [of] weeks,” she says. “It was easy to use and not particularly irritating, so I would have no problem incorporating this into my daily skin care routine.”

This moisturizer has a unique, gel-like texture that offers moisture without feeling heavy on your skin. A healthy dose of hyaluronic acid helps lock in moisture. Plus, it’s noncomedogenic, so you won’t need to add clogged pores to your list of skin care woes. It does have fragrance, which health writer and tester Jen Sinclair says is “very light and subtle.”

“It claims to lock in moisture for 24 hours, and I do think it delivered on that,” says Sinclair, who has combination skin. “My cheeks didn't get dry marks over the course of the day (as they are prone to do), and my skin was smoother overall.”

For me personally, the simpler my skin care routine is, the happier my skin is. This moisturizer has been my daily go-to for years. It’s lightweight yet surprisingly hydrating, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t sting, even on the days when my skin is feeling especially bratty.

That’s not surprising, given that Vanicream has made a name for being gentle enough for the most finicky skin types. Plus, it’s under $20, so this moisturizer always has a spot in my medicine cabinet.

If the other options on our list feel a little too lightweight, this moisturizer from La Roche-Posay is a richer option. It's still noncomedogenic, fragrance-free, and packed with ceramides and glycerin. Plus, the formula includes niacinamide, a hydrating ingredient that can be especially beneficial for combination skin.

“Niacinamide is another great ingredient. It’s gentle, can help reduce oil production, and is soothing for drier areas,” says Henry.

Editor Nicole Bonaccorso found this product moisturizing enough for nighttime use, but layered well with sunscreen and makeup for daytime. “I prefer a fragrance-free moisturizer like this,” she says. “It's moisturizing without going overboard with active ingredients. I love that it can be used both in the morning and at night.”

I was initially a bit skeptical of this moisturizer when I first tried it; it has an odd grayish color that looks unappealingly goopy at first. But then you put it on and discover that it is, indeed, weightless.

And somehow, it all just works. It’s scentless, dries down invisibly, and layers beautifully under sunscreen and makeup. It’s not necessarily a budget option, and I always wonder how much product is left behind in these pump-style bottles. (I’ve been known to force them open like a particularly thrifty Neanderthal.) But if you’re looking for a multi-tasking moisturizer, this is it.

This is perhaps the most cosmetically elegant facial sunscreen we tested. Hyaluronic acid adds a moisturizing component to this lightweight sunscreen. And though the active ingredient is zinc oxide, it lacks that dreaded white cast that mineral sunscreens can sometimes have.

Writer Lacey Muinos tested the untinted version, but this also comes in two tinted shades, if you want a little coverage. “The texture is great. It feels practically weightless on the skin, and after it dries, you won't even know it's there,” she says. “You definitely don't have to rub or tug to get this to blend in, and it doesn't have that greasy or tacky consistency some formulas can have. It just feels good on the skin at first, then it dries down to nothing.”

While I don’t want to use sunscreen that will make my makeup slide right off, I also appreciate a dewier look. This mineral sunscreen from Innisfree is a little thicker and smells more like a traditional sunscreen. But once applied, I find it dries down quickly, leaving a bit of a glow without giving me the greasies (or leaving a white cast).

Green tea extract and sunflower seed oil in the product add moisture. The formula is also vegan and cruelty-free.

When I say that my husband was skeptical after I paid over $50 for a sunscreen, I’m being generous. However, once he tried it, he had to admit that I was, perhaps, onto something. “It feels ... luxurious,” he admitted. And it does!

This is a formula I have no qualms about applying to my face daily. It’s also water-resistant, so it’s equally appropriate for a day at the beach. The formula is thin and watery (you have to give the bottle a good shake), but it applies evenly and dries down to nothing. So it walks that line between moisturizing and “mattifying” that most people with combination skin will appreciate. There’s even a mineral-based version, if that’s your preference.