The best essential oils for the combination skin type are Ylang Ylang to balance, Patchouli to hydrate, Frankincense to reduce the signs of aging and Vetiver to balance out the skin tone. Introduce powerful carrier oils to improve their function. Jojoba balances sebum production and rosehip oil, rich with linoleic acid, restores barrier function. Tamanu is amazing for tackling acne as well as supporting healthy skin healing. Blend these with natural ingredients to make superlative skin care. Cosmetic Clays soak up excess oil and clean skin pores. Rosewater and Glycerine boost hydration vehicle cosmetic Butters seal in moisture to soften and hydrate the skin. Read on to find DIY recipes for all combinations types. Adapt our exciting Cream Cleanser, soothing Toner, hydrating Moisturizer and nourishing Serum to make them perfect and just for you. Whatever your combination skin type, there is something here for you!
What Is A Combination Skin Type?
A combination skin type is where there are two or more different skin types found across the facial surface. It differs from a normal skin type because there are also some oily and dry patches..
Greasy skin types have oiliness across all parts of the face and conversely if you have a dry skin type it will be across the whole face and not just dry cheeks.
T - Zone
Most often the difference in combination skin type is seen across the T-zone. The T- zone encompasses the forehead, down around the nose, the nose itself, and can sometimes extend as far as the chin.
The most common combination is an oily T-zone and dry peripheral skin across the cheeks and around the edges of the face. It can sometimes creep up into the scalp and cause flaking around the edge of it too.
The most common problem is the need to combat the shininess and create an even skin tone. Not to mention, getting makeup to keep its matt finish, and even if you can keep it lustrous, foundation and powders then also highlight patches of dryness and flakiness. .
Acne
More serious issues can arise from the increased oil production. This over secretion causes build-up of dead skin cells which then cake with the everyday grimes we collect from the air. Over time, this can cause spots and pimples and contribute to skin issues like acne and
A common mistake is that people avoid products with oil in when they have oily skin. But actually, the sebaceous glands make more oil to try to remedy skin that is too dry. Find out why in Revolutionary Acne Kit: Essential Oils for Clearer Skin!
Using the right kinds of oil supports the sebaceous glands to rebalance your skin.
Incidentally, Vitamin B2 deficiency can cause overproduction of oil. Taking a supplement may be useful to support healthy sebum production.
Combination and Sensitive Skin
To make life even more challenging it is possible to have a combination skin type that is also sensitive. (I do.) That can be particularly difficult if you also have acne.
Happily, there is plenty you can do for your sensitive combination skin type with essential oils and natural products.
Let’s start with the essential oils.
Essential Oils For Combination Skin Type
On your journey with a combination skin type, essential oils can be your best friends and most trusted allies. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, get to know them and work out the best combinations for your skin.
Give things a little time to get to work, in some cases you want to give essential oils as much as 3-4 weeks to show significant results. The key to dealing with any long standing skin issue or condition is to understand that essential oils can have cumulative effects that build over time.
You need to use them consistently to address your combination skin type and over the weeks and months, you may find you need to use a little less, but continue to use them regularly.
Safety
Please check the individual safety considerations for each essential oil.
If you are diabetic, or have any existing medical conditions please consult a medical professional for advice before using essential oils.
Using essential oils, carrier oils and natural base ingredients can really make a difference to your combination skin type. Here are some of our favorite and most trusted essential oils.
Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata)
For those with a combination skin type, ylang ylang should be top of your list!
One of its most amazing qualities is its ability to restore balance. I use it to balance my blood pressure, mood, and hormones as well as my combination skin type.
Ylang Ylang’s active constituents help to restore the balance of sebum production across the skin and they help to mitigate the variances of oiliness vs dryness across the skin tone, giving a more even complexion.
Alam (2024) also observed ‘studies indicated sustained release behavior, and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were observed’, demonstrating the wider benefits of using Ylang Ylang essential oil in our skincare. The antioxidant and antimicrobial actions are extremely useful to us in keeping the skin clean, balanced, soft and supple.
However, it is worth noting that Ylang Ylang has a very low safety dilution rate of just 0.80% and is not considered safe to be used in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Safety
- Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- Ylang Ylang essential oils can lower your blood pressure so proceed with caution and consult a medical professional if you take blood pressure medication.
- Ylang Ylang has a low skin safety dilution rate of just 0.08%.
Explore more about Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
- So Many Reasons To Love Ylang Ylang
- Best 8 Ways To Use Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil - has a fantastic Toner recipe for combination skin!
Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin)
One of the most annoying things for those with a combination skin type can be the very dry patches of skin that feel rough and can even flake, especially into the hairline. Patchouli essential oil is fantastic on very dry skin and aromatherapists love it for soothing and rejuvenating driness. It is particularly effective on rough and cracked, overly dehydrated skin.
Make Patchouli your go-to with its antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory actions. These actions make it very useful at cleaning and cleansing the skin and addressing acne, blemishes, eczema, and hydrating a dry hairline and scalp.
It has those all important antioxidant actions to support our combination skin type by toning the skin, reducing the appearance of skin imperfections and blemishes and reducing the signs of aging and giving your complexion a youthful glow. What’s not to love?
Safety
- Patchouli essential oil is not considered to be safe to use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Explore more about Patchouli Essential Oil
- Transform Your Skincare with Patchouli Essential Oil - try the Rejuvenating Skin Oil as an alternative to a serum.
- What Is Patchouli Oil Good For?
Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens)
Our combination skin type has influencing factors like hormones, mood and stress levels. Use Egyptian Geranium essential oil to support healthy balance in all of these areas.
It soothes and hydrates dry skin and supports healthy circulation. Packed with useful antioxidants, geranium essential oil also helps reduce the sign of aging.
Remembering that dry skin is thirsty skin, pop Geranium into water based products like aqueous creams to ramp up skin hydration and get it to work quickly.
At Vinevida we stock two geranium essential oils, Geranium Egypt and Rose geranium - (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum). Either work well as they act similarly upon the as it has very similar actions on your combination skin type.
Safety
- Not considered safe for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Explore more about the Geranium Essential Oils
- Introducing Egyptian Geranium: An Ancient Aroma Reborn - Try the Face Spritz recipe for cooling down in the summer heat.
- Rose Geranium Essential Oil.
Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata)
Frankincense essential oil is widely used in the industry for promoting cell regeneration and skin health. It lifts astringent properties lifting and tightening the skin and to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Also containing anti-inflammatory constituents, frankincense clears pimples, spots and blemishes, as well as reducing the appearance of pores and acne related blemishes. Further capitalize on its antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant constituents to heal and protect the skin.
Frankincense is perfect for those who have a more mature combination skin type.
Safety
- Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Explore more about Frankincense Essential Oil
- How to Use Frankincense Oil on the Face
- What Is Frankincense Essential Oil Good For? Try the Moisturizer recipe for dry skin.
Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides)
Vetiver is a little powerhouse all on its own for a combination skin type. It does something quite unusual, in that it both nourishes dryness and balances out oiliness. It leaves the skin soft, smooth and eliminates the brittleness of dry skin.
Vetiver is the perfect choice if your combination skin type also includes acne. It has significant antibacterial actions and powerful antioxidant properties that promote healthy skin.
Vetiver has a wonderful masculine energy and aroma which makes it a good choice for men with a combination skin type. It soothes the skin after shaving, reduces redness, cools, soothes and softens the skin.
Safety
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Explore more about Vetiver Essential Oil
- How To Use Vetiver Oil
- What is Vetiver Essential Oil Good For? Try the exfoliating Face Scrub recipe.
Carrier Oils For Combination Skin Type
Using carrier oils to balance the combination skin type can require a little experimentation to find out what best suits each person’s complexion, however I’ll endeavour to keep this section simple.
Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis)
To all intents and purposes jojoba looks and feels like an oil. It behaves like one too but Jojoba carrier oil is actually a type of wax which seals in moisture, hydrates and protects the skin.
Dry skin is usually due to inadequate levels of sebum. Jojoba replicates that sebum to mimic the skin’s natural barrier. This protects the skin, traps moisture and helps hydrate it.
When the skin’s sensors detect jojoba’s wax barrier, they regulate sebum production, making the skin less oily or greasy. Jojoba also balances the skin pH.
Rich with polyunsaturated fats, oleic, gadoleic, and erucic acids jojoba is also a powerhouse of nutrients to feed the skin. It also contains vitamin B and E which are super for your skin, as well as zinc, copper, iodine, and chromium; it’s easy to see why our industry uses it so widely in products designed for the combination skin type. There is no better carrier oil to use in the formulation of your combination skin type skincare.
Explore more about Jojoba Carrier Oil.
At this point you might be asking me why I am covering any more carrier oils, but you can use all three of these carrier oils in conjunction with one another. Call them supporting partners if you will.
Rosehip (Rosa Canina)
Rosehip carrier is such a powerful oil in its own right. So much so that we suggest using no more than 10% in your overall formulation. It’s an absolute juggernaut of nutrition for your skin.
The maintenance and protection of the barrier skin function is paramount in balancing a combination skin type and Rosehip carrier oil is composed of 88% fatty acids like Linoleic acid, Alpha-Linoleic acid and Oleic acid.
Our Rosehip carrier oil is 30.62% Linoleic acid. Also known as Vitamin F, linoleic acid is key to the healthy functioning of our skin’s barrier. It strengthens and protects it, while moisturizing and plumping the complexion.
Both Alpha Linoleic acid and Linoleic acid are found in skin preparations designed to protect the skin from environmental toxins and damage, and to reduce the signs of premature aging.
Rosehip carrier oil can be extremely supportive in skincare for the combination skin type.
Read more about Rosehip Carrier Oil.
Tamanu (Calophyllum Inophyllum L)
This carrier oil is really gaining in popularity and with good reason. New research papers are popping up all the time extolling the virtues of its active components and properties.
Pribowo (2021) remarked that Tamanua carrier oil had ‘been proven to have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, and even wound-healing abilities’.
These are just the qualities that we want with a combination skin type to regenerate, heal, balance and protect the barrier function of the skin.
Its wound healing abilities and its seeming ability to reduce scarring are proving interesting to the boffins who are deepening their research in this area. Krishnappa (2024) concluded, ‘Thus, the present study concludes that bigels of tamanu oil are a promising topical product with good scar-healing activity’. This makes it especially useful for those of you who have acne as well, to reduce the chance of scarring.
Tamanu carrier oil helps to support healthy production of collagen and other skin tissue components to give you plumper, smoother and more supple skin.
Read more about Tamanu Carrier Oil.
Natural Ingredients For Combination Skin Type
Making your own skincare for your combination skin type is really exciting! Just the idea that you can be fully empowered and take control over every single ingredient you choose to include and use on your precious skin. I find it rather thrilling and usually feel just a little smug by the time I am smooshing it all around my face.
I want you to feel that little thrill and be just the weeniest bit smug too by using the best ingredients that your budget stretches to. Thankfully, many of these base ingredients are cost effective and easy to source for your combination skin type skincare.
Rosewater
Rose petals are full of vitamins needed to alleviate dry skin and to help balance sebum production. Packed with A, B and E, just the rose petals are soothing and hydrating ingredients in their own right. Pick a few and mash them into a natural face mask for a glorious skin sensation.
Rosewater is made from Rose petals and while those luscious skin balancing vitamins don’t survive the distillation process, plenty of the good stuff does! Rosewater, in my mind, is a magical ingredient for any type of skincare. However, it is especially useful for a combination skin type and the balancing act needed.
Cleansing
Rosewater is packed with nutritive benefits, and usually contains Phenol ethyl alcohol which is non-comedogenic. It helps to keep pores clear and will lift out impurities like dead skin cells, daily grime and dirt.
Rosewater helps to control excess sebum, balancing the natural oils of the skin. It can be especially useful for those with acne as it helps to prevent breakouts and pimples. Citronellol is useful for reducing the skin irritation associated with acne.
Hydrating
Rosewater is wonderfully hydrating and useful in a combination skin type for clarifying the appearance of your skin and balancing out your drier skin tone.
Importantly, it rebalances the skin’s acid layer and PH of your skin and restores the skin's protective shield.
Rosewater penetrates deep into the skin and repairs areas of damage from dehydration. It hydrates your precious skin and helps to prevent excessive dryness in the surface of the skin.
Promotes Healthy Skin
I talk later about the importance of antioxidants in your combination skin type regimen. A component of Rosewater, Geraniol is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory benefits. Use Rosewater to calm inflammation, especially for acne and soothe the skin, reducing itchiness and improve hydration to alleviate dry skin symptoms.
Use Rosewater to encourage normal skin healing and promote healthy immunity of the skin and bolster its ability to fight off infections.
Budget Buying Tips
I will often buy mine from world food stores that specialize in Indian or Persian cuisines. It can work out much cheaper than buying ‘cosmetic grade’. Just keep a good eye on the quality and buy trusted brands.
Consider making your own Rosewater in a saucepan at home, it’s easier than you think!
Glycerine
A humectant, like Glycerine, is a really important skincare ingredient for a combination skin type. It’s naturally fragrance free and nonallergenic and makes it a gentle but highly effective component to capitalize upon.
The basic function of a humectant is to bind moisture to it, so it will grab moisture from the air, bind it to itself and plop it right into your thirsty skin cells for you. It’s a wonderful way to effectively hydrate your skin and restore the skin’s all important barrier function role.
Being super gentle, it is something that we can use every day in our combination skin type skincare, across numerous products too! The beauty is that over time, it will have a cumulative effect on our skin.
Budget Buying Tips
If you only need a small amount, pop to the drugstore and buy it there in small amounts for a few dollars. If you get into this way of working and plan to make all your own skincare, always buy in bulk to be more cost effective. Vegetable versions are readily available.
Organic Aqueous Cream
Life is challenging enough with a combination skin type, so there is no need to make it any more difficult. Which is why I suggest using a readymade organic Aqueous Cream Base. It has numerous applications and you can make a wide variety of skincare products with it.
As soon as you discover all the things you can use it for, like Cleansers, Moisturizers, Nourishing Creams, Body Lotions and Hand Creams you will appreciate its versatility.
Try a few and settle on one that suits your skin. It will be a worthwhile investment that you will make time and again over the years.
Reduce your combination skin type to exposure from unnecessary pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metal residues by choosing organic. Choose and trust the purest natural ingredients possible for your precious skin.
Budget Buying Tips
Non organic Aqueous Cream is really easy to find in drugstores and most large shopping stores. If you just want to have a quick go, grab one of these and see how you find it. It should only be a few dollars.
For those that prefer organic, shop about to find the right one. I had to try five before I found the right one for my sensitive skin. It also cost me five times more than the non-organic version, so I use it judiciously.
Cosmetic Clay
Cosmetic clays can be your best friend if you have a combination skin type. It is wonderful at soaking up excess sebum and oil from the skin in face masks and in brush on blotting powders. That oily t-zone can be a real pain in the derriere, especially when applying makeup. Simply brush some fine Kaolin clay over it and voila… it’s gone!
You can even include clays into richer creams to soak up this excess oil. In the summer, my moisturizer is thoroughly laced with Kaolin and my Bentonite Clay masks are a godsend.
Bentonite Clay is packed with antioxidant antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also stuffed with beneficial minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. It helps to soothe the skin, reducing redness and irritation and it will reduce inflammation and promote skin healing. I love the thoughts of Moosav (2017) who was so moved by it, she concluded, ‘Considering that Mother Nature has a cure for everything, the assessment of natural elements such as this clay should be considered in modern medicine’.
Budget Buying Tips
Over the years I have bought clay in various ways and always find it is best buying in 1kg weights or more. It just is not cost effective to buy less. You will be so in love with it anyway that you will use it all the time. Occasionally, you may drop on a vendor who will do a sample set for a reasonable price, grab their hand off!
Cosmetic Butters
For those of you with very dry combination skin types, consider using cosmetic butters like Shea, Cocoa, Mango and Cupuacu. Many are packed with those essential fatty acids and anti inflammatory phytosterols.
Many cosmetic butter acts as emollients, softening the skin and improving hydration and skin conditioning. Butters like Cupuacu, show a reduction in transepidermal water loss and an increase in skin hydration. It seems to have a rather amazing capacity for water absorption, helping the humidity and elasticity of the skin.
Combination skin types will benefit from researching more into cosmetic butters and experimenting to find which ones suit their skin best.
Buy sustainably where you can and always try to support products produced by the indigenous communities.
Budget Buying Tips
Like clay, buying cosmetic butters in small amounts just is not that cost effective. If you have sensitive skin, pay the price for a smaller amount to test it, it will save you wasting money if it does not suit your skin. But once you have discovered what does suit your skin it is worth buying in 500g-1kg amounts as you can use them for plenty of other projects. It will save you money over time.
Bespoke Skincare For Your Combination Skin Type
Empower yourself and take total control over your combination skin type skincare regimen. Decide the importance and inclusion over every single ingredient. Vastly reduce your exposure to needless chemicals and potential toxicity by choosing pure, natural and where possible, organic ingredients.
I am going to show you how you can make a versatile range of skincare products to give you the best kind of care for your combination skin type. The ingredients can be readily and easily sourced, and for the most part, are usually very cost effective and affordable.
Take control of your skincare and improve the hydration and appearance of your combination skin, all while saving yourself a whole heap of dollars too. What’s not to love?
Cream Cleanser
When you have a combination skin type it is really important to get the cleansing right. Ditch bar soap and products, they are too harsh and drying. You need a super gentle cleanser that does not leave your skin feeling tight, like a drum, or dry and irritated.
Aqueous cream makes a great base for a combination skin type Cream Cleanser because it’s designed to clean, soothe and hydrate the skin. It readily mixes with water and water based ingredients like Rosewater and Witch Hazel. You can make it as thick or as thin as you like, by simply altering the ratio of Aqueous Cream to water based ingredients.
If you wear make up, don’t skip the glycerin, it helps remove makeup more easily, as it grabs onto it and pulls it away from your skin gently.
I’ve pitched this ratio in the middle, so it’s too thick for you, add more water, if it is too thin, add more Aqueous Cream base.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 100ml bottle and pouring lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 50 ml of Organic Aqueous Cream Base (Various Ingredients)
- 15 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 15 ml of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
- 15 ml of Rosewater, (Rosa Damascena) or Orange Flower Water or a hydrosol of your choice
- 3 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 20 drops of Geranium (Egypt) Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
- 20 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 10 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus Paradisi)
Optional: Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Do not use this in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
- Avoid getting in the eyes. If the product does get in your eyes, rinse with clean tepid water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Instructions:
- If you are using a preservative, follow your manufacturer's individual instructions and note when to add it and how much.
- Measure your Rosehip carrier oil into a small measuring jug and add your essential oils and combine.
- Add your Glycerine to this and combine.
- Add your Aqueous Cream into the jug and thoroughly combine the oils and Glycerine into the Aqueous Cream before moving to the next step.
- Add your Witch Hazel, Rosewater or hydrosol and mix completely.
- Test the consistency and adjust to suit your preference (see the section description).
- Decant into a 100ml bottle using a funnel to keep the bottle clean and oil free and lid tightly.
- List all ingredients clearly on an oil and waterproof label, date and adhere to the bottle.
- Please do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use please.
- Tip the Cream Cleanser onto a cotton pad, I use those reusable and washable ones for sustainability. I find them gentler on my skin too.
- If you are wearing eye makeup, do your eyes last.
- Work the cleanser across the face, leaving a good film, allow it to sink in for a few moments and remove with a clean cotton pad. I often rinse mine in water between each wipe.
- Lastly, pay attention to eyes, try not to get this product in your eyes though. Work very gently around the eye area to remove makeup residues. Move gently with the contours of the eyes and take care not to drag the skin. I tend to use more Cream Cleanser if I have waterproof eyeliner or mascara on.
- There is no need to rinse off. If your skin is very dry, don’t rinse it.
- Use within 6-12 months.
Toner
It’s important to manage excess sebum and oil production with a combination skin type, it reduces the chances of developing spots, pimples and breakouts.
Witch Hazel is a beautifully effective astringent that is gentle enough on dry skin too. Glycerin adds moisture and helps drag dirt and debris out of your pores. Floral hydrosols add freshness and bring their own raft of lovely skin benefits.
Feel free to experiment with different hydrosols to suit your combination skin type, try Sandalwood, Yarrow and German Chamomile.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 100ml bottle and lid, I like the push down pump dispensers.
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 40 ml of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
- 40 ml of Rosewater, (Rosa Damascena) or Orange Flower Water or a hydrosol of your choice
- 15 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 3 ml of Liquid Castile Soap (Potassium Cocoate, Jojobate and Olivate)
- 10 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 10 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis Nobilis L.)
- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
- 5 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga Odorata)
Optional: Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Do not use this in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- Avoid getting in the eyes. If the product does get in your eyes, rinse with clean tepid water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Instructions:
- If you are using a preservative, follow your manufacturer's individual instructions and note when to add it and how much.
- Measure your Liquid Castile Soap into a small measuring jug and add the essential oils and combine well.
- In another jug, measure out all the other fluids and mix well, add the soap and essential oil mix and stir very gently to evenly distribute them.
- The Castile Soap acts as a dispersant, so if there is still any essential oil floating on the top of the fluid, add more Castile Soap until there is nothing floating and the oils are dispersed.
- Decant into a 100ml pouring bottle or a pump dispenser. Use a funnel for ease and cleanliness.
- Label, listing all ingredients clearly on an oil and waterproof label, and the date too.
How To Use:
- Please do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use please.
- Add some Toner to a cotton pad, again I use the reusable and washable pads for a more sustainable skincare regimen.
- Wipe across the face, taking care not to drag the skin, especially around the delicate eye area.
- There is no need to rinse off. Follow with a moisturizer and or serum.
- Use within 3-6 months.
Moisturizer
Now, a combination skin type is just that, a combination. Your skin might be drier or more oiler than mine, and mine might be more sensitive than yours. We have different skin and different needs and for that reason I am going to show you how to make a light moisturizer and a thicker one.
Through the year I find I need 2-3 different weight moisturizers. Really light in the summer and super rich in the winter. It is worth learning how to make both so you can completely tailor to your combination skin type’s evolving needs. While I will make larger batches, I do prefer making enough to last me about 3 months and then making a fresh batch.
Dry skin will benefit from an emollient moisturizer that soothes, softens, hydrates and protects the skin.
Right then, let’s do this!
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Microwavable jug
- Deep mixing bowl
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 100ml - 120ml jar/bottle and lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 50 ml of Aqueous Cream (Various Ingredients)
- 25 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena) or a hydrosol of your choice.
- 10 ml of Jojoba Carrier Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis)
- 5 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 10 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 20 drops of Egyptian Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
- 20 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia Serrata)
- 20 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon Cablin)
Additional Ingredients for the richer moisturizer version:
When dealing with a drier combination skin type this version helps add more nourishment and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier function. The Beeswax adds additional protection and locks in moisture.
- 1 tbsp of Mango Butter (Mangifera Indica)
- 1 tsp of Beeswax (Cera Alba)
Optional: Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Do not use this in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
- Avoid getting in the eyes. If the product does get in your eyes, rinse with clean tepid water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Instructions:
- If you are using a preservative, follow your manufacturer's individual instructions and note when to add it and how much.
- If you are making the richer moisturizer, please put your Beeswax and Mango Butter into a microwavable jug and heat on 20% power until melted and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Pop into a large deep bowl, cover and place in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- While you are waiting, combine the essential oils with the carrier oils in a small jug and set aside.
- Check the butter/wax mix and it should be solidifying but not solid.
- Grab a whisk or hand blender and add a good dollop of Aqueous Cream base to the butter and wax and work in with the whisk, keep working in this way adding a good dollop and incorporating it before adding more.
- Once the Aqueous Cream is fully incorporated add the Glycerine and carrier/essential oil mix and stir well.
- Add the Rosewater and make sure everything is fully incorporated.
- Decant into your jar or bottle using a funnel for ease. Do NOT lid.
- Cover the receptacle and leave to cool fully.
- Once cooled, add the lid. This way you reduce the chances of mold forming in the warm, moist environment.
- List all ingredients on an oil and waterproof label and add the date.
How To Use:
- Please do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use please.
- Applying in line with your combination skin type, you might wish to use a light version over your oily skin and the richer version over your dry and dehydrated skin. Do what suits you best.
- Use within 6-12 months.
Serum
Those with a combination skin type need to choose serums with caution. They ideally should be alcohol free but packed with antioxidants to fight free radicals and reduce the signs of skin aging. You also want to fill it with humectant properties to bind moisture into the skin and support barrier function.
There can be some confusion around if you should use a moisturizer and serum together. For a combination skin type that’s a tough question to answer. My best answer is… let your skin be the guide!
If your skin is very dehydrated and flakes, you may benefit from using an emollient moisturizer - like the ones above and your antioxidant rich serum together. At other times you might find it is too much. Learn to observe your skin and let it tell you what it needs.
Don’t shy away from making two serums, one for your dry skin and one for your oilier skin. I have two or three and again, use them as my skin needs evolve through the year, and my cycle.
These serums are worth making in small amounts, especially if they are oil based, as carrier oils can go rancid quite quickly. If you make a couple, you only use half as much from each bottle!
Pop over to How to Make Face Serum with Essential Oils and try some of the recipes there too to find the perfect serum for your combination skin type.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Very small saucepan
- Hand Blender or whisk
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 50ml bottle and lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 30 ml of Jojoba Carrier Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis)
- 5 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 10 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 5 ml of Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate)
- 2 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga Odorata)
- 10 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon Cablin)
- 10 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia Serrata)
Optional: Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Do not use this in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- Avoid getting in the eyes. If the product does get in your eyes, rinse with clean tepid water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Instructions:
- If you are using a preservative, follow your manufacturer's individual instructions and note when to add it and how much.
- Pop the oils into a very small saucepan and set over a low to medium heat. The oils only need to be warm, not hot.
- Add the room temperature Glycerine to the warmed oils and whizz up with a hand blender to get it to emulsify together.
- Add the essential oils and whizz again.
- Decant into a bottle using a funnel, do NOT lid, cover and leave to cool fully before adding the lid. This reduces the chance of bacteria and mold forming in the warm moist environment.
- Label with an oil and water proof label, listing all ingredients for safety reasons, add the date too while you are at it!
How To Use:
- Please do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
- Take just one drop at a time and work into the skin gently in upward, circular motions.
- Add another drop as needed, less is more here so you don’t need much.
- Remove any excess with a paper tissue, (and don’t use so much next time)
- Use within 3-6 months.
Why Have I Got A Combination Skin Type?
There could be a whole host of different reasons why you have a combination skin type, most often, it is down to your genetics and not something that you can change, unfortunately. However, you can certainly manage it effectively, by creating your own bespoke combination skin type regimen.
Weather
The weather is a big contributor to exacerbating a combination skin type. Especially cold weather in the winter, when it can dry the skin, as it loses moisture. Ultraviolet, UVA and UVB rays from the sun can also have an impact and lead to extra dryness and speed up the signs of aging.
Hormones
For women, hormones can play a part, and for some, oiliness can get worse depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. Your skin also changes with aging, perimenopause and menopause can bring significant changes to your skin. Some women may even develop a combination skin type during these life phases.
Men tend to experience this through puberty and into early manhood. Though it can be exacerbated by fluctuating hormone levels at any age.
Stress
Your lifestyle and how we deal with stress and anxiety can also have an impact, not only on your wellbeing but also your combination skin type. Symptoms can get worse during times of stress and extra pressure. Managing stress and anxiety is as key to your regimen as your skincare products are.
Diet
Your diet can also play a role in exacerbating your combination skin type and there is plenty you can do to promote a balance in your skin.
- Start with water to flush out toxins and help with hydration.
- Chuck out the junk food, excess salt, sugar and alcohol.
- Eat iron rich plants like lentils, spinach and sweet potatoes
- Consume lots of leafy greens, the darker the better, and fresh fruits
- Introduce plenty of vitamin B2 (Almonds, whole grains and wild rice) and Omega-3 fatty acids (Fish, Kale, Berries, Mango) into your diet through food or supplements.
What Can I Do About My Combination Skin Type?
There are plenty of ways that you can support your combination skin type and manage it well.
Get The Cleansing Right
Getting the cleanser and the cleansing routine right can be a gamechanger for those with a combination skin type. Opt for super gentle, soap free, cleansers that hydrate the skin and do not leave it feeling dry and tight like a drum.
It is not advised to use bar soaps or bar based cleansers, simply because the ingredients in these can dry your skin even more. Opt for a cream based, soap free cleanser instead, like the one in the recipe above.
Go Alcohol Free
Give your skin a detox too and choose products that are alcohol-free. Some types of toner, micellar water and serum are alcohol based, so opt for water-based ones instead.
None of our combination skin type recipes contain alcohol, so why not have a go at those?
Use Products Teeming With Antioxidants
Those of use with combination skin types want to be using products that are teeming with
antioxidants. Make antioxidants your best friend, they help to fight free radicals which reduce the signs of aging but also promote skin cell renewal and regeneration. They help us repair, rebuild and protect our precious skin.
Carrier oils like Rosehip are packed to the gunnels with antioxidants and essential fatty acids and so they come top of the list when it comes to making our own skincare for our combination skin type.
Use these antioxidants on your drier patches of skin and around the eyes which tend to be thinner and drier anyway. Pair them with humectants for a powerhouse effect, see below.
If your skin is very dry and flaky, put more reliance on an antioxidant-oil rich serum and pair it with a lighter emollient moisturizer, just like the one in the recipes given above.
Use Humectants
I know and love Glycerin as a humectant but it is also referred to, in the cosmetics industry as a moisture-binding plant active. It does just that, binds moisture for you.
A humectant will attract moisture and water from the air and plonk it right into your skin cells for you. Genius! For those with a relatively dry combination skin type, humectants are key to preserving moisture and hydration in the skin. You can use them in everything from your cleanser to your serum.
Honey is also a wonderful humectant and should not be overlooked with all its extra benefits for dry skin. McLoone (2016) said of honey “The ability of honey in vitro to kill skin relevant microbes, alter microbial pathogenicity, promote tissue repair,and protect against UV induced DNA damage is really quite remarkable considering it is a scientifically unaltered, purely natural substance produced by bees”.
I find them useful for lifting out dirt, debris and dead skin cells from the skin and leaving pores clean and refreshed. Always make humectants a key ingredient in your skincare for a combination skin type.
The Final Word On Combination Skin Type
Having a combination skin type can be frustrating and feel like a constant battle that you never seem to win. Take control and start winning some of the skirmishes by making your own skincare for your combination skin type. It is easier than you think and I hope this has inspired you to have a go and empower yourself.
Harness the properties of balancing Ylang Ylang, soothing Patchouli, youthful Frankincense, seductive Vetiver and gorgeous Geranium. Let them provide all the actions and benefits that your combination skin type needs.
Pair these mighty essential oils with powerful carrier oils like sebaceous balancing Jojoba, Linoleic acid rich Rosehip to restore barrier function and Tamanu for acne, skin and wound healing
Your combination skin type will benefit from using natural ingredients to support your oils. Use Rosewater and Glycerine to give your skin a boost of hydration. Seal in moisture and hydration and nourish your skin with Organic Aqueous Cream and Cosmetic Butters. Soak up excess oil and clean pores with gorgeous Cosmetic Clays.
Balance these with managing your health, lifestyle and making conscious choices to improve your combination skin type. You will soon have it all under control. Good luck!
