Combination skin, though the most common skin type, is the most misunderstood. As a result, it is the most mistreated. Since there are two different skin types on your face, you need to follow two different skin care rituals for each. While the T-zone is oily and needs the skin care routine designed for greasy skin, the rest of the face is comparatively dry, and hence requires treatment meant for dry skin. In today’s post, we will first help you with developing a proper skin care ritual for yourself (because that is the key to good-looking skin); two, we will assist you in applying makeup the right way; and lastly, we will help you choose the best powder foundation for combination skin.
Suggested read: The MOST Perfect Skin Care Routine For Combination Skin
Skincare routine for combination skin
If you are looking for a one-size-fits-all solution for your combination skin, then I am sorry to be the one breaking this news to you: There is no such solution! Designing the right routine depends on two very important factors: one, how oily your T-zone is; and two, how dry the rest of your face is.
Once you have examined these two factors, you can pick the right products for yourself, and then, treat both the areas separately for desired results.
For the T-zone, invest in makeup products that absorb oil, while lending your skin a matte finish. However, you must not apply these products on the dry areas, as they will wreak havoc there. On the dry areas, go for products which have very high moisturizing potential. Also, they should be anti-inflammatory to prevent the skin in those areas from getting irritated. Again, these moisturizing products must not be applied on the T-zone, as they will trigger the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil thus making the skin on the T-zone greasier.
Sounds demanding, eh!? Well, that is the reason why you need to keep the treatment separate.
For your T-zone, you need a formula that is not just feather-light, but also very potent. You can go for a gel or a thin lotion, which is a rich source of therapeutic ingredients, which work for the entire face. After applying the lotion, you need a serum or an emollient booster that moisturizes the dry areas, specially the skin around the jaw, hairline and the eyes. Layering your beauty products like a pro is the magic trick that helps balance combination skin.
While choosing beauty products for your combination skin, the most essential thing to keep in mind is to always go for mild solutions. Combination skin is extremely sensitive and going for products that is likely to annoy your skin is just not worth it. These products could be both natural and synthetic. Here is a hint to identify skin-annoying products: Products with an extremely intense fragrance is most likely to aggravate your skin further.
Right makeup for combination skin
The main challenge of applying makeup on combination skin lies in covering the red spots and blemishes, if any, while also lessening the greasiness along the T-zone. In addition to this, the products you invest in should also help keep your cheeks, your hairline and jawline hydrated.
According to Sara Glick, who is a New-York-based MUA,
“A lot of my clients have a ‘split complexion’ with dry and oily areas and think this means their skin is really complicated. But you don’t have to use two sets of product—just a sheer tinted moisturizer, followed by some well-placed concealer.”
Understanding your skin type and the science behind it, is key to applying makeup like an expert. If you have a combination skin, your T-zone lies along the forehead, the nose, the upper lip and your chin. The rest of the face is dry, especially the skin along the hairline, around the eyes, and along the jawline. The T-zone is greasy because the more sebaceous, aka oily glands, around that area than around the rest of the face. Under some circumstances, the secretion of sebum gets worse. These factors include, stress, using wrong makeup products, genetics, menstrual cycle, pregnancy and certain medications like the contraceptive pills.
The dry area, on the contrary can get flakier is you use cosmetics that lend a matte finish, or absorb the moisture.
To apply makeup on both the areas like a pro, follow these steps:
1. Prepare your skin
To prep your skin, apply an oil-free moisturizer as soon as you come out of the shower. This helps in locking the moisture. We suggest you go for the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. You can also for a hydrating spritz, and the best in the marker is the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist.
This step should be followed by cream.
2. How about adding some shine!?
According to Sara Glick,“my favorite trick for a really convincing, hydrated glow is applying a pearly highlighter underneath foundation.”
As soon as the cream is absorbed by the skin, you need to apply some highlighter on the apples of your cheeks. Go down on the nose-bridge and swipe across the forehead. Be sure to blend as lightly as you can.
3. Even out your skin tone
The next step involves the concealer brush. Yes, you need brushes for all the products because, one, it makes the application better; two, it helps ensure you apply the right amount of the product; and three, you avoid irritating the skin, as fingers or used brushes rub on the skin and can annoy the skin.
Now apply a creamy concealer along your nose and under your eyes. Make sure you apply it over the red spots and blemishes, if any. The Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer, is a product many MUAs swear by.
4. Apply the foundation
You need an oil-free foundation. We will help you choose the best one in the last section of today’s post. The foundation should be applied using a brush. Begin by applying at the middle of the face, and then lightly blend outward.
To set the foundation, you can use a suitable finishing powder, preferably one with a clay finish. Using a powder foundation has this advantage that you do not need a setting powder as the foundation sets itself and the overall makeup.
5. Add some shimmer
You need a blush to add the necessary shimmer to your look. Go for a bronzer that lasts long. A good product is the Lancome Star Bronzer Natural Glow. This is undoubtedly, one of the best products available in the market. Blend it in well.
6. Let’s blush out!
You need to first find out which color works best for your skin. It should look natural, and at the same time, should flatter your overall makeup. Load up the blush brush, and lightly swish over your chick bones. Blend the color to make it look as natural as possible.
Suggested read: The Complete Beginner’s Guide To Determining One’s Skin Tone
The best powder foundation for combination skin
Here are a few options you can choose from:
1. Lancôme Miracle Cushion
The first product on our list is the Lancôme Miracle Cushion. This is a trendy Korean cushion foundation that is becoming a combination skin type’s go-to product. It comes with a sponge, and you need to gently press on it and release so that you don’t load up excess of the product. This is a light-weight formula that glides on the skin It is both hydrating and brightening, and therefore, lends a dewy overall finish.
2. Josie Maran Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20
The next product is the Josie Maran Matchmaker Powder Foundation. This foundation blends on to the skin, offering a medium to full coverage and a smooth, matte finish.
The argan oil in the foundation provides your skin a light, but lasting, hydration. Also, the SPF factor ensures that the dry areas of your skin do not get sun burnt.
3. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
This product is a water-based foundation, which is also non-comedogenic. It is specially designed to suit combination as well as oily skin. The coverage it provides ranges from sheer to medium. It also helps even out the skin tone, thus preventing the cakey finish. Though it does not lend a complete matte look, the satiny finish ain’t that bad either! The product is also a long-lasting one, and hence a keeper.
4. Bare Minerals Bare Pro Performance Wear Powder Foundation
The Bare Minerals Bare Pro Performance Wear Powder Foundation is a new compact that is rich in the necessary minerals hat provide nutrition to the skin. In case you are worried about it cakey-ing up on you, then please do not. It blends into the skin so well, that it lends a very natural looking glow. It feels feather-lights and is silky. Also, it is available in 20 shades. So, yay!
5. Bareminerals – Original Foundation
This is undoubtedly one of the best products available in the market. The most amazing thing about the bareminerals original foundation is that the base has five natural ingredients, and that’s it. Not a single ingredient more, can you believe that?! This means, you will not be putting any skin-harming chemical substances on your skin.
The product is in the form of a powder, but it applies like cream, making the skin look more radiant, but at the same time, not making it appear greasy. The minerals in the foundation brighten the skin and improves its health too.
The product also has an spf of 15, which means it successfully protects your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
We say you grab this product asap!
Suggested read: Here’s The Best Foundation For Combination Skin
That is a wrap on today’s post on choosing the best powder foundation for combination skin. Did you find this useful? Let us know in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations of your own, then do share them with us!
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