Morning & Evening Skin Care Routine: Combination Skin.

     Combination skin occurs when your skin is both dry and oily in different areas of your face; you can find out your skin type through a skin analysis by a trusted esthetician or through a personalized test online. Combination skin is unique because most people only have oily or dry skin, this makes finding the right products and routine more difficult. 

    In the morning cleanse your face with a gentle foaming cleaner, then use a toner that's alcohol free and a serum that is lightweight. After the serum, use a water-based moisturizer and sunscreen (always). In the evening, the routine dynamic switches a bit: use a double cleanser, then apply targeted treatments like salicylic acid (if needed or prescribed for acne prone skin), hydrate your skin by using hyaluronic acid, and finally use a moisturizer that doesn't leave your skin feeling dry or patchy.

    Of course this routine is generalized, so if it does not work for your specific skin, branch out and find the routine and/or products that best suit you.

    Combination skin care focuses on a routine based on moisturizing, cleansing, and hydrating. Its is important to treat combination skin as its own, using products made for oily skin can cause build-up and using products for dry skin can cause dehydration. Protect your skin barrier by using products made for your skin.

How Often Should You Do Facials?

    Facials are a skin care practice used to nourish, exfoliate, and cleanse your skin. One of the main ways to achieve clear, healthy, and radiant skin is to get regular facials. With a bigger budget, your esthetician will take you through a skin analysis to provide you with the right care at the time you need it.

    Doing facials by yourself is budget friendly and to do it efficiently and safely, you need to understand your skin type. Here is how often each skin type should get facials according to The Facial Center:

• Dry/Sensitive Skin: Every 6 to 8 weeks that focuses on moisture and barrier strengthener. 
• Oily Skin: Every 3 to 4 weeks that focuses on deep cleaning to manage oil production.
• Combination Skin: Every 4 to 6 weeks that focus on keeping everything in balance by focusing on deep cleaning and moisture. 

    Anyone can get facials even without an esthetician. Doing facials at home is simple all you need is a consistent routine and a little patience with the process. With a safer budget you are able to steam and cleanse with a damp towel, exfoliate with a cleanser from a drugstore (like Walgreens or CVS), mask and hydrate with a clay mask. With a bigger budget around $75 to $300 you are able to book express facials, visit a local beauty school, and/or use student memberships (GoodRx).