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Combination skin can be difficult, to say the least. Half of your face is dry and flaky and the other half is oily and prone to breakouts. With two very different skin issues, you might think you need a ton of different products. Thankfully, you don’t. You just need the basics, including a great moisturizer for combination skin.
In this blog post, we will explore the top moisturizers for combination skin, taking into account factors like sensitivity, acne-proneness, and oil production. We will also delve into the key ingredients to look for in moisturizers and how to incorporate them into your daily skincare routine. By the end of this post, you will have a clear understanding of how to choose the best moisturizer for your combination skin and keep your skin looking healthy and radiant.
Related reading: What Is Your Skin Type
Key Ingredients For Combination Skin
When it comes to finding the right moisturizer for combination skin, it’s essential to find one that can address both dryness and oiliness. This can be a challenge, but by looking for key ingredients, you can find a moisturizer that works for your unique skin type. One such ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which can hydrate dry areas without making oily areas greasy. This powerful ingredient can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it an excellent choice for plumping and moisturizing the skin.
Another crucial ingredient to look for in a moisturizer for combination skin is ceramides. Ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier, which can become compromised in areas that are dry or oily. This can lead to skin issues like irritation, sensitivity, and acne. By incorporating a moisturizer with ceramides into your skincare routine, you can help restore the skin barrier and retain moisture, leading to a more balanced complexion. Additionally, ceramides have anti-inflammatory properties, making them a helpful ingredient for those with acne-prone skin.
Finally, squalane is a lightweight, non-greasy ingredient that can help regulate oil production in the skin. It’s an excellent choice for those with combination skin, as it provides hydration to dry areas without making oily areas greasy. Additionally, squalane has antioxidant properties and can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Incorporating a moisturizer with squalane into your skincare routine can help keep your combination skin balanced and healthy. By choosing a moisturizer with these key ingredients, you can address the unique needs of your combination skin and achieve a glowing, healthy complexion.
The Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin
Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream
Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream is a lightweight, gel-cream formula quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and non-greasy. Packed with powerful ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and aloe leaf juice, this moisturizer hydrates the skin from the inside out, helping to retain moisture and improve its overall texture. The addition of green tea leaf extract is a nice touch, as it soothes the skin, reduces inflammation, and helps fight against damaging free radicals.
One of the best things about Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream is that it comes from a great affordable brand, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers. You can find this moisturizer at most Targets, making it a convenient and budget-friendly option for those who want to take care of their combination skin. This moisturizer is also ideal for those who lean more towards the oily side of combination skin because of its lightweight formula. It won’t weigh down the skin or add extra oil, making it perfect for everyday use.
belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
The belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb is a lightweight gel-cream that provides a burst of hydration for a healthy, refreshed look. It’s suitable for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin types and addresses concerns such as dryness, dullness, and uneven texture. The formula contains Lady’s Mantle, known for its skin-nurturing properties, ceramide 3 to help retain water in the skin, and glycerin to maintain moisture levels.
As someone with combination skin, I appreciate the lightweight gel-cream formula of the belif Aqua Bomb. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy or heavy feeling on my skin. I also love the burst of hydration it provides, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and glowing.
Tatcha The Water Cream
The Tatcha Water Cream is a luxurious, anti-aging moisturizer that delivers a burst of hydration and potent Japanese nutrients to your skin. The lightweight, oil-free formula is perfect for combination skin, providing balanced hydration without leaving a greasy or sticky residue. With powerful botanicals such as Japanese wild rose and leopard lily, this cream helps refine pores, control excess oil, and promote natural skin turnover. The hadasei-3 anti-aging trinity of green tea, rice, and algae helps restore healthy radiance to the skin, leaving it looking refreshed and revitalized.
Personally, I found the Tatcha Water Cream to be a refreshing addition to my skincare routine. When applied, it has a cooling effect on the skin and absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue. It provides just the right amount of hydration without feeling heavy or suffocating on the skin. I also appreciate the subtle glow it imparts and the cute packaging is definitely a plus.
Augustinus Bader The Cream
The Cream is a game-changer for anyone who wants to address fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. This lightweight mini moisturizer contains the patented TFC8® technology, which nourishes and protects the skin while supporting cellular renewal. Vitamin A, also known as retinyl palmitate, improves skin barrier function and moisture retention, while vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a potent antioxidant that visibly brightens skin and supports collagen production.
The Bader Cream is definitely an investment, but it serves the purpose of three products in one: a moisturizer, retinoid, and vitamin C serum. This not only simplifies your skincare routine, but it also delivers visible results. It’s definitely a luxurious addition to a skincare routine and I recommend it to anyone who wants to treat themselves to high-end skincare.
OLEHENRIKSEN Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer
The Olehenriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer is packed with powerful ingredients that deliver visible results. With a blend of peptides, amino acids, ceramides, and collagen, this moisturizer quickly doubles hydration, boosts elasticity, and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, it reinforces the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving your skin thoroughly hydrated and moisturized all day long.
I’ve found the Olehenriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer to be a great addition to my skincare routine. It feels more occlusive than some of the other moisturizers on this list, so I’d recommend it to those who have drier, combination skin. It does have a fragrance, which is something to keep in mind, but I don’t find it overwhelming.
Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer
Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer is a perfect moisturizer for those with dry or combination skin types. The cream has a whipped, cloud-like texture that feels incredibly soft and light on the skin. It hydrates and nourishes the skin with a blend of omega fatty acids, ceramides, and antioxidants. The formula contains omegas 3, 6, and 9 that support the skin’s moisture barrier for enhanced hydration retention, while shea butter and borage seed oil help to quickly relieve tight, flaky skin by locking in moisture.
The Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer is a hidden gem in the skincare world that deserves more attention. Its whipped cloud cream texture feels luxurious and lightweight on the skin, providing a generous amount of hydration that works well for combination skin. The nourishing blend of omega fatty acids, ceramides, and antioxidants improves the skin’s moisture barrier and helps to alleviate dryness, dullness, and uneven texture.
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
The Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer is a hydrating whipped gel cream that is packed with skin-loving ingredients like polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, and plum. The hydrating peptide polyglutamic acid helps to boost the efficacy of hyaluronic acid and lock in moisture, while the blend of multi-weight hyaluronic acids and plum work together to hydrate and plump the skin. Additionally, ice willowherb helps to visibly balance the skin by reducing oiliness.
As someone who hasn’t been a big fan of many Glow Recipe products, I was pleasantly surprised by the Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer. I love that it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, which means I don’t have to use a separate serum to get that extra boost of hydration. While the added fragrance is something to note, it’s not as overpowering as some of the other Glow Recipe products I’ve tried. All in all, I would highly recommend this moisturizer to anyone looking for a hydrating and skin-balancing option.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream with Squalane
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream with Squalane is a must-try moisturizer for anyone in need of long-lasting hydration without the use of fragrance. Formulated with squalane, it supports and nourishes the skin’s moisture barrier, while glycerin helps retain moisture and soften skin. Additionally, glacial glycoprotein hydrates and maintains the skin’s moisture balance. This cream has an ultra-lightweight texture, providing quick and lasting hydration that lasts up to 24 hours.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream with Squalane is one of my all-time favorite moisturizers. I’ve used it for years, and it’s never let me down. As someone with combination skin, it’s hard to find a moisturizer that’s effective without being too heavy or greasy, but this one strikes the perfect balance. What I love most about this cream is that it’s simple but effective. It doesn’t have any fancy claims or ingredients, but it just works. I also appreciate that it’s fragrance-free, which is a must for me.
Final Thoughts on Moisturizers for Combination Skin
In conclusion, finding the right moisturizer can make all the difference in achieving healthy, radiant skin. Whether you have dry, oily, combination, or normal skin, there is a moisturizer out there that can address your specific concerns and needs. I hope this roundup of some of the best moisturizers for combination skin has given you some inspiration for your skincare routine. From lightweight gels to rich creams, these moisturizers offer hydration, nourishment, and protection without leaving your skin feeling greasy or congested. Remember to patch test new products and to be consistent with your skincare routine to see the best results. With the right moisturizer, you can balance your combination skin and achieve a glowing complexion
