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If patches of your facial skin are desert dry while the rest gleam like a rain forest after a storm, you have combination skin. Don't let your skin's conflicting demands confuse you. Your face needs a lotion that will moisturize rough patches without over-lubricating oily zones. Help those dry and wet regions balance out for a matching, shine-free glow.
Layer On the Love
So you want to kick dry zones to the curb without causing shiny oil build-up? Skip thick lotions in favor of light serums. They have concentrated ingredients, yet remain lightweight, facialist Sonia Dakar tells "Marie Claire." On dry areas, layer a cream lotion on top of the serum.
Go Light on the Texture
A thick facial lotion can feel super hydrating on dry patches, but oily areas will quickly sweat it off, leaving an unsightly gleam. To avoid this, New York dermatologist Sapna Westley tells "Cosmopolitan" she recommends a gel moisturizer. Gels are lighter than creams, yet they still send moisture to the right areas.
Take a Closer Look
To keep oils from building up in your pores, look for an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Make sure it has salicylic acid, which keeps oils from building up in your pores. It's also a common ingredient in acne-fighting products. If you don't have to worry about sensitive skin, find a moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids, which help get rid of dead skin cells -- the dry ones -- and bring fresh, moist cells to the surface. This type of lotion will give your dry zones the moisture boost they need, without pulling oils onto oily patches.
Diversify Your Moisturizing Routine
Sometimes the only way to please your picky skin is to apply a light lotion to your T-zone -- the oily areas -- and a thicker, super-moisturizing one to dry spots, such as your cheeks. Don't worry about busting your bank account buying tons of moisturizers; two will do the trick. Whatever you do, don't skip moisturizing oily areas altogether, as "oil is not moisture," dermatologist Charles E. Crutchfield III tells "Good Housekeeping." Your skin -- both the oily and dry bits -- will thank you for a healthy dose of moisture with a radiant, dewy complexion.
