Combination skin needs a lot of maintenance. It becomes troublesome to deal with two skin concerns at the same time. In India it is the most common skin type. Combination skin becomes quite tricky to deal with because of dual skin type. It has oily and dry skin texture both. So finding a skincare product becomes difficult.
A cleanser also becomes difficult to choose. It either dries out the complete skin or makes the skin completely oily. This circle does not end. So finding a face wash for combination skin that helps to regulate the sebum and also keeps the skin moisturized becomes important.
A foaming cleanser can be the top choice of face wash that can be used by combination skin types. It effectively removes the oil and dirt from the face and also helps in keeping the skin moisturized.
The light and airy lather of the foaming face wash helps in pulling out the dirt and other impurities along with hydrating the skin. It serves a common ground for both concerns. It cleanses the dirt and oil but it is also gentle and keeps skin hydrated.
What is combination skin?
A combination skin deals with two skin types. It depends on the varied oil production in different parts of the face. Somewhere there is excess oil production and somewhere it is very less. This leads to a combination of dry and oily skin.
The oil production is more prominent in the T-zone of the face. It includes the forehead, nose and chin. This happens because of enlarged pores that are more active and produce more sebum. This area is the most oily in combination skin. The area around the cheeks has less sebum production than normal. This is the dry region for combination skin. It might appear dry and scaly.
Why do traditional cleansers not work for combination skin?
Traditional cleansers are not ideal for combination skin. It is because they are not specialized for performing dual action. They contain harsh surfactants that can clear the oil completely from the skin leaving skin dry and also strip skin barrier protection.
It clears the oil completely which causes skin dryness and the dry region of the face gets even more dried. It can lead to skin irritation and redness and also disrupt the skin barrier completely. Whereas using a moisturizing cleanser can be useful for the dry region of the skin but it could make the oily T-zone appear more and more oily. It may also clog the pores which would result in acne.
Foaming cleanser for combination skin
A foaming face wash is a gel or liquid cleanser. It produces lather when mixed with water and applied. This lather or foam is light textured and airy. It is formulated with mild surfactants instead of harsh.
So it becomes more skin friendly. It gives a soft feel to the skin when applied. The airy lather is light in texture so it can penetrate into the skin because of its large surface area. It then pulls out the impurities from the pores effectively.
A foaming face wash supports oily skin by
- Controlling excess sebum: The bubbly lather goes into the pores due to its large surface area and the lipophilic ends of the surfactant attach to the oil droplets and pulls it out of the pores. It helps in regulating and controlling the excess sebum from the skin.
- Deep Pore cleansing: The foam can penetrate into the skin which lets it deliver active ingredients into the pores and clear out the impurities from the pores effectively. It dissolves the plug of impurities and clears it out. It also pulls out the impurities by cleansing. It prevents clogged pores and acne.
- Skin hydration: The lather of the foaming face wash feels soft and hydrating to the skin. It is because the bubbles are soft and do not strip the moisture. Moreover, incorporation of moisturizing agents provides balanced moisture to the skin.
Ingredients suitable for a combination skin
- Salicylic acid: This beta hydroxy acid has an oil soluble nature. It becomes suitable for combination skin by clearing out the oil from the pores. It goes deep into the pores of the skin and wipes off excess oil from the skin.
- Niacinamide: It is an alpha hydroxy acid which helps greatly in regulating the production of sebum from the skin. It also performs surface cleansing which helps in clearing oil from the skin.
- Ceramides: They are widely used for combination skin because they help in holding together the skin barrier by repairing it. It helps in keeping the skin moisturized as well.
- Hyaluronic acid: This hydrating ingredient keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated without overpowering. It keeps the skin plumped.
Final thoughts
Combination skin is a complex type of skin and it becomes very confusing to select the right kind of face wash for combination skin. So you need to select a face wash that helps in controlling oil from skin without tightening it and also hydrates the skin. A foaming cleanser becomes the most suitable choice.
