Combination & Normal/No-Problem Skin explained

I would prefer saying normal cheeks, not necessarily “true-dry”

What is combination skin? 

The “T-zone,” technically known as the facial axis, includes the forehead, nose, and chin area. If you have enlarged, congested pores, and/or are oily in this “T” area, you could categorize your skin type as combination skin.

The highest concentration of active oil glands is on and around the nose. That’s why almost everyone has some congestion there. The chin and forehead come next in terms of activity. Because you have more active oil glands in this T-zone region, it makes sense that you are oilier there. It is inaccurate, however, to suggest that the skin on the cheeks is dry while you have an oily T-zone. Technically, you can’t have both dry and oily skin—not at the same time—so combination skin is somewhat of a misnomer. Combination skin is essentially normal skin with an oily T-zone.

In comparison, normal/no-problem skin functions perfectly. It is neither too oily nor too dry. It produces enough oil without clogging the pores and maintains a high level of hydration. Normal skin rarely has any significant breakout, except perhaps during menstruation, stress, or when a poor-quality diet is involved.

Normal skin is fairly rare. Almost everyone has several things going on with their skin, even if there aren’t any oil problems. If you have been blessed with normal/no-problem skin, you are in the minority. And, no doubt, you are the envy of the majority.

What to use. There isn’t much to say about normal/no-problem skin except don’t get complacent just because you don’t have any problems with your skin. You can probably get away with using certain lower-quality products that may cause problems with other skin types. Even so, I recommend using high-quality products formulated for normal skin.

As I mentioned, not many people have no-problem skin, but those of you who do are very fortunate. You can thank your parents for the wonderful skin they have given you. However, it would be wise to exfoliate and use a clay mask regularly to help maintain your healthy, clean, and clear skin.

With combination skin, you are probably more prone to breakouts than those with normal skin. Masking, exfoliating, and using high-quality products for combination skin (normal to oily) will help keep your skin looking good and can cut down on the amount of breakout you experience.

Don’t get caught up using different products for different parts of your face. If you have classic combination skin, you don’t need to use a cream for oily skin on your T-zone and a cream for dry skin on your cheeks. Your cheeks aren’t dry (although your skin may be dehydrated), they just aren’t overproducing oil. Products for normal to oily skin should be fine. Don’t get suckered into using different creams for these different areas.

For everyone—normal, no-problem, combination, true-dry, or oily—doing The Basics every day as well as The Extras on a weekly (or at least bimonthly) basis will help keep your skin looking blemish-free and healthy.

For more information, see:

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care
• The Extras—Do more to have healthy skin
• Determining Skin Type

I would amend this photo to say “normal” on her cheeks.