How to Handle Combination Skin in Summer

Treat your T-zone and cheeks as separate entities with targeted products, not one uniform routine.

Stop trying to balance your skin into submission. Work with what you have, where you have it.

1. Zone your face. Map your skin into oily zones (usually T-zone) and normal-to-dry zones (typically cheeks). Summer heat amplifies this divide, so acknowledge it instead of fighting it with one-size-fits-all products.
2. Double cleanse strategically. Use a gentle oil cleanser everywhere first, then follow with a salicylic acid cleanser only on oily zones. Your cheeks get the oil cleanser residue which is enough cleansing without stripping.
3. Apply products by zone. Lightweight gel moisturizer on the T-zone, cream moisturizer on cheeks. Use a mattifying primer only where you get oily, regular primer or just moisturizer elsewhere.
4. Spot-treat with actives. BHA toner on oily areas 2-3 times per week, gentle hydrating toner on dry zones. Never apply strong actives to your entire face just because your T-zone needs it.
5. Layer SPF properly. Use the same SPF everywhere but apply it in thin layers on oily zones, slightly thicker on areas that tend to be dry. Reapply with powder on the T-zone, cream on cheeks.