COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is a skin type where different areas of the face have different needs. Typically, the T zone around the forehead, nose and chin produces more sebum, while the cheeks may feel normal, dry or occasionally tight.

The answer isn't to treat your face as a problem to control. A good combination skin routine should help maintain hydration and support the skin barrier while managing oilier areas without stripping them.

You may have combination skin if your T-zone becomes oily or shiny while other areas of your face remain normal or feel dry, particularly around the cheeks.

You might also notice enlarged or more visible pores around the nose and forehead, occasional congestion in oilier areas, or different parts of your face responding differently to the same product.

Skin can change with age, hormones, season and environment too, so what your skin needs now may be different from what it needed a few years ago.

The best skincare routine for combination skin combines gentle cleansing, lightweight hydration, targeted nourishment and daily sun protection.

Start with a cleanser that removes excess sebum, makeup and SPF without leaving skin feeling tight. Follow with lightweight hydration and ingredients such as niacinamide that help support the skin barrier and balance sebum. If drier areas need more nourishment, apply a facial oil or serum where it is needed rather than assuming every part of your face requires the same amount.

At Raven, we prefer to work with the skin rather than fight it. Different areas may have different needs, but that doesn't necessarily mean you need a complicated routine.

Some of the best ingredients for combination skin include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, gentle fruit enzymes and carefully selected botanical oils.

Niacinamide can help regulate sebum while supporting normal skin barrier function. Hyaluronic acid attracts and retains water, while squalane provides lightweight emollience. Gentle papaya enzymes can help refine the skin's surface, while botanical oils rich in essential fatty acids can provide additional nourishment where skin feels drier.

We formulate with ingredients including borage, nettle and other carefully chosen botanicals, bringing together plant knowledge, modern formulation science and our Scottish approach to creating skincare that works with the skin.

Yes. Combination skin can be oily and dehydrated at the same time because oil and hydration are not the same thing.

Sebum is the oil produced by your skin, while dehydration describes a lack of water. This means an oily T zone can still feel tight, dull or dehydrated underneath.

Rather than trying to remove all traces of oil, look for lightweight humectants such as hyaluronic acid and support the skin barrier with ingredients that help it retain moisture.

Yes, combination skin can use facial oils. The key is choosing suitable oils and adjusting how much you apply according to what your skin needs.

A few drops of a well formulated botanical oil can provide emollient lipids and help soften drier areas without needing to coat the entire face heavily. You might use less around an oily T zone and concentrate additional nourishment over the cheeks.

Facial oils aren't something oily or combination skin automatically needs to fear. For us, good skincare is about balance rather than stripping away everything the skin naturally produces.

The best Raven Botanicals products for combination skin combine lightweight hydration, gentle cleansing and targeted botanical nourishment without overwhelming oilier areas.

24 Carat Oil to Milk Cleanser gently removes makeup, SPF and impurities while papaya enzymes help refine the skin's surface without relying on harsh physical exfoliation.

Ultra Hydrating Serum is particularly suited to combination skin, combining hyaluronic acid with niacinamide, squalane and borage to hydrate, support the skin barrier and help balance sebum without feeling heavy.

For skin that needs additional botanical nourishment, Rescue Serum combines ingredients including hemp, blackcurrant and nettle and can be used across the face or concentrated where your skin needs it most.

The result is a simple Raven approach to combination skin: cleanse gently, hydrate intelligently and nourish where needed.