14 best products for combination skin

Banish shine for good with our pick of the best skin-savers for oily and combination complexions

(REX FEATURES)

Combination skin can be tricky to treat – dry cheeks and oily t-zone mean you need to pick your beauty routine carefully. We put masks, primers, serums, lotions and more through their paces to find the ones that really do work. Here is our pick of the bunch.

1. Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Skin Serum, £36 for 50ml, amazon

Serums add another layer of moisture to the skin – which quite frankly feels entirely unnecessary when you're constantly battling over-enthusiastic oil production. However, this little beauty treasure, might just be what your skin needs. Antibacterial lavender and petitgrain and oil-balancing oat flour mattify and keep shiny skin at bay. They also keep skin hydrated so it doesn't dry out and start over-producing oil to compensate.

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2. Bliss Toner Daily Detoxifying Toner, £21 for 200ml, Look Fantastic

If large open pores are your nemesis, swiping this toner over cleansed skin morning and evening really does reduce pore size. I've been using for a couple of months now and within 2-3 weeks I noticed a difference.
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3. La Roche Posay Effaclar Anti-Blemish System, £33, Boots

Very good value for a full beauty regime: there's a cleanser, toner and anti-blemish cream and they say you just need to use them twice a day with visible results in 24 hours. They guarantee clearer skin - fewer blemishes and unclogged pores, reduced sebum and more even skin texture - or your money back.
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4. Erno Laszlo Anti Blemish Beta Purifying Mask, £55 for 100ml, amazon

A potent mix of antibacterial ingredients to exfoliate, tone and moisturise oily and blemish-prone skin. Clarifying salicylic acid helps reduce black heads, white heads and spots, mattifying kaolin clay absorbs excess oil and brightens skin, while anti-bacterial eucalyptus and peppermint refresh without drying. This is a results-driven brand with decades of research and development – if you can afford it, you won't regret investing in an Erno Laszlo beauty routine, because it just works.

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5. Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion: £27 for 50ml, John Lewis

Don't make the mistake of avoiding moisturiser if you have oily or shiny skin, that will just make your skin produce more oil. Instead, opt for this brilliant lotion that adapts to your oily t-zone and dry cheeks combo. It also reduces redness, helps regulate oil production, tightens pores, absorbs excess oil and reduces shine. A great multi-tasker for combination complexions.
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6. Ark Clearing Skin Response Serum, £42 for 30ml, Look Fantastic

Take a stand against breakouts with this ultra-effective antibacterial and astringent blend of nettle, watercress, horsetail and margosa leaf. Bacteria-busting, redness-reducing and pore-tightening, this serum clears up congested complexions fast.
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7. Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic, £21 for 207ml, John Lewis

Toners can dry out skin and set sebum production into overdrive to compensate for this dryness – not what oily skin needs. However this non-drying, camphor-based antiseptic toner contains calming soothing aloe and comfrey extract to reduce inflammation in skin prone to flare ups. The lactic acid content also gently buffs away dead skin cells and helps reduce further congestion.
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8. Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment, £20 for 15ml, House of Fraser

Primers are great for evening out skin tones and keeping make-up in place, but if you already have clogged-up congested skin the temptation is to leave skin entirely bare. This primer is perfect for oily skin as it contains an anti-acne treatment to heal and prevent acne blemishes. It's also ultra lightweight and minimises the look of pores and fine lines. Acne-busting and anti-ageing in one tube – multi-tasking at its very best, because spot prone skin can affect any age.
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9. Dr Hauschka Clarifying Toner: £25 for 100ml, John Lewis

Packed full of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory calendula, echinacea, witch hazel and daisy, these calming soothing extracts also help regulate sebum production and tighten up enlarged pores. This one is designed for very oily and acne-prone skin.

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10. Decleor Aroma Purete Masque, £22 for 50ml, John Lewis

Purifying and mattifying, leave this mask on for 10 minutes to tighten up pores and rebalance oily complexions, then gently rub and it turns into an exfoliator to remove dulling dead skin cells and unclog congested pores. A brilliant multi-tasker if you want to shave time off your beauty routine.
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11. DHC Pore Face Wash, £9 for 120g, amazon

Baking soda in this rich foaming cleanser dissolves dirt and exfoliates – perfect for skin susceptible to blocked pores and congestion. AHAs from pear juice refine pores and leave the skin significantly smoother. I used a couple of times a week for a month and noticed huge improvements in skin softness and clarity.
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12. Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser, £3 for 75ml, Boots

A great high-street option for combination skin is this shine-eliminating, anti-bacterial packed lightweight moisturiser. Great too if you have reactive skin that prefers no beauty nasties like perfumes and colouring.
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13. Vichy Normaderm Night Detox, £16 for 40ml, Look Fantastic

Get some real beauty sleep with this overnight complexion booster. It controls sebum production, reduces imperfections, minimises the look of pores and leaves skin clean and radiant by morning.
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14. DHC Oil Blotting Paper, £4 for 100 sheets, DHC

If all else fails and your complexion, that was gloriously matte when you left the house, is turning distinctly shiny, then slip these in your bag. Instead of adding more powder to cover shine and over-active sebum production, sweep away oil with a quick and discreet blotter.

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Verdict

You can't beat Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner for tightening up enlarged pores, or Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Skin Serum for keeping shine under control. But the outright winners for busting blemishes and leaving skin clear are La Roche-Posay Effaclar Anti-Blemish System and Erno Lazlo Anti Blemish Beta Purifying Mask – they produce superb results.