French Skincare for Combination Skin 2024

I live in France with combination skin, here is how to care for normal to combination skin types! Luckily there are French combination skincare solutions for everyone.

What is Combination Skin?

Combination skin is a skin type that is characterized by having both oily and dry areas on the face. Typically, the T-zone (forehead, nose, inner cheeks, and chin) tends to be oily, while the outer cheek area, edge of the jaw, and other areas of the face are dry or normal.

People with combination skin may experience different skin behaviors in different areas of the face. For example, combination skin types may have enlarged pores, acne, or breakouts in the oily areas, while experiencing dryness, flakiness, or tightness in the drier areas.

It is important to care for combination skin by using gentle, pH-balanced cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, and targeted treatments for specific skin concerns. It’s also recommended to avoid using harsh products or over-washing the face, as this can strip the skin of its natural oils and exacerbate dryness or oiliness.

French Skincare for Combination Skin Type salome.mory — @salome.mory

Combination Skincare Tips

Use a gentle, non-drying cleanser to remove dirt and excess oil without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Avoid harsh, foaming cleansers that can dry out your skin and lead to further oil production.

Moisturize daily to keep your skin hydrated. Choose a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. Apply a moisturizer to your entire face, including the dry areas.

Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied daily, even on cloudy days.

Exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Use a gentle exfoliant that won’t irritate your skin.

Use products that are specific to your skin concerns. If you have oily areas, use a toner to control oil production. If you have dry areas, use a hydrating serum or oil to moisturize. Apply the product to that specific area only.

Avoid harsh products that can irritate your skin, such as alcohol-based toners, strong exfoliants, and acne treatments.

Shop Combination Skincare Lines by Pharmacy Brands

There aren’t many dedicated combination skincare lines by French skincare brands. The combination skin type is generally grouped in with products made for “normal” or “sensitive” skin. If you have combination skin like me, here are the pharmacy skincare lines I recommend:

Bioderma Sensibio: The Bioderma Sensibio skincare line is specifically designed for sensitive and reactive skin. This line of products aims to soothe, hydrate, and strengthen the skin’s barrier to prevent irritation and sensitivity.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane: The La Roche-Posay Toleriane line of skincare is designed for sensitive, intolerant, and allergy-prone skin. It’s also great for combination skin. This line of products aims to calm, hydrate, and protect the skin’s natural barrier by avoiding agitation.

Combination Skincare Routine in France

Wash with a gentle foaming face wash such as the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser for combination to oily skin.

Moisturize with a gel-based cream like the Biotherm Aquasource Gel for Normal to Combination Skin. This will prevent your T-zone from producing too much sebum, which results in an oily face.

In the summer, apply a lightweight face sunscreen such as the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen SPF60 to protect your face from harmful UV rays.

At night, you may wish to use a gentle toner such as the Avène Gentle Toning Lotion to be sure that any makeup from the day is fully removed from your face.

Try These Combination Skincare Products from France

The good news is that normal to combination skin types can try all of the best French skincare products without worrying too much about how they will affect your skin. Most of the top skincare treatments from France will work on combination skin since it’s equally dry and oily. In any case, here are a few gentle French skincare products made for those with normal to combination skin: