Oily and Combination Skin: How to Balance Shine and Pores | Mavala UK

Oily skin comes down to your sebaceous glands and how much sebum they produce. Sebum is the oily substance your skin makes to keep itself lubricated. As the NHS explains, "sebaceous glands lubricate the hair and the skin to stop it drying out. They do this by producing an oily substance called sebum." When those glands are more active, skin looks and feels oilier. The British Skin Foundation notes that these glands "are tiny glands found near the surface of the skin and are affected by our hormones," which is why oiliness often rises and falls with hormonal change. Hormones are a big part of the picture: the NHS says "it's thought that increased levels of testosterone cause the glands to produce much more sebum than the skin needs," which is why oiliness so often starts in the teenage years. Genetics matter too, so if oily skin runs in your family, it is partly written into how your skin is built. The useful takeaway is that oily skin is a skin type to manage, not a hygiene failure to scrub away.

Combination skin is exactly what it sounds like: more than one skin type on the same face. Most commonly that means an oily T-zone, the forehead, nose and chin, where the sebaceous glands are busiest, paired with cheeks that are normal, dry or even a little tight. It can shift with the seasons too, leaning oilier in summer and drier in winter. The reason combination skin can feel tricky is that a single product rarely suits the whole face. A cleanser brisk enough for the shiny T-zone may leave the cheeks parched, while a cream rich enough for dry cheeks can feel greasy on the nose. The answer is not to pick a side, but to treat the face by zone: keep the oily areas clear and matte, and give the drier areas the comfort they need. Once you stop trying to force one routine onto two different skin types, combination skin becomes much easier to live with.

Because stripping the skin tends to provoke more oil, not less. It feels logical to wash shine away as often as possible, but harsh, repeated cleansing disrupts the skin's barrier and dries the surface, and skin often responds by producing even more sebum to compensate. The NHS is clear on the principle: "do not wash affected areas of skin more than twice a day. Frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse," and it advises washing "with a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water." The British Skin Foundation makes the same point about being gentle, warning that "scrubbing too hard can irritate the skin and make acne worse," and reminding us that "blackheads are not due to poor washing." So the rule for oily and combination skin is restraint: cleanse twice a day at most, keep the water lukewarm rather than hot, and choose a gentle formula over an aggressive one. You are aiming to remove the day's excess oil and grime, not to leave the skin squeaky and stripped.

Not permanently, and it helps to be honest about that. Pore size is largely down to genetics and how much oil your skin produces, so no product or routine can shrink a pore for good. What you can do, and it makes a real visible difference, is reduce how noticeable your pores look. Pores appear larger when they are congested with oil and dead skin, and when the skin around them lacks tone, so keeping them clear and the skin well cared for makes them far less obvious. A purifying cleanse, a clarifying toning step and a mattifying daily moisturiser all help the skin look smoother and more refined. The Mavala Pore Detox range is built around exactly this idea: the line is designed to purify the skin and tighten the look of pores for a smoother, more radiant texture. Think of it as managing the appearance rather than chasing an impossible permanent change, and you will get results you can actually see.

A good routine for oily and combination skin has four simple jobs: cleanse, balance, hydrate and mattify. First, cleanse gently to lift away the day's excess oil and grime without stripping the skin. Second, balance with a toning step that finishes the cleanse and refreshes the skin. Third, hydrate, because oily skin still needs water even if it does not need heavy oils, so reach for something light and non-greasy rather than skipping moisturiser altogether. Fourth, mattify where you actually shine, usually the T-zone, and once or twice a week add a purifying mask to give congested areas a deeper clean. If your skin is combination, treat it by zone: be a little more thorough on the oily T-zone and gentler and more comforting on the drier cheeks. You do not need a long shelf of products. You need the right few, used in the right order, consistently.

Start with a cleanser that purifies without stripping. The Mavala Pore Detox Perfecting Foaming Cleanser turns from a lotion into an airy foam at the press of a pump, and "a simple pump transforms this lotion into an airy foam that gently removes makeup, toxins, and impurities in one step." The promise is "clean, fresh skin without drying out," which is exactly what oily and combination skin needs: thorough but gentle. It is dermatologically tested. Use it morning and evening, massaging the foam over damp skin and rinsing with lukewarm water, and resist the urge to go further than twice a day. For combination skin, this is the step you can apply confidently across the whole face, since it cleans the oily zones without leaving the cheeks tight.

After cleansing, a toning step finishes the job and leaves skin feeling fresh. The Mavala Pore Detox Perfecting Toning Lotion is described as "a true Alpine 'water lotion'" that "purifies and completes makeup removal for blemish-prone skin," with the result being "clear skin, tightened pores." It is dermatologically tested. Sweep it over the skin on a cotton pad after your cleanser, paying particular attention to the oily T-zone where congestion gathers. This is a comfortable, low-effort step that makes a noticeable difference to how refined the skin looks, and it preps the skin for the moisturiser that follows.

Here is the step oily skin is most tempted to skip, and most needs. Skin can be oily and still short of water, and missing out moisturiser only pushes the glands to produce more oil. The trick is a light, non-greasy formula. The Mavala Pore Detox Perfecting Hydra-Matt Fluid is "a perfecting daily moisturiser" for skin prone to shine and imperfections, delivering "moisturised, matte skin." It is dermatologically tested and non-comedogenic, which means it is formulated not to block pores, exactly what you want on oily and combination skin. Apply a small amount each morning over your toner. It hydrates the skin while keeping shine in check, so you get comfort without the glossy finish. For combination skin, you can use it all over and simply apply a touch more on the drier cheeks if they need it.

For a deeper clean, add a weekly mask. The Mavala Pore Detox Perfecting Purifying Mask "purifies the skin and tightens pores while providing the necessary moisture," for the end result of "detoxified skin, tightened pores." It is dermatologically tested. What makes it well suited to oily and combination skin is that it draws out congestion without leaving the skin parched, since it hydrates as it purifies. Use it once or twice a week, and if your skin is combination you can apply it just to the oily T-zone, the classic multi-masking approach, while leaving drier areas alone. A purifying mask is one of the highest-value weekly habits for keeping pores clear and skin looking smooth.

If your cheeks run dry while your T-zone runs oily, the Pore Detox routine may feel a little brisk on the drier patches, and that is where a gentler option earns its place. The Mavala Clean & Comfort Caress Cleansing Milk is "a melting milk specially designed to care for dry skin during the delicate makeup removal process," leaving "make-up-free, moisturised skin and eyes." It is ophthalmologically and dermatologically tested. You can use it as your evening cleanse on the days your cheeks feel tight, or simply on the drier zones, while keeping the foaming cleanser for the oily areas. To refresh and revive the skin through the day, the Mavala Skin Vitality Alpine Micro-Mist is "an ultra-fine micro-mist, enriched with energising Swiss Apricot extract and decongesting Cornflower water," that "refreshes and brightens the skin instantly" for an "instantly hydrated and energised" finish. It is a comfortable way to top up hydration without disturbing makeup, and a nice midday reset for combination skin.

A few simple habits make oily and combination skin easier to manage between products. Choose water-based, non-comedogenic skincare and makeup, since the NHS advises using "water-based non-comedogenic products, as they're less likely to block the pores in your skin." Take your makeup off properly every night, because makeup left on skin overnight is one of the easiest ways to congest pores. Resist picking and squeezing: the NHS warns "do not try to 'clean out' blackheads or squeeze spots. This can make them worse and cause permanent scarring." Blot rather than re-wash when you get shiny during the day, so you remove surface oil without stripping the skin and triggering more. And keep things consistent, because oily skin responds far better to a steady, gentle routine than to occasional harsh overhauls. Small, regular habits beat dramatic one-offs every time.

Managing oily or combination skin with a good routine is a cosmetic job you can do at home, but persistent or distressing spots are a different matter and worth getting help with. The NHS advises seeing a pharmacist or GP if over-the-counter measures have not helped your acne, or if it is making you feel very unhappy, and a doctor can talk through treatment options that skincare cannot offer. Skincare looks after the appearance and comfort of your skin; it does not treat or cure acne or any other medical skin condition. So look after your skin well day to day, and if spots are stubborn, painful or getting you down, ask a professional. The two work best side by side.

Mavala is a Swiss, family-owned skincare and beauty house. Its skincare is formulated in Switzerland, and the products featured here, including the Pore Detox range, are dermatologically tested. Mavala UK brings the brand's Swiss skincare to British customers, with care designed for every skin type, including oily and combination skin that needs balance rather than stripping. Everything in this guide is grounded in Mavala's own product information and in published UK health and skin authorities, listed in full below.

Oily skin is caused by sebaceous glands producing more sebum, the skin's natural oil, than the skin needs. As the NHS explains, "sebaceous glands lubricate the hair and the skin to stop it drying out" by producing sebum, and "increased levels of testosterone cause the glands to produce much more sebum than the skin needs." Hormones and genetics are the main drivers, which is why oily skin often starts in the teens and can run in families. It is a skin type to manage, not a sign of poor hygiene.

Treat your face by zone. Keep the oily T-zone, the forehead, nose and chin, clear and matte with a purifying cleanser, a toning step and a light mattifying moisturiser, and give the drier cheeks gentler, more comforting care. A milky cleanser such as Mavala's Clean & Comfort Caress Cleansing Milk suits the drier areas, while the Pore Detox range handles the oily ones. You can also multi-mask, applying a purifying mask only to the oily zones. The aim is to stop forcing one routine onto two different skin types.

No, you cannot permanently shrink pores, because pore size is largely down to genetics and oil production. What you can do is make them look far less noticeable. Pores appear bigger when congested with oil and dead skin, so keeping them clear with a purifying cleanse, a clarifying toner and a mattifying moisturiser visibly refines the skin. Mavala's Pore Detox range is designed to purify the skin and tighten the look of pores for a smoother texture.

Yes. Oily skin still needs water, and skipping moisturiser can actually prompt the skin to produce more oil to compensate. The trick is a light, non-greasy formula rather than a rich cream. Mavala's Pore Detox Perfecting Hydra-Matt Fluid is a daily moisturiser for skin prone to shine, delivering "moisturised, matte skin," and it is non-comedogenic, so it is formulated not to block pores. Hydration and shine control are not opposites.

Twice a day at most. The NHS advises not to "wash affected areas of skin more than twice a day," because "frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse." Over-washing strips the skin and can trigger more oil, not less, so use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water rather than anything harsh. If your skin gets shiny during the day, blot it rather than washing again.

• Pore Detox Perfecting Foaming Cleanser: 165ml, £15.75. Airy foam that gently removes makeup and impurities without drying out.
• Pore Detox Perfecting Toning Lotion: 200ml, £13.25. Alpine water lotion for clear skin and tightened-looking pores.
• Pore Detox Perfecting Hydra-Matt Fluid: 45ml, £28.00. Daily moisturiser for moisturised, matte skin. Non-comedogenic.
• Pore Detox Perfecting Purifying Mask: 65ml, £23.30. Weekly mask that purifies and tightens pores while hydrating.
• Clean & Comfort Caress Cleansing Milk: 200ml, £13.25. Gentle melting milk for the drier areas of combination skin.
• Skin Vitality Alpine Micro-Mist: 125ml, £22.80. Refreshing micro-mist to hydrate and revive skin through the day.
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• NHS, Acne: Causes
• NHS, Acne
• British Skin Foundation, Acne