Five day creams for combination to oily skin

Combination to oily skin is a constant balancing act: too much hydration in one place, not enough in another — and finding a day cream that handles both without greasiness or dryness can feel like a small obstacle course. Yet it is one of the most common skin types among women, and anyone with combination skin knows it can be seriously tricky to look after. Combination skin usually means a T-zone — forehead, nose and chin — prone to excess sebum, blackheads and other imperfections, while the cheeks and eye area are drier. If the central zone needs shine control and corrective care, the rest of the face wants hydration, perhaps even a product for sensitive skin: a real puzzle. The answer is to look for ‘intelligent’ day creams that hydrate while mattifying, are light, non-greasy and non-comedogenic — nothing less! Fortunately, some products rise to the challenge: here are five good day creams with more than respectable results.

Crème Hydrance Optimale Légère, SPF 20, Avène

It is often billed as one of the best day creams for combination skin and, broadly speaking, those who have tried it have stuck with it. Avène is well known for products aimed at sensitive and problem skin — dryness, imperfections, intolerance — and has made a name for itself in skincare; you know an Avène cream is generally a good cream, with a few exceptions.

To start with, it is formulated without oils and is non-comedogenic, an essential point for combination skin, which is quickly overwhelmed by rich textures and then develops imperfections and unwelcome shine. Here the texture is fluid and light, and the scent is light and fresh too — a good point for that everyday feeling of lightness.

The cream sinks in very quickly, so you can apply make-up almost immediately; it leaves skin soft and supple and, a nice surprise, it limits shine. It is not infallible, but the improvement is undeniable. It is also good to know that it offers UV protection — within its limits, SPF 20 is better than nothing — and its price is very reasonable for a good-quality day cream.

On hydration, though, it is a little lacking for my taste: I have to add a second layer on the cheeks at least to get rid of that tight feeling.

Worth knowing: it also comes in a Riche version for normal to dry skin, but that loses the mattifying, lightweight benefit.

My advice is therefore this: ideal for warmer weather, spring and summer, it limits shine and is very pleasant to wear while protecting the skin, but it is not quite enough for winter — either layer it with a hydrating serum or switch to something better suited to the season.

Crème Fraîche de Beauté formule Light, Nuxe

Nuxe products are much loved, and from Baume Rêve de Miel to Huile Prodigieuse the brand has its share of beauty must-haves. After hearing so much about the famous Crème Fraîche — which to me sounds more like a dessert than a face product — I gave in.

Choose the light version, formulated for combination skin; it promises tightened pores, mattified skin and ‘optimal hydration’ thanks to a combination of plant milks — nothing less.

First, the packaging: Nuxe is known for bulky glass jars that are not very hygienic, so the tube is welcome for once. Then the texture: fine, light and non-greasy, but somehow slightly powdery. It is pleasant to apply, sinks in well and has a rather strange smell — not unpleasant to me, but unusual. On the mattifying front, it does its job too: skin looks visibly clearer and more matte, and the make-up finish stays perfect for a good while. Very oily skins may still shine during the day, but noticeably less than with another cream — and a quick blot with a blotting sheet and you’re done.

For hydration, it is slightly more moisturising than the Avène cream but can still be insufficient in winter on the drier areas of the face. In summer, though, it must be perfect.

On the other hand, the ingredient list is as long as your arm, with some that alarm: methylparaben, propylene glycol, ethylparaben, propylparaben and more. A real shame, especially for a brand with a fairly natural image.

That said, several brands have revised their formulas since then to remove controversial preservatives. The useful habit is to read the INCI on the back, product by product, because versions change quickly.

Normaderm Soin Hydratant anti-imperfections, Vichy

This one has a fairly good reputation, known for being effective against minor imperfections; it promises clarified, mattified skin — just what I needed.

First, bravo for the pump bottle: practical and hygienic, and easy to take anywhere — much appreciated. Texture-wise, it is light and non-greasy and sinks in well; the smell is a little industrial — meaning not exactly natural, but not unpleasant. You can apply make-up afterwards without a problem; so far, so good.

In terms of efficacy, it mattifies quite well, although, as always, skin can shine during the day — but I have never yet found a completely foolproof mattifying cream, and this one remains fairly effective on that front. As for imperfections, I had the impression that small spots and irregularities were less visible after a few days, though that does not hold for truly acne-prone skin.

Complexion looks more even and brighter, pores less visible — a good product for anyone with occasional imperfections. On hydration, however, I would say it is the least effective in our selection. And combination skin also needs hydration in certain areas; in winter, when skin is particularly dry, it is not enough.

I would keep it for times when spots flare up, for truly oily skin and for summer.

Tolériane Fluide, émulsion non grasse protectrice apaisante, La Roche-Posay

This non-greasy soothing protective emulsion has hydration as its main mission, but in a lightweight form; designed for intolerant, problem or simply sensitive skin, it has a fairly lean formula: no fragrance or preservative, and largely made up of thermal spring water. It is aimed at combination to oily skin and highlights its tolerance.

First, a word on the pump bottle, whose merits I will never praise enough. Then its texture: as the name suggests, it is a non-greasy emulsion, very light, fluid and almost odourless. However, skin takes a little while to absorb the fluid, so you need to wait a few minutes before make-up, otherwise skin feels a bit tacky.

In terms of efficacy, it is clearly very well tolerated — no imperfections to report after application; it hydrates well, better than many creams for combination skin, but on me my cheeks still feel a little tight, so I add a touch more where skin stays dry.

It is slightly less mattifying than the products mentioned above, though skin still shines less than with a basic cream; a powder touch-up may be needed during the day.

I conclude that this is a good-quality product, often sold in pharmacies, a good moisturiser for combination skin but only moderately mattifying — you’ll need to decide which need matters more.

Émulsion light Sensaï Silk, Kanebo

Let’s be clear: this is a luxury product. Its clean but chic pump bottle sets the tone; I should add that one bottle easily lasts six months or more, certainly far longer than a basic tube of cream. This emulsion is aimed at combination to oily skin and makes hydration and anti-ageing protection its main business.

First, the texture: very fluid and fresh — one pump is enough to hydrate the whole face. The scent is ultra-discreet and the fluid melts quickly into skin, with no discomfort such as tingling or warmth; skin looks visibly hydrated and, surprisingly, even on the cheeks.

No imperfections after repeated use. Its weak point, however, is shine control: it is clearly not formulated to mattify — although, to be fair, it never promised to.

My view is that this is an excellent product, both for caring for and protecting skin; it is very hydrating while being very fluid, which is quite surprising. You may, however, need to pair it with a mattifying primer or foundation to avoid shine during the day.

Finally, on budget, it is the most expensive in the selection — your wallet will feel it.

To finish, two or three habits that apply to all these creams: on formula, look first for glycerin or hyaluronic acid, to hold water, and a light base that does not clog pores. On texture, you will often see the words ‘fluid’ or ‘gel-cream’: these are the textures that sink in fastest under make-up.

Another useful habit: stop piling on layers. Serum, cream, sunscreen, foundation… that is a lot for combination skin. Choose a day cream that is already protective, and keep the rest light.

Keep in mind: these are hydrating day creams, not treatments. If your spots are inflamed and numerous, a dermatologist’s advice is worth more than ten tubes tried at random.

Budget

The day creams for combination to oily skin cover a very wide price range. In pharmacies and health-and-beauty retailers, expect to pay in the region of £15 to £25 for a 40 to 50 ml bottle, though prices vary quite a bit from one pharmacy to another and promotions are frequent. Luxury products, such as a high-end Japanese emulsion, can climb towards £60 to £80 a bottle — but a bottle often lasts much longer than a basic tube. Good to know: the light version of a cream usually costs the same as its rich version, so choose the texture that suits you.