I don’t know what my skin is doing, and I don’t think it does either.
Every skincare label insists on putting you in a nice and simple category: dry, oily, normal or combination. For years, I called myself “combination,” because that’s what someone told me once, and it sounded believable. But lately, I’m thinking my skin just has commitment issues.
It’s not dry. It’s not oily. It’s just… indecisive. I’ll have a flaky nose when I wake up and an oily forehead by 3 p.m. My chin breaks out randomly, like it’s responding to triggers I don’t remember having. It’s not “combination” — it’s chaos with a face.
I’ll moisturize one night and wake up greasy. Skip moisturizer and wake up looking like I’ve been dusted in flour. There is no logic. Just vibes. My chin does its own thing — sometimes dry, sometimes breaking out, sometimes both, just for fun.
I’ve tried every skin quiz, TikTok recommendation and advice from those influencers with perfect lighting and zero visible pores. They all said the same thing: “Just find products that balance your skin.” Cool! I’d love to! But I tried to Google things like “best skincare for combination skin,” and all that ever did was send me into a spiral. “Hydrate more.” “Exfoliate less.” “Avoid fragrance.” “Use niacinamide.” I don’t know what niacinamide is, but I’m pretty sure I don’t need that kind of stress in my life.
So, here’s where I’ve landed: my skin is not broken. It’s just unpredictable. Like a moody coworker I’ve learned not to make eye contact with. I do my best. I drink water. I sleep when I can. I moisturize out of respect and just pray it doesn’t freak out before a social event.
So no, I’m not glowing. But I am trying. And that has to count for something.
