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Protection. Education. Connection. There's an app for that at ascpskincare.com/app 37 TREATING OILY SKIN A big risk when treating combination skin is using overly drying products that address the oily T-zone yet cause the outer area of the cheeks to become dehydrated. To create balance, look for treatments and products that incorporate the following ingredients: • Hyaluronic acid—a natural, moisturizing polysaccharide prevalent in the skin. Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt form of hyaluronic acid and the most common form of hyaluronic acid that helps increase moisture in the skin. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid has a lower molecular weight, so it can penetrate deeper into the skin's surface. When different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid are used in a formulation, it can perform multiple functions to enhance skin moisturization. • Hypericum perforatum extract (St. John's Wort)—a botanical ingredient that helps provide balance while soothing the appearance of the skin. • Niacinamide (vitamin B3)—known for its multiple skin benefits, including reducing the appearance of oil, pore size, fine lines, and wrinkles, and improving the overall appearance of skin texture, firmness, and elasticity. 5 • Seaweeds—provide the skin with the key elements it needs for deep surface hydration and balance. This includes laminaria digitata, which contains 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 42 trace elements and minerals, and phlorotannins. • Sodium ascorbyl phosphate—a stable form of vitamin C that provides potent antioxidants. Professional protocols should include steaming, cleansing, and toning with pH-balancing products. Gentle effl eurage massage should be performed with a non-oily moisturizing cream or serum. An exfoliant made from pure honey, oatmeal, or almond meal will help purify and deeply cleanse. Customized mask treatments are especially important for oily and combination skin types. A deep-cleansing and oil-absorbing mask should be applied to the T-zone, while a hydrating mask should be applied to the drier, dehydrated periphery of the face. Finally, recommend clients take home retail products used in the treatment to maintain proper oil balance and their skin's barrier between treatments. This approach to addressing oily skin is essential for creating the proper balance in the skin and will create visible results—the best way to develop loyal, lifelong clients. Combination skin can be greatly affected by the environment, becoming oilier during the summer months due to heat and humidity and drier in the winter due to wind and lower humidity. SKIN PHYSIOLOGY Notes 1. Robert Arbuckle et al., "Patient Experiences with Oily Skin: The Qualitative Development of Content for Two New Patient Reported Outcome Questionnaires," Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 6, no. 80 (October 2008), doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-6-80. 2. Xinjue Kuang et al., "A Comprehensive Classifi cation and Analysis of Oily Sensitive Facial Skin: A Cross-Sectional Study of Young Chinese Women," Scientifi c Reports 15, no. 1633 (January 2025), nature.com/articles/s41598-024-85000-z. 3. Arbuckle et al., "Patient Experiences with Oily Skin: The Qualitative Development of Content for Two New Patient Reported Outcome Questionnaires." 4. Xiaoqing Xiao et al., "Nationwide Survey and Identifi cation of Potential Stress Factor in Sensitive Skin of Chinese Women," Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 13 (November 2020): 867–74, doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S284359. 5. Donald L. Bissett, John E. Oblong, and Cynthia A. Berge, "Niacinamide: A B Vitamin That Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearance," Dermatologic Surgery 31, no. s1 (July 2005): 860–6, doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31732.