Skincare simplified: The best skin care routine for combination skin

Before you even LOOK at cleansers, you are going to need at least eight flannels in your arsenal (one for each day of the week + another for laundry day).This is a tip from skincare guru Caroline Hirons and it's one you should get on board with, stat.Washing away your make-up with a splash of water just won't do the job, and you'll be left with residue product. These cotton flannels will wash like a dream, they're soft to the touch and, most importantly, they'll wipe away all the day's make-up and grime no problem.This pack includes 12 flannels for less than a tenner - a bargain, if you ask us.

Best high-end cleanser for combination skinWith hydrating glycerin and antioxidants from exotic mangosteen, the Merumaya cleansing balm will break down SPF and make-up no bother, and it'll do it while reducing inflammation and attracting moisture to the skin.Plus, if Caroline Hirons likes it, we're already sold, tbh.

Best budget cleanser for combination skinAt just £4.99, this cleanser is an absolute FIND. It's loved by Queen Sali Hughes (who, if you don't know, you need to get to know) and, with healing Vitamin E and triglyceride (a combination of fatty acids), your combo skin's dry patches will feel moisturised to the max. Don't worry about any T-zone oilyness at this stage; any excess oils lingering here will be washed off in the second cleanse.

Best high-end cleanser for combination skinDr. Ana says, "SkinCeuticals have some excellent products for combination skin," and Simply Clean is no exception. If acids in skincare scare you, this gel cleanser with wash-off hydroxy acids is a great way to bring exfoliation into your routine in a more gentle and less daunting manner. It'll tackle any congestion in your T-zone and, with hydration-boosting glycerin and soothing aloe, it'll be kind to any dry patches, too.

Best budget cleanser for combination skinOnce again, Caroline Hirons recommends this and tbh, at £4, why wouldn't you want to give it a try?WIth hyaluronic acid in a water-based gel (as the name suggests), this cleanser will remove any excess oil from your first cleanse, tackle dehydration in your T-zone, and it won't aggravate any dryness around the circumference of your face, either. A real hero product on a budget and, if you're still worried about dry patches, fret not, because we can (and will) address dryness in the serum and moisturiser stages.

Best mid-range toner for combination skinNot quite high-end, but it's effectiveness might as well be, because Ren's Clarimatte toner is everything you want in product for combination skin. It combines glycolic and lactic acid in a mild formula to help decongest any sebum blocked pores and, with antibacterial lavender, it works to prevent any future bouts of acne, too. What's more, with antioxidant grape and anti-inflammatory pineapple extracts, it'll help to tackle any redness and flare ups. An all-round good egg, if you ask us.

Best budget toner for combination skinLactic acid is one of the most gentle AHAs and hyaluronic acid is the product your dehydrated skin is craving. Together, the two ingredients prepare your skin for any upcoming mists, serums and moisturisers. With dead cells on the skin's surface banished (lactic acid) and the HA attracting hydration, any subsequent products' effectiveness will be heightened tenfold. Though, a word of warning from Caroline Hirons: be quick with your next steps as, naturally, the less you pay for an HA, the less successful it will be at boosting hydration. A.k.a, get your mists etc. on the skin ASAP before the HA stops doing its job ud83dude02.

Best mid-range face spray for combination skinSo, we did say that a face mist is optional, but if dryness is a real concern for you, we'd recommend making this step a staple in your routine - any moisture will be a helping hand, basically. For £13 we absolutely love what this spray has to offer, and it ticks two of CH's mist requirements: rosewater and glycerin. Plus, with this bad boy you'll get soothing aloe, which is never unwelcome in our house, tbh, especially if flare ups and redness are a close friend of yours.

Best budget face spray for combination skinRevolution always come through with winning products on a budget and, for just £5.40 (it's on sale), you can't go wrong with this one. Bringing together glycerin (our fave) and niacinamide in a delightful formula that's going to champion hydration in your drier areas AND regulate your oil production in your T-zone. Love.

Best high-end eye cream for combination skinA real treat of a product, this eye cream from Biossance puts the pep(tide) back into tired under-eyes and it'll do it with the help of a whole host of dreamy ingredients. You really get your money's worth with this little pocket rocket and, with everything from HA to caffeine, it'll leave your under-eyes and eyelids looking refreshed and feeling quenched. If you fancy a splurge, give this a go.

Best mid-range eye cream for combination skinWith three ceramides and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture and hydration in the eye region, for £12, this cream from CeraVe is a real hero product, much like everything else this brand releases. Plus, with niacinamide in a non-comedogenic formula, you don't need to fret about the consequences of this potentially melting down onto the apples of your cheeks because, even if it does, it's not going to aggravate any existing shine. If anything, it'll help.

Best high-end/mid-range serum for combination skinSkirting the boundary between mid-range and high-end, this serum is not shouted about enough and it's exactly what your T-zone is asking for. As Dr. Ana suggests, combo skin wants one thing in one area and another everywhere else (fussy b*tch), so use this for a boost of lightweight hydration in your T-zone (it is chocked full of HA ud83dude4c) and top up any dry patches with a rich moisturiser afterwards. If you still find your T-zone needs a little more moisture, why not try the Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser in that area - it's light as air and should do the job no questions asked.

The best budget serum for combination skinA very much 'does what it says on the tin' product, this serum from The Inkey List gives you exactly the level of skincare you'd expect for its price point and, in all honesty, that's not a bad thing. When you've got combo skin and you're trying to juggle two polar opposite skin concerns (seriously, why won't our skin just get its act together ud83dude12), you don't necessarily want to fork out on one does-it-all serum when it's only going to do-it-all for 50 per cent of your face . With radish root to help minimise excess oil and, obviously, hyaluronic acid, this product is going to tackle dehydration and shine buuut, it might not be best suited if dry patches are a real problem of yours. Essentially, apply as needed and we'll address any dryness in the moisturising stage.

Best high-end moisturiser for combination skinPaula's Choice are absolutely smashing the options for oily and combination skin types and, though it might be a splurge, this moisturiser is no exception. With as many as FIVE ceramides and 0.1 per cent retinol, it fulfils Dr. Ana's requirements for dryness and, with added vitamin C, it should help to heal flare ups, too. Depending on how oily your T-zone is, this is probably too heavy to use all over but, if you're on a real tight budget, you could always try diluting it with a serum for a lighter feel in that area.

Best budget moisturiser for combination skinMore of a 'you can use this all over' pick, this water-based moisturiser from Alba Botanica combines triglycerides (a big tick for dryness) with hyaluronic acid and decongesting papaya extra (an even bigger tick for oily areas) in a budget moisturiser that is just chef's kiss.

Best mid-range SPF for combination skinThe cream formula is an absolute hero product for dry skin and this - the gel formula - is a perfect pick for combo skin types, especially if you've just applied a heavy moisturiser. Water-based and non-greasy, it won't add to any existing shine and, with added glycerin, it should help to maintain hydration levels across the face as a whole. Plus, Caroline Hirons loves it...enough said.

Best budget SPF for combination skinA firm favourite of Sali Hughes, don't be put off by the Asian packaging (it seems to come from abroad on every site we've spotted it ud83eudd14) because this is an absolute bargain for what you're getting. SPF 50 (get on that anti-aging hype, hun) with hyaluronic acid in a water-based formula? We'll have ten, please.