I know, combination skin (skin that is oily and some places and dry in others) can be frustrating.

It's hard to know which products to buy, and mainstream beauty ads and articles never seem to be talking to you. But I'm going to let all you combination types in on a secret: You've actually hit the skin-type jackpot. Combination skin is far less susceptible to climate changes than other types - it can effectively adjust when temperatures drop (making skin drier) or humidity skyrockets (making skin oilier). 

So, how can you care for this adaptable skin of yours without giving half of it short shrift? Just follow a few simple pointers: 

• In choosing a cleanser, consider your oiliest areas - but don't use cleansers that are any harsher than you need! While an oily type can benefit from foaming cleansers, they will likely be too drying for you. Similarly, dry types have great success with ultra-gentle cleansing oils, which will leave your skin feeling greasy. Instead, try something in between, like Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.

• Combination types in particular may benefit from the variety of facial serums on the market - these lightweight products are suitable for use on both dry and oily areas. Better yet, they can deliver high-impact ingredients to oily areas that might otherwise miss out on the beneficial ingredients in many moisturizers. My favorite serums include SkinCeuticals' C E Ferulic (a wonderful, antioxidant-packed option) and Aveeno's Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum (which offers powerful ingredients for a steal). Use these products after cleansing and before applying moisturizer.

• In choosing a moisturizer, pay close attention to your driest areas. Most combination types can get away with using a moisturizing lotion (as opposed to the heavier creams a dry type might prefer or the gels many oily types use) all over their faces. If you fall into that category, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is a good bet, as is Topix Replenix Cream CF (which is lighter than its name suggests). And if you still notice dry spots - particularly on the cheeks - don't hesitate to add a richer moisturizer to those areas. Combination types with particularly oily T-zones, on the other hand, might prefer to moisturize only their cheeks, which is also fine.

• Pay close attention to climate changes. As temperatures and humidity drop, for example, you will likely be closer to a dry type, and will need to cleanse and moisturize accordingly. Similarly, you may notice your skin moving toward the oily end of the spectrum when you're in warmer or more humid climates.

On a final note, "combination skin" is really a bit of a misnomer. Everyone's skin, in fact, is a combination of four parameters: dry vs. oily, sensitive vs. resistant, pigmented vs. non-pigmented, and tight vs. wrinkled. Since I first began working with those skin-typing parameters, I have had great success treating patients according to their skin's highly specific needs. In fact, making customized skin care available to anyone is the goal of my book, "The Skin Type Solution."

Wishing you great skin!