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How do I Clear Clogged Pores?
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
There are a number of ways to clear clogged pores, some of them better than others. The best time to clear out clogged pores is after taking a long, hot shower. The heat, water, and steam will help to soften the skin and allow the pores to open. Also, by thoroughly washing the face and hands in the shower, it is unlikely that dirt or bacteria will get into the pores in the process of clearing them.
Other ways to prepare the skin include taking a long, hot bath, sitting in a sauna for ten to 15 minutes, or steaming the face. The face can be steamed by filling a sink full of very hot water. Hold the face just a few inches from the water's surface and place a towel over the back of the head. This will keep all of the steam in a semi-enclosed area around the face. This method can be painful for people who have back or neck problems.
Once the skin has been cleaned and steamed, it should be disinfected. This can be done by applying an astringent made with rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, or tea tree oil all over the face except for the area around the eyes and on the lips. Once this has been done, there are three products that can be used to help clear clogged pores. The options are a cleansing mask, an exfoliant, or a pore strip.
A cleansing mask helps to pull dirt and excess oil out of the pores. Usually, the mask has to dry, which may be difficult in a very steamy bathroom. Relaxing on one's bed or couch is a great way to wait while the mask does its work. When the mask has dried, it is either peeled off of the face or washed away.
A pore strip is much like a peel-away mask except instead of being a gel or liquid, it is placed on the skin as a wet piece of paper. Pore strips clear clogged pores by adhering to the dirt and oil in the pores and pulling it out when the strip dries. These strips are usually formed to clear clogged pores in specific areas, such as the forehead, nose, and chin.
An exfoliant is a product that has a rough substance such as salt, sugar, or ground fruit pits mixed into it. When rubbed over the face with warm water, the product helps to slough off dead skin cells and clear clogged pores.
Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for BeautyAnswered, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.
Learn more...
Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for BeautyAnswered, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.
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![A woman using a sauna to clear her pores.]()
By: omicronA woman using a sauna to clear her pores. -
![A pore refining cleanser can be used to minimize pores.]()
By: rufarA pore refining cleanser can be used to minimize pores. -
![Astringents made with witch hazel can be used to clear clogged pores.]()
By: dianamowerAstringents made with witch hazel can be used to clear clogged pores. -
![Using an exfoliant can help clean out pores.]()
By: kubaisUsing an exfoliant can help clean out pores. -
![The best time to clear out clogged pores is after a long, hot shower.]()
By: carol_anneThe best time to clear out clogged pores is after a long, hot shower.
Discussion Comments
I read one article in one of my beauty magazines. It has a list of ingredients that clog pores. I already kind of assumed this because some products I use clog my pores and others don't.
So here are some ingredients from that list. Cocoa butter and linseed oil clog pores. So do "isopropyl isostereate" and "butyl sterate." I don't even know what the last two are, I can't even pronounce them. But I know I see them in ingredients lists all the time.
Surprisingly good old sunflower oil and olive oil don't clog pores!
My sister is a pharmacist. She tells me to use skin products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for clogged pores. I check the ingredients list on cleansers and masks to see if it has one of these ingredients.
Another tip I learned from my friend is to use primer before putting makeup on my face. Primer doesn't clean pores but it prevents them from becoming clogged. It's sort of like a protective barrier between your skin and makeup. Especially liquid foundation clogs pores so badly. The primer will prevent that from happening.
I'm using a skin cleansing system daily for the past two months. It's a small gadget which has a brush head. You put cleanser on the head, turn the gadget on and move it in a circular motion on your face. I think this is the best way to get rid of dead skin, clear pores and remove dirt and makeup from your face. My pores have never looked this small before.
So I guess cleansing is the most important step if you want to clear and minimize pores. It might be too drying if you have dry skin but I think most people with dry skin have few enlarged pores. It's usually oily skin that has clogged pores, blackheads and acne problems. I know it's best to wash your face both in the morning and at night. I am really busy so I only find time before sleeping to clean my skin. That's why I'm happy with using my cleansing brush. It's enough if I use it once a day.
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