The Endless Struggle: Keeping Your Pores Clean
TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PORES
Before we dive into our gripes with clogged pores, let’s talk about our pores’ functionality and why it’s a good thing we have them. They are natural, allow our skin to breathe, and they can absorb our favorite products. But what *is* a pore? Pores are small openings in the skin that drain sweat and oil from the skin. You want to make sure these “drainage holes” are clean so that they drain well.
Not only do they act as drainage for your skin, but they are also the opening of your hair follicles. Underneath the skin, sebum (oil) is secreted by the sebaceous glands by way of the pore. Oil is vital for your skin, as it hydrates and acts as an outer shield from the environment. Everyone’s pores will appear differently, as pore size and quantity vary depending on your gender and ethnicity.
Pores are vital to regulate and protect the skin, so having them is awesome! As long as you are keeping them as clean and clear as possible.
WHY YOUR PORES MAY BE CLOGGING UP
Like we said, we secrete oil (sebum) from our pores to keep our skin hydrated. This is only problematic for your skin when the oil is mixed with dirt, bacteria, pollution, etc., which is what causes your pores to clog. Good thing that’s totally avoidable, right?? Wrong. Your skin is constantly battling sweat, pollution, and pore-clogging face makeup—especially if you live in New York City. If you have problematic skin concerns or acne-prone skin—which 50% of women over the age of 20 do—keeping your pores squeaky clean is especially hard work.
If you tend to have more oily skin, then you might experience more clogging in your pores, as increased oil tends to attract more dirt. This is why you tend to get enlarged pores, clogged pores, and blackheads in your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) as these are typically the more oily areas of the face.
Your pores may be clogging especially if you aren’t washing your face often or well enough. You should be washing your face and neck twice a day. If you are cleansing twice a day but still getting clogged pores, then the cleanser you are using may not be right for your skin. You may want to consider getting a more powerful cleanser. If that’s the case, we love Vivant’s Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser.
HOW TO SPOT A CLOGGED PORE
In general, it’s not a bad thing to be able to see your pores. However, it doesn’t take much to clog up a pore. When it does clog, it can appear larger and sometimes darker. Sometimes they look like black dots. They can be easily mistaken for blackheads, and it can be hard to distinguish between the two, as they’re pretty much treated the same.
A clogged pore will have a combination of sebum (oil), dirt, and dead skin. It becomes a blackhead when the clogged pore becomes oxidized. They are likely to appear in clusters in the more oily areas of the face—chin, lip area, nose, and forehead.
THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR CLOGGED PORES
Genetic factors, skin type, age, and skin-care habits can all determine your pores’ appearance. While it might be possible to shrink the pore in size and remove some buildup, you likely can’t remove all of it and you certainly can’t make them disappear. And, unfortunately, any dirt or buildup you do remove won’t last long, as our body continuously produces oil. Cleaning, clearing, and cleansing clogged pores will only give a temporary effect and the pores will, naturally, fill up again within a few days.
We don’t advise that you pick and squeeze at your clogged pores. If you don’t take the necessary steps when you extract them (cleansing, steaming, etc.), then you could do serious damage to your skin. Even if you consider yourself to be a “pro” at extractions, constantly squeezing your pores will cause wear and tear to your skin, which will eventually make your pores larger and harder to manage. We advise that you get extractions done professionally. Sacred offers extractions in all of our facials!
You can, however, manage your oiliness, cleanliness, breakouts, and anti-aging symptoms—which can all make your pores clog and/or appear larger—with a solid skincare routine...
AHA/BHA Exfoliant: AHA/BHAs like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids will all help exfoliate and dissolve away dead skin cells and debris, minimizing the appearance of pores and preventing them from enlarging.
Chemical Exfoliants: These ingredients—found in many cleansers, toners, serums, and masks—can break down the bonds between the dead skin cells, oil, and other gunk in your pores. Over time that will loosen the “plug” in a clogged pore and gradually cause the pore to tighten and become less noticeable.
Retinoids: A form of vitamin A. These can speed up the skin’s cell turnover process, which help treat acne as well as signs of aging. Managing both of those issues can make pores less visible.
SPF: Using sunscreens or daily moisturizers with broad-spectrum that are at least SPF 30 will help prevent photo-aging, loss of collagen, and elastin which helps prevent your pores from becoming more noticeable.
If you find that your pores clog easily, then we advise that you stay away from products that are known for clogging (like coconut oil and thick creams), and keep your fingers off your face. These are small adjustments that can go a long way in improving your skin.
Pro-tip: If you tend to have very oily skin, we recommend throwing in a clay mask to your skin regimen. Use a mask 1-3 times a week, especially in hot and humid climates. Keeping a mask in the refrigerator will give a cool luxurious treatment while removing environmental impurities and excessive oil on the skin.
