Clean Clogged Pores
Pores on your face can get clogged with oil, dry skin cells, and everyday dirt and debris you encounter when you're out in the world. Clogged pores left untreated can lead to blackheads and acne, so it's important to clean them often. Try one of four techniques for unclogging your pores: steaming, exfoliating, using a facial mask, and using a pore-unclogging treatment.
Contents
Steps
Unclog Your Pores with Steam
- Wash your face. Start the unclogging process by washing your face. Use this gentle face-washing method to get your face completely clean without irritating your skin, which can cause your pores to appear bigger:
- Use makeup remover solution or pads to wipe away your makeup in gentle strokes. Remove all traces of eye makeup, concealer, and any other products you use.
- Splash your face with lukewarm water. Using hot water can inflame your face and dry it out, so stick with lukewarm or cool water for now. Splash your face with water several times to remove residue from your makeup remover.
- Use a gentle cleanser if you wish. If your skin is on the dry side, you don't need to use a cleanser. If you want to use one, make sure it's non-abrasive and doesn't contain chemicals that will dry out your face.
- Pat your face dry with a soft towel. Don't rub it or scrub it. The skin on your face is thinner and more fragile than the skin on the rest of your body, so it's important to treat it gently.
- Fill a pot with water and place it on the stove. Turn the heat to medium high, cover the pot, and allow it to heat. When the water is hot enough to start producing steam, remove the pot from heat.
- You can pour the water into a large bowl or leave it in the pot for your steam treatment.
- You can add green tea, peppermint tea, chamomile tea, or another herb or extract to the water to help nourish your face. Add tea tree oil to the water to help treat acne.
- Place a towel over your head and lean over the steaming water. Tent the towel over your shoulders and the pot so that the steam is directed to your face. Let the steam soak into your face and pores for ten minutes.
- It's very important to do these steps in order. You must wash your face thoroughly before you attempt to steam your pores. Steaming in and of itself will help loosen built up dirt but you still need to clean that dirt from your face. It is important to note that the idea that steam opens your pores is a myth.
- It's also important to avoid over steaming, which can lead to your skin drying out regularly and then over-oiling to make up for the dryness. Only steam your face once a week or so, after a proper cleansing, for a period of 5-10 minutes.
- Rinse your face with cool water. Wash away the particles that emerged from your pores with cool water, which will help your face tighten back up. Apply moisturizer to protect your face from drying out.
Exfoliate Your Face
- Use a dry facial brush. Dry brushing is an ancient exfoliation technique that has gained popularity in recent years. Buy a facial brush with soft bristles made from natural fibers. Make sure the brush you use is made specifically to be used on the face, since body brushes are too harsh on fragile facial skin. Use the following technique to exfoliate your face:
- Start with a clean face. Use makeup remover, rinse your face, and pat it dry with a towel. Make sure your face and the brush are both completely dry before you brush. This method won't work if your face is wet with water or soap.
- Gently brush your face by moving the brush in small circles. Concentrate on the areas where your skin is the driest.
- Be careful with the skin above and below your eyes, since the skin in these areas is thin and fragile.
- When you're finished, rinse your face with cool water and apply moisturizer.
- Use a facial scrub. Gels, creams, cleansers and scrubs containing tiny particles that exfoliate your face are sold at drugstores and beauty stores. You can also make your own with sugar, honey and green tea using the following recipe:
- Brew a mug of green tea and place a few teaspoons in a bowl.
- When the tea has cooled, mix in a tablespoon of sugar and a tablespoon of honey.
- Apply the scrub to a clean face. Rub it in gently to exfoliate, concentrating on the driest areas.
- Rinse your skin with cool water and apply moisturizer.
Use a Facial Mask
- Try a clay mask. Clay masks work by pulling out the substances that clog pores as they dry. They are available at health and beauty stores, but you can also make your own.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay (available at health food stores), 1 tablespoon of water, and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal.
- Apply the mixture to a clean face, making sure to cover all the areas where your pores are clogged.
- Let the mask sit on your face for 10 minutes. You'll feel it start to tighten as it dries, and that means the clay is working to draw out the debris from your pores.
- Wash your face with water, pat it dry with a soft towel, and apply moisturizer.
- Use an alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acid mask. These are known as chemical exfoliants. They are available for purchase from beauty stores, and they exfoliate your skin without you having to scrub it.
- Starting with a clean face, apply the product and allow it to sit for fifteen minutes, or the time specified on the package. Don't leave it on for too long or it could irritate your skin.
- Rinse your face with water, pat it dry with a soft towel, and apply moisturizer.
Use a Pore-Unclogging Treatment
- Consider blackhead removal. Blackheads form when clogged pores mix with dirt or dead skin cells and form hard, black knobs that become more visible over time. Making a habit of removing blackheads can cause skin irritation and even scarring, so be very careful with this method, and don't use it more than absolutely necessary.
- Use a sterile wipe to sanitize the part of your face with the blackhead.
- Use your fingers to pinch the area around the blackhead into a small mound.
- Wrap a tissue around your other hand and use it to gently squeeze the blackhead until it leaves the skin. Wipe it away and wash the area.
- Alternatively, use a blackhead removal tool (available at beauty stores) to remove the blackhead.
- Always sanitize your face, hands and any tools you use so that you don't infect your face with bacteria, which could lead to acne or skin irritation.
- Try micro dermabrasion. This treatment is offered at salons, and entails applying a chemical to the skin that removes the top layer to deeply exfoliate and get rid of substances deep in your pores. This treatment should be used sparingly, since it can damage your skin if it's done too often.
Tips
- Wash your face immediately after exercising or spending time in a dusty outdoor area.
- Use Toothbrushes with soft bristles if you don't have a proper one! Just never use it in your teeth!
- Lightly graze the surface of your nose with a finger, then tweeze out the exposed heads of the clogs.
Warnings
- Don't exfoliate or use skin treatments too often, as they can irritate your face.
