6 Ways to Get Rid of Clogged Pores

Read on to learn how to clean out your clogged pores and using the best natural skin care products and methods, so you can put your best face forward.

What causes congestion?

Congestion has many causes including dehydration, overproduction of oil, poor cleansing routine, dead skin cells or regularly touching the face. Over time, excess oil and dead skin will begin to accumulate on the skin's surface. Some foundations and concealers can clog pores and cause breakouts too so it's vital that you look for makeup that is labelled "non-comedogenic" or "oil-free". If you don't wash your skin regularly, these irritants build up and clog your pores.

What does congestion look like?

A clogged pore can look like a black spot, called a blackhead, or it can look like a white or skin-colored raised bump called a whitehead. A pimple or acne cyst, on the other hand, has more bacteria and inflammation inside of them and can have pus, redness, and swelling.

Can I shrink my pores?

Using products like Retin-A and alpha-hydroxy acids can shrink pores back to their original size. Due to genetics some people however have naturally larger pores than others so you can't "shrink" them beyond their original size according to AOCD. Some women swear by makeup primers claiming that can make them appear smaller.

Here's a step by step skin care routine to get rid of clogged pores:

1. Double cleanse

Use a cleansing balm since this first step clears makeup out of the way for the second step using Pure Fiji's Vitamin C Foaming Oil Cleanser. This anti-oxidant rich cleanser will instantly brighten as it cleanses, balances the skin tone and unclogs pores leaving skin refreshed and radiant.

2. Use an Exfoliant

You can make the appearance of pores look smaller through exfoliation, along with ingredients that slow sebum secretions and draw out impurities. Look for ingredients like glycolic acid which helps minimize the appearance of pores and prevents them from enlarging.

3. Book a Spa Facial

Visiting a clinic or spa for a facial is a great step to open up your pores. Once the pores are opened, your facialist will perform extractions. Manual extraction is a physical modality to remove debris from pores, decongesting them, and making them look smaller.

Get regular extractions once every five to eight weeks to prevent breakouts.

4. Try DIY Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub

It turns out baking soda works surprisingly well as an easy deep pore cleanser that gently exfoliates.

Follow these simple steps:

Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water to make a paste.
Scoop the mixture with your fingers and, using circular motions, gently massage the baking soda paste onto your face.
Leave it on the skin for five to 10 minutes.
Rinse with a lukewarm face cloth.
Finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

Baking soda isn't just effective for removing dead skin cells and buildup in the pores, but it also works to neutralize the pH level of your skin. This is important because if you have an unbalanced pH your skin can or will most likely experience acne breakouts, dryness, and even premature aging.

5. Apply a Purifying Enzyme Masque

Papaya extract gently exfoliates removing dead skin cells and impurities, brightens skin tone and increases skin radiance.

6. Try Bakuchiol

If you haven't jumped on the retinoid bandwagon yet, you might want to reconsider bakuchiol. It's a natural skincare ingredient that's being compared to retinol.

While retinol and other skincare ingredients may dry out skin or cause irritation, Bakuchiol is gentler and isn't known to cause any irritation. Since it's less harsh than retinol, you can also use it in the morning and at night for maximum effectiveness. Because it is not retinol, it has the potential to be safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Big No No's

Avoid extracting your blackheads. Leave them in the hands of your esthetician. Back away from the trying to extract them at home because done wrong it can lead to hyperpigmentation, permanent scarring, and additional breakouts.
Pore strips are not a long-term solution. Pores get reclogged and re-enlarged so you can't be using pore strips daily.

Summary

Being consistent with a gentle exfoliating skincare routine, avoid ingredients that clog pores and keep your fingers off your lovely face. You can expect to see results in the appearance of your clogged pores within a few weeks.