Saturday, May 4, 2013

Cleaner pores: My top 3 tips

Most of us suffer once in a while, from unpleasant and annoying blackheads, whiteheads or just clogged pores. Some may be easy to remove and respond well to gentle facial scrubs, while others tend to be more stubborn. For this common skin problem I have tried several methods, and wish to share today 3 that have worked for me.

Exfoliating with a Scrub: As mentioned in a previous post, exfoliation is an important and vital step in any skin care routine. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells from the surface as well as dirt, oil and pore clogging debris. One facial scrub that has truly helped in keeping my pores cleaner, is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Having in consideration that my skin is oily and acne prone, this scrub hasn't caused any irritations or breakouts on my skin. I use this scrub 1-2 times a week, but it can be used up to 4 times a week according to the instructions. There are many facial scrubs on the market and finding one that suits your skin may be difficult but worth the results.

Using a facial cloth or skin cleansing tool: In between facial exfoliations I like to use a facial cloth to cleanse my skin, doing so once a day, preferably at night, has helped in keeping my skin and pores cleaner. Another alternative to using a facial cloth, is using a silicone cleansing pad which is very gentle to the skin and can be used with any facial wash you choose. I have noticed that when I cleanse my skin with the help of a facial cleansing tool such as: cloth, silicone cleansing pad or scrubbie, my skin pores feel cleaner and are even less noticeable. 

Using a blackhead/whitehead extraction tool: Sometimes clogged pores may still be present after trying several methods to cleanse them this is when the use of a pore extracting tool can be effective. The most common and affordable type is the double ended loop extractor made out of stainless steel. This small tool usually has two ends one with an angled loop to roll out whiteheads and the other a flat side with small opening to press out blackheads. When using this type of extraction tool it is very important to follow the instructions on the product packaging. Using a double loop extractor is very effective in removing the most stubborn blackheads and whiteheads that don't seem to respond to other skin treatments. 

Having a skin care routine that specifically targets clogged pores is important if that is a skin concern for you. Another important factor in order to obtain cleaner pores is, consistency when using any skin cleansing method or treatment. When you achieve the desired results you will notice how your skin feels and looks healthier.