Today I'd like to share with you a four-step treatment that I have been doing since some years to keep my pores small and clear.
The pores around my nose and my forehead get clogged with sebaceous filaments aka sebum (which are mainly fat and dead skin cells). While sebaceous filaments are perfectly normal, over time they can widen the pores, giving you that strawberry look. Cleaning out your pores will not shrink them, but it will keep them from getting bigger.
This method has four steps and is best done when you have some time for yourself, as you have to take some time between the steps. I like to do this on weekends or quiet weekday evenings.
What You Need To Cleanse Your Pores
You need:
* An AHA or an enzyme product to exfoliate. If you are doing this in the winter, and committing to using sunscreen you can pick a product with alpha hydroxic acids. I use one I made myself. An enzyme product can be used all year, also on dry and sensitive skin. I like Orientana's papaya and ginseng scrub, or ___________
* A 2% BHA product to dissolve the sebum. I use Vianek's normalising cleansing gel. You can use Stridex strips, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, Logona Aktiv Pickel-Stopp Bio, or diy a BHA toner.* A clay mask to draw out the gunk from the pores. The Queen Julep mask is very popular for this, I use Kaolin clay.* Oil to dissolve the remaining sebum. I use either sunflower, jojoba or grapeseed or my own mixes, but you can use any face oil that works for you.
How To Clean Out Your Pores In Four Steps
This is the basic enzyme/aha-bha-clay-oil method that I use. You can modify it to suit your skin. If your skin is dry and sensitive, work only on the areas with clogged pores. And try skipping the AHA.
0. Start with clean, product-free skin. Remove any dead skin cells on the surface with a cotton or microfibre face cloth, a soft brush, a konjac sponge or gauze or a silicone scrubby.1. Apply the AHA or enzyme product and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. This will act as a mechanical peel and loosen dead skin cells from the surface.2. Apply the BHA product on the areas with clogged pores. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. The BHA will penetrate the sebum in the pores and loosen it.3. Apply the clay mask, keep it on for 10-15 minutes. Spritz it with water and don't allow it to dry out. This will draw the gunk out of the pores to the surface. Clean off the clay with a cloth.4. Apply oil on your face and gently massage with your fingers for 2-5 minutes. At this point some people start feeling "grits", which is sebum and dead skin cells. Wash off the oil. You can do this with a washcloth dipped in warm water, or with micellar water or another cleanser.
Enjoy your clear skin! You can continue with your regular routine now. I like to just use a hydrolate, and light moisturiser if my skin feels dry.
I like to repeat this weekly,
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Zeta
Photo credit: VenusianGlow