Pores. Those pesky little things. We all have them, but some were just blessed with pores so small they’re basically invisible. For the rest of us, it can be an ongoing struggle to keep them in control. Luckily, a combination of traditional treatments, new technology, and good lifestyle habits can do wonders for blackheads, whiteheads, and everything in-between.
WHAT CAUSES CLOGGED PORES
First off, let’s differentiate between a clogged pore and a pimple. While yes, all pimples are technically clogged pores, not all clogged pores are pimples.
Pimples occur deep under the skin when sebaceous oil accumulates but gets trapped underneath overproduction of oil and dead skin cells, resulting in inflammation due to bacteria.
In comparison, a clogged pore can also occur at the surface level, where the trapped oil and dirt are visible and form what we know as blackheads and whiteheads. These are what we will be covering today.
#1 | THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS
When searching for skincare products, look for Grade A ingredients that will help slough off the dead skin cells and dirt that contribute to clogged pores. Our favourites are:
- Salicylic Acid – deep cleans
- Benzoyl Peroxide – kills pore-clogging bacteria
- Glycolic Acid – exfoliates dead skin cells
Lastly, keep in mind that too much can be a bad thing. Start off with lower concentrations and if your skin tolerates it at that level, try increasing it gradually until you find what works for you.
#2 | THE RIGHT HABITS
Along with the right ingredients, you also want to get into the right daily habits that will keep your pores breathing and skin glowing. Some to keep in mind are:
- Touching your face. Consciously or not, we touch our face dozens of times per day. In doing so, we transfer oil, dirt, and bacteria – all of which contribute to clogging our sensitive pores and dulling our complexion.
- Processed foods and sugar. The jury is still out on which foods cause duller complexions, but at the very least we know that sugar has been proven to worsen acne. Regardless, highly processed foods are a big no-no for general health so we’re comfortable adding them to this list.
- Stripping our natural oils. Sebaceous oil actually has a very important role in 0ur skin’s health. It has anti-inflammatory and ant-bacterial properties, helps us retain moisture, and provides some minimal UV protection. Regulate but don’t strip your skin of these oils, as doing so will either cause your body to produce even more or render your skin without the important benefits that these oils provide.
#3 | THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
There have been numerous technological advancements in skincare over the past decade. One of our favorites is the use of sonic vibrations, which deliver nearly imperceptible vibrations to flush out dirt, debris, and overproduction of oil. Our best-seller, the Ultrasonic Skin Spatula, does just that and, with a proper cleansing and moisturizing regimen, can lead to a dramatic reduction in blackheads and whiteheads.
For those stubborn blackheads, try the Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum. It uses gentle yet effective suction technology to extract dirt and dead skin cells. It also comes with five different suction tips to customize the treatment to the problem at hand.