How to prevent and treat clogged pores?

Dull complexion, black or whiteheads forming, ineffectiveness of beauty products... these may be signs of clogged pores. Although they are very often the cause of our concerns, it is important to remember that pores have a vital function for the skin. They are like the door to the skin, since on one side sweat and sebum come out while beauty treatments enter. So, when the pores are clogged, nothing goes right. We've put together a bunch of tips that will help you fight clogged pores and at the same time, tighten enlarged pores.

Why are our pores clogged?

Without a good cleansing routine, it's no wonder pores become clogged. With pollution particles, the makeup we apply every day, sweat and sebum deposits, pores are quickly overwhelmed by impurities. And when we don't take the time, good habits, actions and appropriate products to eliminate them, clogged pores take their place.

The hardest part is that when pores are clogged, sebum can no longer flow normally to hydrate and soften the skin properly. Then, the skin loses its radiance and imperfections rear their ugly heads. Aside from sweat, makeup and dead cells, many other factors can clog pores, such as stress and the sun's rays.

The T zone is the most sensitive to this phenomenon where sebum tends to accumulate. It is not uncommon to see spots appear in the form of black pimples on the cheeks, forehead and nose. But how can you effectively unclog your pores?

What are the effective solutions for clogged pores?

To prevent your pores from becoming clogged over time, you need to adopt a good beauty routine. It is important to clean your face properly morning and evening with micellar water or milk and lotion. The main thing is to use a product suitable for your skin type. If you prefer to wash your face, use lukewarm water instead to tighten pores and reveal skin tone.

Cleanse the skin deeply and gently

To get rid of the impurities that tend to accumulate on the surface of the skin, you need to carry out a deep cleansing. A gentle cleansing gel is then welcome to eliminate traces of sweat, sebum and pollution. It is also recommended to exfoliate the skin once or twice a week.

At Nubiance, we have concocted a product that combines mechanical exfoliation and enzymatic exfoliation to deeply cleanse the skin. Exfoclear is a soap-free, pH-neutral exfoliating gel with AHAs that gently cleanses the skin while removing all impurities.

What if you turn to natural solutions?

If you have a preference for natural products, we have found that activated charcoal and salicylic acid are very effective in cleansing the face and unclogging pores. Activated charcoal is indicated to absorb excess sebum and impurities. Salicylic acid penetrates deep into the skin to reduce inflammation.

There are also other techniques to help unclog facial pores. You can proceed with steam cleaning because the heat opens the pores to better evacuate impurities. After washing your face to remove traces of makeup, skincare product residue and pollution particles, consider a facial sauna.

To do this, simply take a bowl of boiling water, cover your head with a towel and stand over the steam. By remaining 5 to 10 minutes in this steam bubble, the pores will expand to allow the blockages to escape. To reinforce the hammam effect for your face, do not hesitate to add essential oil of geranium for example for its astringent effect, chamomile for its anti-inflammatory effect or tea tree for its purifying effect.

Once the facial sauna is finished, rinse your face with cold water to close the pores. Then, all you have to do is apply your daily moisturizer.

Apply day and/or night treatment

Once the skin is completely cleansed and dried, apply a day or night cream . The first helps hydrate, nourish and protect the skin from external aggressions. The second promotes recovery to repair damage and prepare the skin for the next day. The two care products can have additional actions depending on your needs, such as an anti-stain, anti-aging or even anti-imperfection product.