Ways to prevent clogged pores

[dreamwish]

I went for facial extraction weekly to 2 weeks per time but I still having clogged pores. WTH! How to find out what products clogged my pores? Or are there any ways to prevent from clogging of pores? I've a super silly idea, stop all products, use only Toner & see how.. Can it be done?

[Asterificious]

clogged pores you mean like blackheads ?

clogged pores are most likely caused by dead skin cells, so you might want to try throwing exfoliator product into your daily regime.
dont rely on scrubs for exfoliating as you wont be able to scrub away clogged sebum
instead try products containing AHA (glycolic acid) or BHA (salycilic acid) for exfoliation.
BHA is supposedly better if you have oily/acne prone skin.

Try Exuviance, or Clinique's turnaround line for AHA products
I am using Paula's choice 2% BHA liquid for my exfoliator

using only toner is doable if you have oily skin, but if you have dry skin it can hurt your skin...
but if you want to use minimal product, forget toner and maybe just use lightweight moisturizer with SPF
and maybe some simple plant oil for night-time (evening primrose oil, olive oil, argan oil, etc.)
i wont skip sunscreen at all cost ><

[Asterificious]

clinique's turnaround line was BHA and not AHA, sorry.... ><

[Addictive]

hi dreamwish, i was like u, troubled with clog pores despite regular facials and skipping all skincare.. yes all skincare products. Till my facialist repeatedly asked me to keep my skin hydrated (i have combination skin however dry outside, oily inside). i was really skeptical for the fact that we are living in such hot and humid weather! till one fine day i knew i couldn't continue my silly idea of skipping all skincare routine. i plucked up my courage to use hydrating mask religously of course with regular deep cleansing and scrub (don't overdo as our skin will produce more oil to compensate the loss of hydration) and start off with light weight moisturiser to keep my fear at bay. after a month my skin condition improved tremendously. so yes, hydration is vital. however, best to get your skin analysed by professionals to provide you a better guidance. clog pores can be reduced but not 100% clog free skin. all the best!

[dreamwish]

Asterificious, is clinique's turnaround line the exfoliating product with BHA? How much does that cost per tube? I'm using clinique 7 days scrub instead, not knowing does it contain BHA or AHA. I'm also looking for lightweight moisturizer (if it comes with water form, that will absolutely nice for me since gel and cream will sure to clog my pores again)

Addictive, is it possible to share your daily regime and skincare products brand? My facialist did not share much with me on how to prevent clogged pores. She told me to stop using my current moisturizer & SKII FTE..

[dreamwish]

Asterificious, is clinique's turnaround line the exfoliating product with BHA? How much does that cost per tube? I'm using clinique 7 days scrub instead, not knowing does it contain BHA or AHA. I'm also looking for lightweight moisturizer (if it comes with water form, that will absolutely nice for me since gel and cream will sure to clog my pores again)

Addictive, is it possible to share your daily regime and skincare products brand? My facialist did not share much with me on how to prevent clogged pores. She told me to stop using my current moisturizer & SKII FTE.

[Addictive]

dreamwish, is your skin dry after cleansing? Btw, all my skincare products are from Dermalogica the brand that i trusted so far.
AM: cleanser followed by toner then moisturiser with SPF
PM: cleansing oil (from Fancl), cleanser follwed by toner then moisturiser - thick layer (if got pimples or obvious clog pores, i will apply dermalogica's overnight clearing gel sparingly after moisturiser)
i will apply hydrating mask more frequently like 3-4 times per week. scrub once a week, deep cleansing mask (i use Origins clear improvment which is highly raved here) if i 'feel' my skin needs some spring cleaning.
above are all from dermalogica's besides those stated. please ask for more guidance from ur facialist as i did not see your skin condition n am not an expert in this area. hope this helps!

[Asterificious]

Asterificious, is clinique's turnaround line the exfoliating product with BHA? How much does that cost per tube? I'm using clinique 7 days scrub instead, not knowing does it contain BHA or AHA. I'm also looking for lightweight moisturizer (if it comes with water form, that will absolutely nice for me since gel and cream will sure to clog my pores again)

Addictive, is it possible to share your daily regime and skincare products brand? My facialist did not share much with me on how to prevent clogged pores. She told me to stop using my current moisturizer & SKII FTE..

the one im referring to is the turnaround concentrate,
it's a light moisturizer with BHA (1% salycilic acid) in it, retailing at $89
beautybuy sells it for $68
Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer > Exfoliators > Skin Care > Clinique

i checked the ingredients of the 7-day scrub, it doesnt seem to contain AHA/BHA in it
but for AHA/BHA you would want to use leave-on product anyway, it works better to exfoliate than washed-off cleansers

but i agree with addictive, you have to check your skin type before deciding to skip skincare
because there are multiple reasons why you can have clogged pores, like:
1) make-up residue
for this one you can try using a washcloth or clarisonic with water-soluble cleansers,
you can also try dual cleansing method
(oil/milk makeup cleanser, than follow with normal face wash)

2) dead-skin cells
for this one, make sure you exfoliate your skin, the most popular ones are AHA / BHA products.
AHA exfoliates on the surface and is good for dry skin
BHA exfoliates deeper and is better for oily/blemish prone skin
both AHA and BHA are acidic so it can irritate your skin,
you should experiment with the strength and frequency of exfoliation that suits your skin
(i found using 2% BHA twice daily suits me best)
if you are allergic to either, there are alternatives like urea containing products.

3) excess facial oil
this one is tricky because excess facial oil can be caused by various reasons,
it can be hormonal, in which you will have to consult dermatologist for maybe some oral medication
or it can be because you have naturally oily face, in which you will still need to give your skin the nutrition it needs, by using minimal products or oil-free products with gel or liquid texture.
and maybe some occasional oil-absorbent mask

it can also be caused by internal dehydration, meaning your skin is dry inside, so the skin respond by producing more and more oil.
If this is the cause, skipping skincare will cause more harm, as you will further dehydrate your skin.
sometimes internal dehydration is caused by over-drying skincare products,
try to check the products you use, and stop the one containing astringent (menthol, thyme, lime extract) or alcohol (ethanol, alcohol denat) as they can irritate and dry your skin.
i have this skin issue so what i do is use lightweight moisturizer (gel or serum type)
and use double masking (oil-absorbent mask, followed by hydrating mask) twice a week

hope this is helpful

[dreamwish]

My skin type is oily inner & outer (esp T zone area) I can't use too rich products that will gives me oil clogged..

[001pegasus]

dreamwish : can you share with us your skincare regime? What products do you use in the morning and end of day when you reach home? Also, describe what is your working environment like?

[Addictive]

perhaps try lightweight products, i started off with light weight moisturiser

[skinbar]

Hi gals, I also have clogged pores esp the chin area. Occasionally, I have breakout. I go for facial once a month to clear them. For my daily skincare regime, I use a brand from the US called "M2 Skincare". The main ingredients are Mandelic and Malic acid. Mandelic acid is naturally anti-baterial and malic acid is a natural humectant, meaning it naturally draws water out of the dermis into the epidermis helping to keep the skin hydrated without contributing to oiliness.

I am using M2 Skin Refinish 20% (serum), Skin Recovery Moisturizer and Exfoliating cleanser. They really help to improve my clogged pores and blemishes.

I used to buy from the US website but now M2 skincare is selling in Singapore. If you are interested, please visit SkinBar | Not Your Ordinary Skincare for more information. You can request for free samples if you are keen.

[asakura]

Hate clogged pores too, especially when you to facial specifically to extract them out and the facialist doesn't do a clean job. anyways, i personally find that using a mild exfoliating gel like ginvera marvel gel every day helps, else well as using a chemical exfoliator like LRP's effaclar k. and then moisturise!!

[kayserwong]

u need a really good cleanser, toner and moisturizer. find products that state they r non comedogenic or oil free. i use this Bentazyme Cleanser