Skincare
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Blitzing Blackheads and Purifying Pores
Tue, 10 July 2012 12:54PM
I need help getting rid of blackheads and reducing the size of my pores, which seem to be large and clogged. I find that I have larger pores and lots of blackheads on my chin and along my lower lip. What should I do?
Photo: courtesy of OPI
Okay, let’s start with the blackhead situation first, shall we? You see, if we can clean out the gunk that’s in your pores, they’ll instantly look a whole lot smaller. A great way to kickstart your blackhead blitz is to book in for a deep-cleansing facial, with a therapist who is known for extraction work (ask your squeaky-clean-skinned friends and colleagues for leads). From here, you can prevent future blackheads from building up in pores by regularly applying a hydroxy acid-based treatment to your problem areas. The way this works is to chemically exfoliate skin and dissolve pore gunk before it builds up and oxidises (which is when you start to see that dark colour). Try Natasha Cook Dermatologist Concentrated Clarifier, $79, Natasha Cook.
Other products you might want to try: an exfoliating cleanser (I love the Neutrogena Deep Clean range for this; $13.99, from pharmacies), pore strips (such as Biore’s, which come in sizes to fit the chin area; $10.49, from pharmacies) and clay masks, which are great for luring out impurities. Also make sure you’re using oil-free, non-comedogenic makeup. That includes lipstick. That’s because you could be getting blackheads on your lipline if your lip products contain certain oils or red D&C coal tar dyes, which can block pores. Oh and make sure you’re not touching your chin (or leaning your chin on the palm of your hand while at your desk) – this may also be part of the problem, as you could be transferring oil, sweat and other pore-blocking nasties to your face.
Now, let’s deal with those pores… Chances are, after a few weeks of doing all of the above, you’ll be looking much less pore-y. But we must give a shout-out to the nifty Clinique Pore Refining Instant Perfector, $44, Clinique; used like a primer, it visually blurs and semi-airbrushes away to look of large pores, and gives a great smooth base for foundation to sit on. Just make sure to always cleanse off thoroughly; most makeup, if not removed completely, can clog pores, which brings us back to where we started – more blackheads.
Let’s turn it over to the Primpettes … does anyone else have any blackhead-busting or pore-purifying tips for Sarah?
Posted by: Katrina Lawrence
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12 Comments
Posted by: caitie // Wed, 11 July 2012 09:12am
Pore strips don’t work, so don’t bother with them. AHA face wash, weekly clay masks and depending on the severity of the blackhead problem, monthly extraction facials. Maybe a serum of some kind?
Posted by: Lex // Wed, 11 July 2012 04:36pm
No way, I swear by biore pore strips. Granted they only work on my nose, not my chin, but boy do they pull out some awesome tubes of gunk from that area! Your face has to be wet wet wet so I apply as soon as I step out of the shower, no drying, and even then I somethimes have to splash some more water on. I do one once a week. My boyfriend even lets me do them on him AND I get to pull off the strip!
I know, I’m sick haha
Posted by: Britty1 Master Fan // Thu, 12 July 2012 02:41pm
the estee lauder idealist skin refinisher warming exfoliator is great, especially when paired with the pore minimising serum
Posted by: lovefashionangel Master Fan // Thu, 12 July 2012 06:44pm
I dont like using pore strips very mush, ive found exfoliating targeted at the nose and using masks to be pretty effective
Posted by: Natski Newbie // Fri, 13 July 2012 12:08pm
Pore strips only remove the very top of the blackhead and rip the top layer of your skin off at the same time.
What you need is a well formulated BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) treatment product. AHA’s are not the correct product to treat clogged pores.
AHA’s are water soluble, which mean that they only exfoliate the surface of the skin. The reason that you have blackheads is because you have a mulfunctioning pore – it is irregularly shaped which means the sebum can;t come out easily. So it clogs and since the pore is full of stuff, it is larger than normal and the air gets to the clog, oxidising and turning black.
BHA’s are lipid (oil) soluble which means they can get past the sebum barrier and exfoliate INSIDE the pore – where all the gunk accumulates. They improve the shape of the pore and allow the accumulated sebum to come out more easily. Once you have been using a good product for a while you should be able to (gently!) squeeze out alot of the crud quite easily.
Ladies, spend you money on a product that contains salicylic acid which you leave on your skin – so that means no cleansers since you wash the active ingredient down the drain. That is the ONLY thing that will target the problem and prevent it happening in the future.
I have tried EVERYTHING and the best BHA I have come across is Paula’s Choice, although the Natasha Cooke product looks good too.
Posted by: char // Sun, 15 July 2012 05:43pm
good advice natski! as is neostrata which I am sad to say is very rarely talked about but is literally a miracle worker as I have found with my skin xx
Posted by: Dulcie // Mon, 16 July 2012 12:49pm
Natski, I agree that Paula’s choice BHA is the best. But I still have large (unclogged) pores on my cheeks. What is the best primer / product to use? I use Smashbox primer but feel I need a little something extra…. Any suggestions? (I’m considering Benefit’s or Smashbox’s pore refining primers)
Posted by: mwalker6293 Enthusiast // Sat, 15 September 2012 10:49am
Agree with Caitie, pore strip[s are pretty useless.
I’ve used the Biore pore strips and all it does is give the ilusion of tighter pores. But saying that, I don’t have large blackheads so maybe they are hard to ‘pull out’ with the strips.
I’ve had luck with Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin scrub. It’s about $15 for 100-150g, is really gentle, natural and makes your skin silky smooth. I find it also reduces redness. Every fortnight I also chuck a chunk of AOBS into a bowl of hot water, throw a towel over my head and steam my face. Then use a warm damp face washer to remove everything that has squeezed out of your pores! (blackheads are the bane of my existance really…)
Posted by: Michelle-1343378350 Devotee // Thu, 20 September 2012 12:10pm
Can’t say I like the idea of using pore strips, ouch! Paula’s Choice can only be shipped from the US is that right?
Posted by: Bantam Master Fan // Thu, 6 December 2012 12:45am
These are great tips! I leave my cleanser on in the shower for a bit before washing it off to let it penetrate my skin…that’s my tip!
Posted by: Katie // Thu, 28 March 2013 04:57am
I used to have dark-looking pores on my nose, and I started using the Biore pore strips every two weeks. I also exfoliate 1-2 times per week, and now my nose pores are looking small and clean.
Posted by: catn2kittens Master Fan // Sat, 13 April 2013 04:20pm
I keep hearing good things about Paula’s Choice, I think I am going to trial it for my son.