Clogged Pores: How to Unclog Skin Pores

What are clogged pores?

Pores are small openings on the skin that allow it to breathe and perspire. When these small openings trap dead skin cells, they become clogged and make it difficult for the skin to function at its best. Imagine the sink in your kitchen getting clogged and how the water would float instead of getting drained. Similarly, when the pores on your skin get clogged, the skincare being applied would stay on the surface instead of getting absorbed, thereby attracting more grime.

Can pores on the skin open and close?

There’s a myth that surrounds the pores on the skin, which is that they can open and close. Everyone’s skin has pores but one can only minimize the appearance of the pores and cannot make them vanish completely. These pores keep the largest organ of your body alive by allowing it to breathe and perspire. The idea of having “pore less skin” is therefore, not only unreal but unhealthy as it basically means not letting your skin breathe. Our Ayurveda Experts have curated a pore minimizing skincare routine that would help to reduce the appearance of pores and make your skin smooth and healthy, using Ayurvedic products by Forest Essentials and natural D.I.Y. remedies for enlarged pores.

What are the common reasons for clogged pores?

Skin pores can get clogged because of the following reasons:

• Excessive touching of the face to pop acne.
• Not following a basic, 3-step skincare routine or night skincare routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing.
• Dead skin cells building up on the skin, which should be exfoliated at least twice a week. Don’t over-exfoliate the skin as it can increase the oil production in your skin and further clog the pores.
• Makeup staying on the surface of the skin and not being cleansed properly. May we suggest double-cleansing the face to remove all traces of makeup products, and avoid further clogging of pores. This would also help to reduce pimples.

How to reduce blackheads and whiteheads?

If your skin’s sebum secretion levels are high, then your skin is oily and always has a sheen. While minimal sebum production by the skin ensures elasticity and balanced pH levels, excess sebum production can lead to clogged pores. These cause whiteheads and blackheads, as the breathing capacity of the skin gets compromised; similar to how you feel when you catch a cold. For your skin to breathe through its pores, it needs to be cleaned and exfoliated to remove surface dead cells and environmental toxins, which are further attracted by oily skin.

How to reduce pores on the face?

If you have oily skin, problems including a glowing T-zone, blackheads, whiteheads and acne are common. Try and incorporate the following D.I.Y. tips on  how to unclog pores in your daily skincare regime to reduce excess sebum production and nourish the skin.

• D.I.Y. Natural Cleanser to Minimize Appearance of Enlarged Pores:

Use a mixture of fresh face toners for the face and Lemon juice to cleanse the skin, at least twice a day. Lemon helps to regulate sebum production while Rose soothes the skin. Simply take equal parts of both and mix it well in a bowl. Dip a cotton pad in the mixture and use it to wipe the skin off dirt and grime. You can also use facial cleansers with Neem. We suggest the Forest Essentials face wash for dry skin and also for all skin type.

• • Exfoliate Clogged Pores on Face:

The idea behind exfoliating the skin is not to strip off its natural oils but simply remove the top most layer of dead cells that sit on the pores. Use the Forest Essentials Kashmiri Walnut Gel Scrub which gently yet deeply cleanses the skin, whilst revitalizing and nourishing the pores. For larger pores on the nose, steam the face and use a face scrub to deeply exfoliate skin and unclog the pores.

• D.I.Y. Face Mask to Reduce Pores:

  Apply a Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) and Turmeric face mask, twice a week. Make this face mask to reduce pores by mixing 1/2 tablespoon of Turmeric powder with 2 tablespoons of the Multani Mitti and add fresh Rosewater for the face to make paste. Keep it on till it gets semi-dry and wash it off with lukewarm water. Finish with a splash of cold water to further minimize the appearance of pores. You can try our most-loved Facial Ubtan Multani Mitti for this step. This is the best face mask for oily skin as awarded by Elle and Amazon.

• Spot Treatment for Clogged Pores:

  Take 10 Neem leaves and soak them in water overnight. Strain them and use the residue as a spot treatment for acne. To dry it our quickly and visibly reduce sebum production, mix the neem water with some Multani Mitti and apply as a spot treatment or face mask.

Does ice reduce pores?

Cold water or ice can tighten your pores. Your pores will not shrink with cold water, but applying ice or cold water to your face for about 10-15 seconds after cleansing will help to tighten the pores and protect them from clogging further. May we suggest using leftover Cucumber slices, the last few sips of your Chamomile Tea and some Rosewater to make ice cubes for the skin. Add them in an ice tray and allow to freeze. Use the cube of your choice each morning, wrap it in a cotton or muslin cloth and gently massage it on the face to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores and to reduce puffiness.

Read more – How To Add Icing To Your Skincare For Unlimited Beauty Benefits

Follow these tips recommended by our Ayurveda Experts to unclog your pores at home using the best Ayurvedic products and easy to follow D.I.Y. recipes.