Clogged pores not only look unsightly and make the complexion dull, but are also the main factor provoking the development of inflammatory phenomena. Affordable pore cleansers, regularly used in home facial care, will effectively eliminate blackheads, prevent acne and restore skin cleanliness, freshness and radiance.
Content:
- Effective pore cleaning at home
- Recommendations for basic care for problem skin
- The main stages of cleaning pores
- Homemade Deep Cleanser Recipes
- How to save the result
Effective pore cleaning at home
The main condition for the proper functioning of cells, their regeneration and the absence of peeling and irritation is their saturation with oxygen; these processes are fully ensured by regular cleansing of the skin. Enlarged pores most often bother owners of oily skin, and the main reason for their appearance is incorrectly selected or not regularly used cosmetics.
To effectively clean the pores on your face at home, it is important to properly create a skin care program, because using only a soap solution and an alcohol-containing toner is not enough. Basic facial care should include four stages: cleansing, toning, moisturizing, nourishing and protecting. Deep cleaning and narrowing of pores can be achieved using special masks, which are preceded by steaming procedures.
Recommendations for basic care for problem skin
The composition of a cleanser for daily use should include components that provide an additional drying and astringent effect. Such components can be aloe, chamomile extract or lemon. You need to wash your face with this product twice a day. The final stage of facial cleansing is toning. Toners for oily and problem skin must contain a component such as zinc oxide. Then, after all manipulations, a moisturizer is applied that matches your skin type.
For deep cleaning of pores, it is good to choose a homemade mask for yourself and do it twice a week. The “correct” mask will free the pores from dirt (blackheads), toxins and accumulation of sebaceous secretions, narrow them, improving their appearance. Additional ingredients of the mask will saturate the skin with the necessary microelements and improve blood flow.
Once every 10 days, the facial skin needs to be freed from dead skin particles, for which exfoliating procedures must be carried out. These can be both professional and home peels.
The main stages of cleaning pores
To achieve a positive effect, pore cleaning must be done in a certain sequence:
After removing makeup, it is necessary to soften the skin of the face and open the pores; hot herbal compresses or steam baths will help with this. Soak a terry towel in a hot decoction of herbs, squeeze lightly and apply to your face. As it cools, wet the towel again. Keep for a total of 5 minutes, for dry skin 3 minutes is enough. Or breathe over the hot steam of a herbal infusion or decoction (chamomile, calendula, sage, St. John's wort). You can add 2 drops of your favorite essential oil to the infusion. This procedure is contraindicated for spider veins (rosacea), any skin diseases and high sensitivity of the facial skin.
Homemade masks or scrubs are suitable for this. They should be done twice a week for oily and combination skin and once a week for dry and normal skin. After the procedure, it is recommended to wash your face with cool water and pat your face dry with a towel using gentle movements.
You can also use ready-made factory formulations as scrubs, just remember to select them according to your skin type. For the dry type, soft-based products are suitable that do not injure or dry it out even more. For oily facial skin, you can use formulations with harsher abrasive particles.
A weak solution of hydrogen peroxide, aloe juice or lemon juice, green tea is good to use instead of a pore-tightening tonic. Pore-tightening masks also have a good effect.
The final stage is intensive moisturizing of the face. It is not recommended to use fatty oil or cream with a high nutritional effect to avoid clogging of enlarged pores.
Before using any composition, it is necessary to test the skin for intolerance and allergic reactions.
Homemade Deep Cleanser Recipes
Salt scrub for deep cleaning of pores.
Compound.
Salt (can be sugar, ground coffee) – 1 tsp.
Makeup remover and anti-pollution milk (or heavy cream) – 1 tsp.
Application.
Add salt to the milk and stir thoroughly. Take the resulting product and apply it with light massaging movements to a previously steamed and moisturized face, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips. During application, special attention should be paid to the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin). Leave this scrub on your face for another minute and rinse with water at room temperature. To avoid skin trauma and the spread of infection, the product should not be used if there are acne or other inflammatory phenomena on the face.
Milk mask with gelatin for deep cleansing of pores.
Compound.
Gelatin – 1 tbsp. l.
Milk – 1 tbsp. l.
Application.
Mix the ingredients in a ceramic bowl and microwave on high for 10 seconds. Allow the finished mixture to cool slightly to a warm state, and then apply the mixture using an unnecessary makeup brush onto a previously cleaned and steamed face, paying special attention to clogged pores in the T-zone. Keep it on your face for 15 minutes. During this time it will harden and turn into a dense film. It must be removed starting from the wings of the nose. All existing dirt, even deep plugs and black spots, will remain on it. A mask with gelatin can be made differently by adding protein. Heat the milk-gelatin mixture in a water bath until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add the egg whites to the warm mixture and stir thoroughly. The application process is the same.
Oatmeal mask for deep cleansing of pores.
Compound.
Oatmeal – 1 tbsp. l.
Milk for dry skin or warm water for oily skin – 2 tbsp. l.
Application.
Pour the flakes with a liquid suitable for your skin type and wait until they swell. Apply the mixture with light massaging movements onto a clean face, leave for five minutes and rinse with warm water. In addition to effectively cleansing pores, the mask nourishes and softens the skin, improves complexion.
Cucumber oil mask to cleanse pores.
Compound.
Fresh cucumber – ½ vegetable.
Olive oil – 1 tbsp. l.
Sour milk – 1 tbsp. l.
Application.
Chop the cucumber on a fine grater and squeeze out the juice. Add butter and milk to the resulting cucumber mass. Apply the mask to a clean face and leave for 20 minutes. It is better to wash off the product with cool water.
Protein-lemon mask for cleaning pores.
Compound.
Fresh chicken egg white – 1 pc.
Lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.
Tea tree oil – 2-3 drops.
Application.
Beat the egg white thoroughly until foam forms, and then add lemon juice and the essential ingredient. Stir the mixture thoroughly and apply to a clean face, paying attention to clogged pores in the area of the nose, forehead and chin. After 15 minutes, rinse the mask with cool water and wipe with anti-inflammatory lotion.
Yeast mask to tighten pores on the face.
Compound.
Raw yeast – 1 tsp.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) – 1 tsp.
Milk -1 tsp.
Application.
Mix the ingredients until the yeast is completely dissolved. Apply the composition immediately after cleansing with a mask and leave for 15 minutes, then wash with water at room temperature.
How to save the result
- Avoid using cosmetics that contain mineral oil, as it clogs pores and causes them to become dirty.
- Limit the use of oily, heavy creams; it is better to give preference to intense moisturizers.
- Instead of the usual foundation, take a fluid with a light base.
By following all the recommendations, your face will acquire a healthy appearance, and your pores will become perfectly clean. If, after a month of regular care and use of deep cleansing masks, your pores are still clogged, consult a cosmetologist. You may need help from other specialists, since cosmetic imperfections on the face can be one of the consequences of improper functioning of the endocrine glands and many other disorders in the body.
Most often, those with oily skin type face a variety of skin problems. Oily skin can ruin even the most attractive and blooming appearance: pimples, acne, inflammation. Let's look at how to tighten the pores on your face using various means at home.
Rules for caring for pores
You won’t be able to get rid of pores on your face forever, even by visiting beauty salons and doing expensive cleaning procedures. The fact is that natural processes constantly occur on the face, and it is not possible to radically change them. But if you regularly take care of your skin and follow all instructions, you can visually significantly reduce aesthetic problems.
For a productive result you need to follow the rules:
- Always cleanse the skin of cosmetics with foams, milk and other products;
- Wash your face twice a day: before bed and after;
- After using contracting tonics, micellar water or herbal decoctions;
- Cleanse your skin with a scrub 1-2 times a week, in addition to treatment with traditional methods;
- You need to use cosmetics for your skin type, which dries the surface and helps remove oily shine;
- If possible, visit a cosmetologist and dermatologist (once every two months is enough) or make masks at home.
For more information about how and with what products you need to care for your facial pores, you can watch our video.
Video: creams and masks that tighten pores
Tightening products for oily and normal skin
To narrow the pores on the face, astringent masks for problem skin are widely used. In this case, you can remove excess fat from the surface and cleanse the dermis of old particles. For example, a soda scrub for the face works wonders, perfectly removing the top stratum corneum.
#1: Blue, white or black clay mask.
In just half an hour, the skin will become noticeably lighter, and the pores will be less noticeable. It is very important not to leave the clay until it dries completely, especially for girls with sensitive skin. It is necessary to wash off immediately after the first chilling sensations. It helps some girls get rid of oily skin for a long time.
#2: Lemon-protein mass will help narrow and lighten enlarged pores on the face.
Lemon whitens damaged blemishes, and protein has an astringent effect. Proportions: for 1 teaspoon of juice you will need 1 egg white, whipped into foam.
#3: Steaming your face with almond peeling.
Almonds have wonderful healing properties and effectively cleanse sebaceous pores. But this method is absolutely contraindicated for young ladies with inflammation on the face.
#4: Berry whitening masks for normal skin.
Most often, the water or herbal base is replaced with a milk one, and this fruit paste is rubbed over the face with a sponge. Fruits with astringent properties:
- Strawberry;
- Apricot;
- Raspberries;
- Grape;
- Currant.
Strawberry mask
#5: Kaolin.
Mix a tablespoon of fennel oil with a teaspoon of kaolin, add glycerin and mineral water until a thick, dense mixture is formed. Apply the solution to especially noticeable facial pores and leave for 10 minutes (for sensitive skin) or 20 (to reduce oily combination skin).
#6: Linden decoction.
For half a liter of boiling water - 2-3 tablespoons of herbs. Leave for about half an hour. It is necessary to wash your face several times a day, it is advisable to continue the procedure for a long time. This way you can not only narrow pores, but also get rid of blackheads.
#8: Elderberry Constrictor.
These berries were popularly used to disinfect wounds and lighten skin. Boil chamomile, linden blossom and elderberry flowers over low heat, and after boiling, remove after three minutes. Proportions: take a spoonful of each herb for half a liter of boiling water. Mix the warm solution with heated flower honey (not hot, but pleasantly warm) and oatmeal. Add at your discretion, the mass should not be very steep or thick. Put it back on the fire and boil. Cool and apply several layers to the skin. Keep on the dermis for 20 minutes.
Pores before and after masks
#9: Orange zest actively tightens large pores on the face.
We grate the fresh skin of the fruit and mix it with its pulp. We carefully apply this porridge to problem areas. You can use the method to cleanse and whiten pores on the body. After twenty minutes, rinse well. Many cosmetics manufacturers have begun producing foundation creams based on orange extract; this is a very good decorative remedy.
#10: Famous mask with starch.
To prepare the ancient starch remedy, we need two spoons of potato powder, a little flower honey, heated to a pleasant warmth and a couple of spoons of warm milk. Mix all the ingredients and apply the mixture to the dermis. Keep it for no more than half an hour.
#11: Cryomassage with ice cubes.
A very good remedy is to rub pieces of ice over the skin. Particularly effective after steaming and cleaning pores. You can do this morning and evening, or pour cold water over your face in the morning.
#13: Blackhead strips from a napkin with whipped egg white.
Beat part of the egg into foam and apply to problem areas, but not to the entire face (otherwise it will be painful to peel off). We tear pieces of napkins and stick them on the same problem areas. Apply again to the whipped mass on a napkin and wait 15 minutes until everything dries. Then, with sharp movements, we tear the napkins off the face. The procedure may be a little painful if you have sensitive skin. We recommend applying to a small area first.
Napkin with protein
#14: Cooked potatoes.
Enlarged pores can be easily removed with a mixture of premium wheat flour, whipped egg whites and mashed potatoes. The same method will help cleanse mature skin, give it elasticity and get rid of age spots with regular use.
#15: Tomato mask.
We cut the fresh vegetable into slices and put it on the face. Tomatoes not only help to tighten the very visible pores of the face, but also cleanse the pores of old cells and remove toxins.
Tighten pores on dry skin
Thin skin with insufficient secretion of subcutaneous sebum is quite difficult to treat. Most traditional remedies irritate it and increase sensitivity. You can tighten the pores on your face if you have dry skin by using blue clay. Just before applying the mineral base, you need to treat the surface of the dermis with a nourishing cream.
#16: On mature dry skin, rosehip tincture works well to tighten pores.
A few drops of essence are mixed with two tablespoons of a decoction of these berries. Apply to the face as a compress and keep for at least 10 minutes. Apply 2 times a week.
#17: Decoction of burdock root and nettle leaves.
For half a liter of boiling water, the proportions in tablespoons are 1:1. Leave for one day in a dark place at room temperature, and wipe your face with this liquid several times a day. If you are worried about enlarged pores and acne on your back, you can take baths with this decoction; the water should be yellowish in color, but not very concentrated.
A step-by-step process for narrowing pores on the cheeks:
- Steam your face and inhale essential oils;
- Cleanse the skin with tonic or chamomile infusion;
- Apply a mask;
- Nourish the skin with cream;
- Several times a day, wipe the pores on your face with a swab soaked in herbal infusions or fruit juices.
Moreover, an integrated approach also includes a special diet. Every day you need to drink at least two glasses of special herbal tea. His recipe: lavender, coltsfoot, chamomile, sweet clover, rosemary, star anise are mixed in equal quantities and poured with hot water (not boiling water!). Infuse for a day in a cool, dark place. Dilute the resulting brew with warm water to the usual tea concentration and drink. If you really want to tighten the pores on your face, you can add a little sage and thyme.
A beautiful face and smooth skin have become a fashion trend today. Fortunately, stores sell many high-quality drugs and cosmetologist services are available to almost everyone. However, not everyone has the time to regularly undergo treatments in salons. Therefore, many of my clients want to know how to properly organize independent facial care and cleanse pores at home, and whether this is even possible with oily and problematic skin.
Where to begin
In fact, you need to start working with your face by diagnosing the current condition of the skin and finding out the reasons for the problems it has. It is better to contact a specialist with such questions, since this is a key moment. All masks and even hardware procedures are selected specifically according to skin type. And if it is defined incorrectly, they will be ineffective.
Diagnosing your skin type yourself is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. To do this, it is enough to have a clean paper napkin and a mirror on hand. You only need to follow a few simple steps:
- thoroughly cleanse the skin of makeup;
- wash your face with gel or foam;
- gently blot the moisture with a towel;
- wait another 2-3 minutes until the skin is completely dry;
- look at it carefully in the mirror (preferably with magnification);
- Cover your face with a thin paper napkin, press it with your palms and wait a couple of minutes.
Now you can analyze everything you see and determine your skin type. If it is thin, smooth enough with almost imperceptible pores, and the napkin remains clean, your skin is dry. Enlarged pores and blurry greasy spots on paper indicate an oily type.
But more common is the combination, in which the pores are enlarged in the so-called T-zone and the activity of the sebaceous glands is also increased there. The problem area has a lot of acne, blackheads, subcutaneous pimples and rashes.
Now you need to understand why acne and blackheads appeared on your face and try to eliminate the negative influence of external and internal factors.
The most common reasons that provoke hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands and, accordingly, the appearance of problems are:
- improper skin care;
- unbalanced diet;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- abuse of decorative cosmetics;
- bad habits (especially smoking);
- endocrine disorders;
- working in a dusty room.
If their impact is not minimized, then all further manipulations may be pointless. At best, you can enjoy the results within a few days.
In addition, some chronic diseases are a contraindication to any facial cleansing, including home methods.
Manual cleaning
Unfortunately, at home, only manual deep cleansing of facial pores is possible. No masks or peelings prepared according to folk recipes will completely remove fat and dirt from clogged sebaceous ducts. They work only superficially and do not even allow you to get rid of comedones for a long time.
Professional cosmetics and atraumatic cleansing programs are much more effective, but they often do not give 100% results without additional squeezing out deep blackheads.
To avoid bruises and wounds on the face, as often happens in teenagers after “cleaning” the face on their own, the skin must be well prepared for this procedure. To do this, you need to complete three steps:
- Cleansing. We start with makeup remover, for which it is better to use not milk, but a two-phase liquid. Then you need to wash well with warm water and foam or gel.
Peeling. At this stage, the salon most often uses enzyme peeling or fruit acid peeling. These are chemicals that can partially dissolve fat and perfectly soften sebaceous plugs. You can prepare a salt or coffee scrub at home, but under no circumstances use a stone scrub - it can scratch the skin and it will become inflamed after cleansing.- Warming up It is impossible to remove dirt from closed pores qualitatively. And for them to open slightly, the skin must be steamed or warmed up using a thermal mask. I prefer masks, as they work great on any skin type and soften comedones perfectly. For steaming, it is better to use not pure water, but a decoction of medicinal herbs: chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus, coltsfoot, celandine)
And only now can you proceed directly to cleaning the pores.
I think there is no point in saying that all manipulations must be done with perfectly clean and disinfected hands. Or better yet, wear sterile gloves, but many complain that they are inconvenient to work in.
The pressure on the skin should be firm, but gentle so that there are no bruises left afterward. If the fat does not come out, you will have to remove the sebaceous plug with a thin sterile needle.
After the manual treatment of the face is completed, it must be wiped with an antiseptic and the pores closed. This is best done by applying a kaolin mask. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and adsorbing properties, promotes rapid healing of wounds and even slightly tightens the skin. You can buy a ready-made product or make a mask yourself using the recipe below.
Hardware cleaning
Some people ask me whether it is possible to clean the pores on the face well with portable devices at home. Today, such devices can be easily purchased in medical equipment stores or ordered online at a very affordable price. Let me express great doubts about the fact that they can really work effectively. Their power is significantly lower than professional equipment. In addition, you need to know many nuances in order to use all their capabilities.
Way | Description |
---|---|
Ultrasound | Can be used on thin and sensitive skin to remove flaking and at the same time moisturize it. For normal people, the device is useful in microcurrent massage mode. It also helps prevent the appearance of early wrinkles. Excellent for removing blackheads. But with very clogged pores it does not give a significant result. |
Vacuum cleaning | The pressure generated by a portable device is too weak to completely pull out fat from the pores. And if there are pimples and small ulcers on the face, inept handling can contribute to the spread of infection and aggravate the problem. |
Microdermabrasion | Doesn't clean clogged pores at all. This device has a completely different purpose. It is most effective for lightening pigmentation, lifting, smoothing out fine wrinkles, eliminating shallow scars and scars. I absolutely do not recommend using it on your own. Especially in combination with manual cleaning or a few days before it. |
If you want to effectively clean your face using a hardware method, go to the salon and see a cosmetologist. He will not only select the optimal procedure and carry it out efficiently, but also, if necessary, combine it with manual or atraumatic facial cleansing.
The best masks
Masks are the best way to clean not too clogged pores on the face. Naturally, I am a supporter of professional drugs. Since they work deeper and are able to regulate the activity of the sebaceous glands, thereby preventing the recurrence of acne.
But there are also proven folk remedies that give good results:
Mask | Properties | Recipe |
---|---|---|
Kaolin | Helps quickly tighten pores after cleansing, but can also be used to prevent pimples and acne. | A tablespoon of white or green clay is diluted with still mineral or thermal water until it becomes sour cream. To enhance the effect, you can add a few drops of essential oil (eucalyptus, geranium, tea tree); for very dry skin, a teaspoon of grape seed or peach oil. Apply in an even layer, leave until completely dry and rinse with water. Be sure to use moisturizer after. |
Soda-salt scrub | It gives an almost immediate effect and can be used before an important exit as a means of express cleaning. Suitable only for oily and combination skin. The problem is very annoying, although its condition improves with regular use. | We dilute a teaspoon of salt with a small amount of washing gel to make a paste. Add a quarter teaspoon of soda to it. Apply to moisturized skin and massage gently in circular motions for 2-3 minutes. Rinse off only with summer water. Finally, use a soothing cream, preferably with aloe vera. |
Coffee and honey scrub | Suitable for problematic, thin and dry skin. Works more delicately, helps smooth out wrinkles. | Add the same amount of liquid honey and olive or coconut oil to a teaspoon of coffee grounds. Mix everything well and distribute over a thoroughly washed and slightly steamed face (useful to do in a bathhouse). Massage gently for 2-3 minutes, then leave for another five and wash off with running water and a small amount of gel. Do not use if you have rosacea! |
Milk gelatin | A universal product, an analogue of a store-bought film mask. To cleanse the pores better, before using it, the skin should be washed well and lightly steamed. | Pour a tablespoon of gelatin with the same amount of water or milk and heat in a water bath until the crystals are completely dissolved. Apply several layers to the face with a brush and leave until dry. Gently, starting from the neck and tip of the nose, pull off the resulting film. If that doesn’t work, rinse with warm water. |
Protein-lemon | Excellent for deep cleansing: tightens pores, reduces the activity of sebaceous glands, has whitening properties and gives a slight lifting effect. Especially useful for oily and combination skin. | Separate the egg white from the yolk and beat with a teaspoon of honey until foam forms. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice and a few drops of essential oil. Apply an even layer to the face and leave until completely dry. Rinse off with running water. |
You can still find many other recipes for useful masks. But it is precisely those described above that usually take first place in popular ratings. And, as a cosmetologist, I confirm their effectiveness and can recommend them to my clients.
After cleaning
How you care for your face after cleansing is also very important. I strongly advise women to reconsider their attitude towards decorative cosmetics and use a lighter version of everyday makeup. Thick foundations have an excellent ability to clog pores and often become the main source of problems.
Deep cleaning foam, enzyme peeling and ultrasonic scrubber are great ways to keep your skin in good condition. Useless for severely clogged pores, it works perfectly as a preventative, while stimulating subcutaneous blood circulation and preventing the appearance of early wrinkles and pigmentation. Therefore, such a portable device is worth purchasing, but it must be used correctly and for its intended purpose.
Summing up
According to reviews from my clients, high-quality professional cleaning performed once every 2-3 months is much better than a procedure done at home. Therefore, you still shouldn’t give up going to the salon. But if you decide to act on your own, try to follow all the steps described above as carefully and consistently as possible. This will avoid severe skin irritation and bruising.
If you do not regularly do light peelings and do not normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, your pores will become clogged. Therefore, prevention comes first after intensive cleaning. For dry skin, it is enough to use peeling once every 7-10 days, and for oily skin – up to twice a week. It will remove dead skin scales from the top layer of the epidermis and remove excess fat. Clay masks are also useful.