The Sneaky, Summery Reason You’re Getting Clogged Pores
Are your pores showing? (Photo: Getty Images)
Even if you take great care of your skin, you may still be plagued by huge pores. The prom queen peau of one Miss Regina George from Mean Girls couldn’t even escape them. We do know that exfoliating keeps pores clear, as does avoiding using heavy moisturizers in the summer if we’re acne-prone or on the oilier side.
Personally, I thought I was doing all I could do to keep pore-clogging sebum at bay, but I learned that my running habit, while keeping me in shape, wasn’t doing my skin any favors. Why? During a recent facial at New York City’s Georgia Louise Atelier on the Upper East Side, my aesthetician, Vivian, asked how often I clean my sunglasses, as there was a massively unsexy constellation of blackheads along the bridge of my nose. I was floored!
In my ever-existing face-off with my archenemy, the sun, I always don Ray-Bans while I run, and I clean them with a cloth before and after. But I’m not rubbing them down with alcohol, and therein lies the pore-clogging problem. Before the mercury rises and my skin starts thoroughly freaking out, I decided to take a proactive approach to my skincare routine to keep my face as unclogged as possible. I scored some tips on how to do so from Elemis consulting facialist Georgia Louise herself.
The best products for minimizing pores. (Photos courtesy of Elemis, Biologique Recherche, and SkinCeuticals)
To detox the skin, Louise advises taking Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules. “They contain high levels of antioxidants to improve the visible signs of aging and counteract the damaging effects of everyday pollution,” she tells Yahoo Beauty. They also help break down the accumulation of toxins that clog up the skin. Louise likes to tighten large pores with Biologique Recherche Serum Dermopore. I’m a fan of nightly swipes with Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, an exfoliating toner that has improved my skin’s texture dramatically.
Weekly exfoliation at a minimum is integral to clear, undetectable pores. Louise recommends exfoliating once a week and following it up with a mask for 10 to 15 minutes. She’s a fan of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Gel Mask, which uses patented tri-enzyme technology to retexturize skin and leave it looking smoother. For a more wallet-friendly option, try Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask — a natural mud mask that draws out impurities and contains salicylic acid to prevent breakouts.
If physical scrubs aren’t your thing and you prefer to get your sloughing on with a simple wash, SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel blends salicylic and glycolic acids to keep skin matte in the more humid months. Using it before and after a workout — along with keeping your sunglasses, visors, headbands, and hats clean — will make a difference when it comes to keeping your skin looking its best.
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