I bet most of us hate clogged pores, right? It looks really disgusting and it can lead to the development of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, etc.
Every time I do my skin care regimen in front of the mirror, I'm always bothered by the appearance of my pores, especially on the nose area--big and gunky! That's why I end up squeezing it using my fingers or sometimes with a comedone extractor to get rid of the "gunk" or whiteheads that has clogged my pores, which is really not a good idea since it can damage our skin. Sadly it became a habit for most us (yeah, even I am guilty of that).
Ever since I noticed how it has damaged my nose area (broken capillaries, unrefined pores, etc.), I realized that it's time to visit my dermatologist. She recommended me some kind of a peeling treatment in order to get rid of the gunk and refines pores, however I just can't afford it! It's way to expensive for me. Thus I just did my own research of how to take good care of our pores and avoid getting it clogged up.
First of all, let's condition our minds NOT to squeeze our noses so that the gunk would forcefully come out. Using our fingers may also cause infection if not clean. Comedone extractors are for professional use because if it's not used correctly, it can further damage the skin.
Always be mindful of our hygiene. It is advisable to wash the face twice a day with a cleanser suitable for our skin type. The gentler, the better (try Oatmeal Cleanser). This is to remove excess oil and dirt that has accumulated throughout the day, which can clog up the pores.
Exfoliate the skin once to twice a week. There are many ways to exfoliate the skin--physical or chemical. Physical exfoliation would include scrubs (such as apricot scrubs), while chemical exfoliation would include salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid, etc. This removes the dead skin cells which can block the pores.
Use a toner to refine pores. I suggest using an alcohol-free toner for it may be too drying for the skin. Toners are not only used to refine pores, but also to remove dirt and control excess oil, and balance the pH level of the skin. Some toners such as the Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner has also the ability to lock in the moisture.
But if gunk is still present, using Baking Soda will help a lot. I've tried using it already and in an instant, it has removed the gunk and smoothened my skin on my nose area! The principle behind it is that baking soda has small particles, which can penetrate deeply on the pores, cleaning it thoroughly. Simply create a mixture of water and baking soda in a pasty consistency, massage it on the area, and rinse with tepid water.
If the appearance of the pores still bothers you because it's large and very noticeable, there are products that are out now in the market which helps to conceal the pores. I personally use Z-Pore by GoodSkin Labs. It's made in Belgium and it is available in Watsons, Mall of Asia branch. It really does a good job in concealing the pores, making your skin look pore-less! It's a bit pricey (1,000+ Php), but it can go a long way for you only need to use point-size of it to cover the whole nose area.
Images got from:
* http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/510539-2878-8.jpg
* http://rosacea-support.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rosacea-red-nose-3.jpg
* http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1538/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1538R-56998.jpg
* http://images.brighthub.com/7a/e/7ae1b945156f43b2bf41b792d7cf73512a0125a1_large.jpg
* http://static.weloveshopping.com/shop/client/000050/beauty_dd/GS002.jpg
