blocked pores

[naflharrison]

does anyone know a farly easy sure fire way to help blocked pores, i dont wear alot of makeup and always remove it etc at night but lately my pores are so blocked and with blackheads aswell, have tried clearasil blackhead treatment etc but not making much difference also my skin looks really dull. any good remedies or salon treatments have had steam facial but didnt make a lot of difference.

[ClariceCliff]

You may be stripping your skin a lot by using harsh treatments like Clearasil.
The best way to get rid of blackheads is regular exfoliation. It doesn't have to be a scrub. Try a cleanser that you take off using a muslin cloth, Like Liz Earle or Eve Lom or any cleanser and just use a muslin cloth or flannel as that will exfoliate your skin.
You can use a granular cleanser like Philosophy Microdelivery wash or Aapri as that will work to keep it clean.
Finally use a natural deep cleansing mask once a week

[whiskygalore]

Steer clear of Clearasil; it is the devil's work.

If you over-exfoliate, you can do more harm than good, as the skin increases oil production, so I would either invest in an exfoliator specifically designed for daily use, or buy one of the hot cloth cleansers, designed to be used daily with a muslin cloth, which gently exfoliate and stimulate the skin.

I highly recommend Dermalogica. Even if it's out of your price range for regular use, if you visit one of their approved salons as a one-off, they will analyse your skin and provide a constructive diagnosis on what your skin type is and what is most likely to be causing specific problems. I thought I had oily skin for years, but they told me I was suffering from sensitised skin, I changed the type of products I bought and I have never looked back, only get congested now in PMT week.

[fideldyfee]

I quite like the Johnsons Clean and Clear blackhead clearing cleanser. I use it on a cotton wool pad twice a day and it seems to do the job. Sometimes you just need to get in about them though to get the wee dirt bit out. You can get actual blackhead removing devices.

[kira000]

every now and then when my pores (on my nose and in the crease of my chin) get blocked, i cleanse my face with something non oily, do a steam bath for 5 minutes (or even do it just after a hot shower), and use Biore spot/pore cleansing/ removal strips. You wet your nose, paying close attention to the little creases at the side, then apply a strip, smoothing it down firmly. If it still feels loose, i damp a finger and rub the strip again making sure it adheres smoothly and in the creases.
Wait till the strip dries and feels stiff, then slowly pull it back starting at one end.
Left on the strip will be all the Ukky blackheads that were in the pores. Fascinating to look at but yukky!

Make sure you wipe off any sticky residue, and preferably wipe over the area with a mild toner.

Not something to do too often. I would say once a fortnight or you can aggravate your skin.