Up ahead, we take a closer look at what causes congestion to occur, ingredients that help promote clear skin and the best face masks for clogged pores. What Are Clogged Pores And, finally, bentonite clay (like in innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask) is known for its detoxification properties. “Bentonite clay is an extremely efficient detoxing and rejuvenating clay that’s suitable for many skin types, but especially oily and acne-prone,” Dr. Graf says. “It exfoliates and draws out excess oils, impurities, and more, while also restoring mineral levels and removing toxins.” I like the addition of BHA in the YTTP mask, and it’s also much less drying on the skin. This is one I would use all over as a weekly clarifying treatment, and a great option if you don’t have major pore concerns. But really if you can get past these two issues, the Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing mask is amazing for clarifying the skin and minimizing the appearance of pores. It always makes my skin feel so refreshed afterwards! You may not be able to change the size of the pores, but there are plenty of face masks out there to help them look smaller. Our favorite overall choice is Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment as the performance of this product goes above and beyond and left our skin feeling like it was totally renewed. The Glamglow SUPERMUD Charcoal Instant Treatment Maskwas a close runner-up, combining exfoliating acids and purifying charcoal for clearer, smoother skin.

Our overall favorite face mask for improving the appearance of pores is Kate Somerville’s best-selling Exfolikate treatment. It’s formulated with papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes for a naturally exfoliating effect while lactic, salicylic and silica acids create a chemically exfoliating action. Aloe vera, vitamin E and honey also help to keep the skin smooth and comfortable. Mix clay with equal parts of raw apple cider vinegar and/or water. Use a non-metal bowl and utensil. Stir the mixture well to a smooth paste. Add more Clay or liquid as needed. Apply 1/4 in, to 1/2 in. to the face or other area. Let it dry for 5-10 min. for delicate skin and 15-20 min. for normalskin. You will feel a pulling and tightening sensation. Remove clay by washing with warm water. Slight redness of the skin is normal and will disappear in about 30 min. Removes impurities and dirt from the pores. Deep pore cleansing. 1lb of Clay makes 10-15 facials. Use it once per week, more often for problem skin.

Tang SC, Yang JH. Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4):863. Published 2018 Apr 10. doi:10.3390/molecules23040863 You should also consider a formula’s additional ingredients when shopping for a clay mask. Extra exfoliating ingredients can help speed the cell-shedding process along, while hydration-boosting elements (like shea butter in buttah Charcoal Detox Mask) can prevent irritation. Mekas M, et al. An Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability of Novel Enzyme Exfoliation Versus Glycolic Acid in Photodamage Treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2015 Nov;14(11):1306-19.

The raw apple cider vinegar in the mask restores your skin’s natural pH, which is amazing for all skin types. If your skin’s pH is out of balance, then you will most likely break out, or your pores will get clogged or your skin might get itchy and dry. But when your skin’s pH is in balance, your skin will be at the perfect place of not too dry and not too oily. That is s kin heaven and the apple cider vinegar in this deep pore cleansingmask helps us get there 🙂 Pores. Everyone has them, but many still struggle with their appearance. The thing is, some wish to shrink their pores by making them smaller in size — but that's actually not even possible. Instead, the solution for invisible or "smaller" pores is keeping them clean and free of dirt, oil, and debris that builds up over time. That's where pore cleansers come into play. If you’re going to spend extra money on a face mask, it better be good. Tatcha’s The Clarifying Clay Mask isn’t just good (it’s great), and there isn’t anything else on the market quite like it. It goes on gray, but once applied to the skin, it turns pinkish red. Though we aren’t sure of the exact reason why the mask changes color, we believe it has something to do with the Japanese volcanic ash and konjac root infused into the formula. We tried this treatment in our NYC lab and felt that the performance of this product goes above and beyond. While it does sting a little on application, once it’s removed with warm water, our skin didn’t feel stripped or irritated – just totally rejuvenated. The brand recommends leaving it on for two minutes, but we took it off slightly earlier as our tester's skin was more on the sensitive side. It’s also only intended to be used once a week so go slowly at first and see how your skin reacts. Salicylic acid: Dr. Jaliman loves salicylic acid for clogged pores because it can “lessen the symptoms of acne.” In addition, “Salicylic acid encourages exfoliation of the skin and unclogging pores,” she adds.Pores: Everyone’s got ‘em, and there’s not much you can do about ‘em. Okay, so maybe we are oversimplifying slightly, but that’s the basic gist of it. We all have pores—tiny openings at the skin's surface. And, contrary to what’s commonly said, there’s nothing you can do to change the *actual* size of your pores. How big they are is a matter of genetics, but what can change how big or small they look is essentially how much gunk is inside of them.

This is an excellent treatment for dry, combination, and oily skin that’s prone to dullness, uneven skin texture, fine lines, and wrinkles. Makes enough for 1 mask. Once the ingredients are mixed together, you must apply it right away. Ingredients: It’s worth noting that although the mask targets pores, avocado oil (an ingredient present in the formula) can be potentially comedogenic for some skin types. We recommend testing the mask on a small patch of skin to see how it will react before applying it to your entire face.Because the mask is so rich, it can be annoying to get off. Our tester noted that although she got it all off eventually, she said she wishes she could have just jumped in the shower to get it off faster. Nevertheless, her skin appeared “glowy and fresh” after one use, and the tiny clogged pores on her cheeks looked smaller. Oat Kernel Flour– Same anti-inflammatory benefits as oat extract, plus it contains some moisturizing lipids. Zinc: Did you know that the same ingredient found in sunscreen can also help keep clogged pores at bay? According to Dr. Jaliman, “Zinc reduces the inflammatory response to bacteria [and] helps with clogged pores.” Upon application, the mask felt comfortable. As it dried, our tester noted that it got tighter and tighter, but never to the point where she felt like she couldn’t move. Once dried (around the 10-minute mark), it washed off easily and left her skin looking “brighter and cleaner than before application.” As I'm sure you can tell, I've spent many, many years of my career trying to find the very best clay masks for minimising the apparent size of my pores. In the process, I've wreaked havoc with my skin thanks to bad formulas—I've had major breakouts, eczema flare ups and even peeling from where I've dried my skin out too much from harsh clay mask formulas.