Shop
Bestsellers
Many individuals invest significant time and resources into lengthy skincare routines intended to improve things like skin appearance and texture. It can be really frustrating to realize that the products they have chosen could be blocking their pores and contributing to acne breakouts. Unfortunately, this can be the case with comedogenic (pore-clogging) skincare products.
That’s why it’s important to understand which ingredients are more likely to clog pores, and how to adjust your skincare routine accordingly.
So, what really causes our pores to clog up? You can think of your pores as a bustling highway. If there’s a disruption, or obstruction, everything grinds to a halt. And the incoming cars continue to build up, worsening the situation. This is similar to what happens when you have clogged pores.
WHAT ARE PORE-CLOGGING INGREDIENTS?
One of the pore-clogging ingredients is known to most as lanolin. This ingredient is, thankfully, pretty easy to rule out if you stick to vegan skincare. Lanolin come from sheep. Lanolin has its share of benefits, but it can also clog up your pores.
Akin to lanolin, silicone creates a shield on the skin to protect your skin from pollutants. However, this shield blocks out the bad while simultaneously keeping in any bad that was already on your skin.
Certain medications can actually have an effect on your sebaceous glands, leading to clogged pores. And while we know oily skin can be a culprit, did you know that dry skin could also be the cause? Despite being polar opposites, these two can both clog your pores. When your skin is dry, you can experience a higher-than-average number of dead skin cells stopping up your pores.
And of course, as you probably guessed, hormones are another possible culprit. We actually have an entire article dedicated to the question of how to balance hormones.
There are some oils capable of clogging your pores. Some popular oils include the palm and coconut varieties. Coconut oil can also keep unwanted pore-clogging debris stuck to your skin. This barrier, retaining everything your body should be shedding, exacerbates the problem. That’s why coconut oil is better used in hair care formulas and hair products.
CAN NATURAL INGREDIENTS BE PORE-CLOGGING?
It depends on the ingredients used in the products. There are formulators who take extra attention and care to make noncomedogenic formulas, like Plant Mother’s skincare line. The Plant Mother’s Vitamin C serum and retinol serum pass the pore-clogging checker with flying colors.
You won’t find any comedogenic or animal-derived ingredients like lanolin or silicons in any of Plant Mother’s products. This is because these serums are loaded with rejuvenating and nourishing ingredients like the Kakadu plum and effective anti aging plants like Bakuchiol, rosehips, hibiscus, sea buckthorn, and many more.
Additionally, all of Plant Mother’s products are free from any animal components, byproducts, and are cruelty-free. To better understand what that means, check out our article on why cruelty-free retinol matters. It explains the term, how to know if a brand is truly cruelty-free, and what it means if a company is not cruelty-free.
HOW DO I UNCLOG MY PORES?
But what does it actually mean to have clogged pores? What does this cause? Well, if your body is unable to use your pores as they’re intended, it can react poorly. In the case of clogged pores, you might see cysts, blackheads, pimples, etc. If you’re experiencing breakouts, pore-clogging ingredients could very well be the reason.
One of the first steps is to avoid habits and factors that exacerbate the situation. For one, please don’t start rubbing your skin vigorously in an attempt to unclog your pores. This doesn’t help, and in fact actively works against you. You can, however, wash, rinse or cleanse your face to remove pollutants.
Additionally, a natural exfoliator can reduce some of the pore-cloggers. No matter what you use, do not excessively rub at your skin!
Always be sure you’re washing your face with clean hands. This is a must—you don’t want to add more dirt and other pollutants into the mix.
Outside of a skincare routine, leave your skin alone. Don’t pick at anything, don’t pop anything—a good practice is to not touch it as you go about your day.
Also, never go to sleep with your makeup on – no matter how tired you are!
Stress Can Affect Your Skin TOO
Stress is another factor, so try to destress if you’ve noticed stress building up in your life. Be sure to take some time for self-care each day. Spend some portion of your day (however small) doing things for you. Exercise can be a helpful stress-reliever. And if you’re struggling, please reach out for support. Everyone deserves support, despite what society may have conditioned you to believe. True strength stems from the acknowledgment that relying on one another at times is human.
Certain face masks with ingredients like charcoal can help with oily skin and clogged pores. But topical retinoids and vegan retinols are among the best at resolving clogged pores. For example, Plant Mother’s retinol speeds up cell turnover, helping to shed dead skin and prevent the buildup of oil and debris that clog pores. It works in a perfect harmony with plant-based Vitamin C and Niacinamide serums.
Can FOOD Affect Your Skin
You may decide to reexamine your eating and behavioral habits that could be exacerbating the situation, as well. There is speculation and some research that suggests a correlation between certain foods and acne. Nothing is definitive, however, and scientists are still unsure about the relationship between acne and these foods. The foods that may be linked to acne include (but are not limited to) chocolate, dairy (i.e., milk products), fast food, and refined carbs.
The good news is that other foods have been shown to possibly improve acne! If you decide to change your eating habits in an attempt to improve your acne, you might look into green tea and a diet consisting of Mediterranean foods. Green tea can help decrease how much oil your glands are making. A diet of Mediterranean foods is quite acne-friendly—less saturated fats, little dairy, and high in vegetables and fruits.
Final Thoughts
Pore-clogging ingredients are a more complicated topic to cover than one might assume. But the right combination of ingredients for you is out there. It just takes some trial and error at times.
And if you would like to try out Plant Mother’s noncomedogenic Retinol and Vitamin C Serums, you wouldn’t regret it! If you enjoyed this article, try our other posts for even more skincare advice and tips.
SHOP THE PRODUCTS FROM THE ARTICLE
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, skincare product, or lifestyle program.
