Acne and clogged pores might make you flash back to your teenage bathroom mirror—but breakouts can happen at any age. Does that fact make us feel any better, though? Not typically.
It’s true that some people’s skin is more clog-prone than others. However, no one is totally safe from blemishes, dull appearances, and textured skin.
The truth is, clogged pores aren’t solely caused by adolescent hormonal changes. There are plenty of other triggers, too! This is why it’s so important to take care of your skin and address the root causes as they arise.
With so many routines and possible cure-all products out there, it can be hard to know where to start. So today, we’re sharing a guide to unclogging pores so you can keep your skin smooth, radiant, and blemish-free.
How to Remove Clogged Pores and Prevent Breakouts
In this post, we’ll break down what clogged pores really are, why they happen, and how to clear them.
And the best part? These tips work for all skin types. If you’re serious about your skincare game, here’s everything you need to know about keeping your pores clean:
What Are Clogged Pores?
Clogged pores occur when hair follicles get blocked. These tiny openings in your skin release oil to keep your skin naturally hydrated. Oil isn’t the only thing pores release, though—this is also where sweat tries to make its way out, too.
And when extra oil mixes with things like dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, or cosmetic residue? It plugs up that hair follicle.
As you might have guessed, that entrapment of oil and other gunk is where breakouts strike. There are a few different types of pimples you’ll see, but these are all a result of clogged pores:
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Blackheads: These are clogged pores that stay open at the surface. Once the trapped oil, bacteria, and debris meet the air, they eventually oxidize and turn dark.
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Whiteheads: The opposite happens here. With no opening, the trapped oil, dead skin, and bacteria stay under the skin, so they don’t oxidize and remain visible as whiteheads.
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Bumps or pimples: Bacteria feed on the trapped oil and dead skin, which sets your immune system into overdrive. The result? Red, swollen, sometimes sore bumps—aka pimples.
What Causes Clogged Pores?
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Excess oil (sebum)
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Dead skin cells
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Pollution and dirt
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Sweat
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Bacteria
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Some makeup and skincare products
What Do Clogged Pores Look Like?
The appearance of clogged pores can vary from person to person. It really depends on why your pores are clogged and where your skin produces the most oil.
You’ll often see blackheads on the nose, forehead, and chin, and whiteheads on the cheeks, jawline, and chin. Regular pimples can show up almost anywhere, including the face, chest, shoulders, and back.
Even if you don’t see classic acne, clogged pores can still make your skin feel rough, bumpy, and dull.
What Are the Effects of Clogged Pores?
Breakouts
The main thing clogged pores can lead to is breakouts. All the trapped residue and grime create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, causing acne.
Enlarged Pores
In reality, pores are always the same size. However, clogged pores can make them appear enlarged because the buildup stretches the pore walls.
These large pores are usually most noticeable on the nose, cheeks, and forehead.
Rough Skin Texture
Clogged pores occur when oil, dead skin cells, and other debris become trapped in your hair follicles instead of being naturally cleared out.
When this buildup sits under the skin, it can cause your face to feel rough or bumpy, disrupting the skin’s natural smoothness.
Dull Complexion
Glowing, dewy skin happens when light reflects off your beautifully smooth and hydrated skin. But blocked pores can trap oil and dead skin, creating a rough, uneven surface that dulls your natural radiance.
Ingrown Hairs
Clogged pores are actually blocked hair follicles, remember? If a clog is bad enough, it can actually prevent hair from growing like it’s supposed to.
Instead, the strands may curl or grow sideways, leading to painful, inflamed ingrown hairs that often appear as red bumps or small, raised spots on the skin.
Skin Irritation or Inflammation
When pores get clogged, the trapped oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria can irritate sensitive skin. Your immune system reacts to the bacteria and buildup, triggering inflammation.
What happens when skin is inflamed? It’s red, swollen, and tender. Over time, chronic inflammation can even weaken your skin barrier, making your skin more reactive and prone to future breakouts.
How to Get Rid of Clogged Pores
Double cleanse at night.
To unclog pores and keep them clear, make sure you’re cleansing regularly. Cleanse both in the morning and evening, but do a double cleanse during your nighttime routine.
It’s a gentle way to clean your skin very thoroughly, which is why it’s one of our favorite trending skincare hacks. Here’s how to double cleanse the TSC way:
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Massage in your cleansing facial oil: Apply your face oil to your palms and gently massage it into your face.
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Loosen makeup and buildup: Work the oil in thoroughly so it can break down makeup, sunscreen, and environmental grime.
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Wipe away the oil: Use a clean baby washcloth, run it under warm water, and gently remove the oil along with all the loosened dirt and impurities.
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Cleanse and continue: Follow up with your regular oil-free cleanser and continue with the rest of your skincare routine.
Exfoliate 1-3 times a week.
Use a chemical exfoliant a few times a week to break down and remove bacteria, excess oil, and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. It’s one of the best regular skincare practices to keep pores clear.
Find an exfoliator with salicylic acids (BHA), lactic acid (AHA), or azelaic acid. These will help gently shed dead skin cells and dissolve excess oil.
Then, exfoliate 1-3 times a week with something like Dr. Oracle A-Thera Peeling Stick or First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. Be careful not to exfoliate too often, because that could actually worsen clogged pores and irritation.
Want to learn a little more about the importance of exfoliation? Make sure to read “Do You Exfoliate or Cleanse First?” and “What Happens if You Don’t Exfoliate Your Skin Regularly?”
Use a retinol product regularly.
Retinol products are amazing for unclogging pores. They speed up cell turnover, helping shed dead skin cells and prevent buildup inside hair follicles. As a bonus, it also helps heal acne scars!
We recommend using it only 1-3 times a week, because it can strip your skin of hydration if overused. Use it after cleanser, but before moisturizer—and skip it on days you’re using an exfoliant.
If you want to learn more about retinols, listen to the episode of Get the F*ck Out of the Sun where we interview Dr. Dennis Gross on retinol and other skincare trends. Then, try out his Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum.
Be mindful of comedogenic products.
Everyone’s skin reacts differently to certain skincare ingredients. Just because a product is designed for the skin doesn’t mean it will be beneficial for everyone. Some ingredients can actually do more harm than good.
The comedogenic scale is a tool that measures how likely a product is to clog pores. If you have acne-prone skin, it’s smart to check this scale and stick to products rated 1 or 2 for everyday use.
Some common pore-cloggers? Coconut oil, shea butter, and mineral oil. These ingredients may feel luxurious and nourishing, but they can trap dirt and debris in your hair follicles, leading to breakouts.
Try red-light therapy.
If you’re really struggling with the inflammation that comes with clogged pores, red-light therapy is a lifesaver. The gently red wavelengths reduce inflammation to calm irritated skin.
Plus, it supports circulation and skin healing, helping you recover faster after a breakout caused by clogged pores. We recommend you try the DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, one of Lauryn’s Favorite Red Light Therapy Devices.
Apply vitamin C face oil.
Vitamin C is definitely an ingredient you want in your routine if you have clog-prone skin. It can help balance sebum production, preventing blockage from excess oil.
Hydration is super important for keeping your skin clear, calm, and resilient, and fortunately, a high-quality vitamin C face oil is super moisturizing.
We recommend TSC Depuffing Face Oil! For even more skin-soothing benefits, apply our face oil with the TSC Ice Roller.
Curious about all the benefits? Check out our post, “Is Vitamin C Good for Acne Prone Skin?”
Keep your skin hydrated.
Speaking of hydration, never skip moisturizer. If your skin is producing too much oil, you may be tempted to skip the step. In reality, though, this can actually lead to acne and more irritation.
When our skin lacks hydration, our body responds by producing more oil. So, keeping your skin hydrated will actually help you prevent clogged pores and breakouts, even with oily skin.
Try Epicuren Colostrum Moisturizer or Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Radiant Moisturizer as your daily, lightweight moisturizer.
Maintain your moisture barrier.
Your moisture barrier is the outermost layer of skin that acts like a shield against irritants, bacteria, and water loss. When it’s healthy, it keeps oil and debris from building up inside your pores, making clogs less likely.
Hydration is key to maintaining a strong barrier, but it’s not the only factor. Daily sunscreen use is just as important! UV damage can weaken the barrier and make your skin more prone to irritation and clogged pores.
Grab TSC Caffeinated Sunscreen for a high-quality mineral sunscreen that won’t leave a white cast, making it perfect for your morning skincare routine.
Use clay masks or charcoal masks.
Clay and charcoal masks are like magnets for anything stuck in your pores. You apply them, and both ingredients draw out excess oil, dirt, and impurities from deep within your skin.
Of course, this makes them perfect for unclogging pores. We like Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask or LEROSETT Organic Acne Treatment Clay Mask. They’re easy to use and super effective!
Don’t use too many actives at once.
It can be super tempting to layer a bunch of pore-clearing products on top of each other in an attempt to stack the benefits from all of them.
But that’s not how it works. Overloading your skin with acne-fighters and exfoliants can strip away natural oils, leaving your skin irritated and making breakouts worse.
A simple, mindful routine will do more for your skin than an abundance of products at once.
Don’t fall for pore-clearing gimmicks.
There are plenty of satisfying-looking hacks and gimmicky products that claim to clear pores. Stay skeptical—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Products like pore strips, peel-off masks, suction tools, and harsh scrubs with exfoliating beads don’t work. They might lift off the tops of blackheads or whiteheads, but they don’t actually clear out your pores where it matters.
Don’t touch your face.
Touching your face transfers dirt, oil, and bacteria from your hands onto your skin, which can clog pores and trigger breakouts.
Keeping your hands away from your face helps your skin stay clean and clear. If it’s a hard habit to break, find something else to keep your hands busy.
Look into professional treatment.
If you’re doing everything by the book and you’re still struggling with clogged pores, see a dermatologist. They can prescribe stronger products to clear pores or diagnose underlying conditions that may be contributing to the problem.
Clear pores and get clear skin with these game-changing tips!
Clogged pores are the reason for a lot of skin problems—from a dull complexion to a big breakout. Addressing them is essential to your skincare goals!
By combining thoughtful habits with the right products, you’re not just clearing pores—you’re laying the foundation for consistently clear, radiant skin.
For more on this topic, check out our post on how to deep-clean pores. And if you’re looking for additional skincare tips and products, browse The Skinny Confidential Shop.
