Tips for Cleaning and Unclogging Nose Pores

You may notice tiny blackheads or whiteheads clogging the pores on your nose, making them appear larger and more prominent. And, no amount of squeezing makes this endless reserve go empty!

But, those close-up shots of models show perfect pores and smooth noses. While a lot of it is due to digital image touch-ups, is it really possible to keep your pores congestion-free? Before we dive into that, let’s quickly learn why they tend to get clogged.

Why do your pores get clogged?

Pores are small openings at the surface of the skin, which house a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle inside, and the gunk you notice in them are trapped sebum and dirt buildup. Some people have naturally larger pores, which tend to get clogged more often.

As the follicle becomes clogged, bacteria, oils and dirt come into play and accumulate inside, increasing them further in size. If you have oily skin, your pores fill up faster with excess oil and dead skin, leading to congestion.

How to clean and unclog nose pores the right way

Now, before we jump into unclogging them, let’s get one thing out in the open - you can’t permanently get rid of the gunk and have it never come back. The most you can do is clean the existing filling and maintain a routine that allows for less congestion.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at the things you can do to keep your pores clean and unclogged up to a certain degree.

• Use a pore-clarifying toner - While toners don’t work as a miracle recipe for instant pore cleanup, they are a great addition to your skincare routine for maintaining clearer pores. Add the Carmesi Pore-Clarifying Toner to your regime and fight the gunk build-up effectively.

• Remove your makeup before bed - This is something that you should always follow - no matter the circumstance. Even if your makeup claims to be non-comedogenic (translating to “does not clog pores”), it will leave them congested if you keep your makeup on overnight as you sleep. The best way to remove all traces of it is by following a double cleansing method - use an oil-based makeup remover first and then follow it up with a gentle facial cleanser.

• Maintain a cleansing routine - It’s very important to follow the right cleansing routine, especially if you’re prone to acne, blackheads and congested pores. The best routine to follow is a twice-a-day cleansing where you wash your face in the morning and evening. Use a gentle cleanser like the Carmesi Foaming Face Wash, which is infused with ingredients that combat the overproduction of sebum. If you have very oily skin, you can also opt to wash your face thrice a day.

• Choose the correct moisturizer - First off, everyone needs to use a moisturizer to keep their skin healthy - no matter their skin type. But, heavy moisturizers can also aid in pore-congestion, especially if you’re prone to it. If you have acne-prone skin that gets clogged easily, use the Carmesi Soothing Moisturizer, which is extremely lightweight and does not make your skin oily or heavy.

• Try a clay mask - Clay masks, especially the ones with activated charcoal in them, can be good for absorbing excess oil and gunk from your pores. Invest in a good one that will help you keep your pores unclogged without causing a skin reaction.

• Nose strips can help - There are nose strips available in the market that can help strip away the gunk from your pores after you apply them on your nose. But, be careful in picking out one that is gentle and does not damage your skin in the process. Don’t forget to moisturize your skin after using one because they can be very drying sometimes.

• Use a chemical exfoliant - Physical exfoliants can often be damaging to your skin and do more harm than good in the process. It’s better to opt for chemical exfoliants infused with AHAs (lactic acid and the like) and BHAs (salicylic acid and so on). They can gently dissolve the excess oil, dirt and other impurities in your nose pores and leave them unclogged.

• Try the steaming method - This is another good method to try where you use steam to expand your pores, after which you can use a blackhead removing tool to extract the congestion. Remember to wash your hands and sterilise the tool so as to avoid infections or inflamed acne.

• Opt for a retinol serum - Retinol works by boosting the rate of cell turnover and in the process, it also gets rid of the dead skin and dirt buildup from your skin. Use a retinol serum to keep your nose pores clean and also see an effect on acne.

• Get a chemical peel - These are stronger exfoliants that can be used both at home and in a dermatologist’s clinic. Incorporated with acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid, they work to remove the top layer of the skin, getting rid of the gunk in your nose pores in the process.