Clogged pores and dry skin - Help!!

[MusicMeg222]

I have very dry skin, but I have clogged pores on my face. I wash my face daily with warm water and a facial scrub. My pores open, but I'm having a hard time removing a few blackheads and small white spots on my face. I'm hoping to clear it up, so my skin looks healthier and cleaner, but I'm having a hard time. Should I try a different facial scrub or just a moisturizer to prevent more dryness? I probably should get a facial from a spa, but I'm trying to avoid that large cost for now. 

Please help! Any recommendations would be appreciated! 

[WiscyKristi]

Hi, @MusicMeg222

I'd recommend the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid on the portions of your face that have the congested pores. It's $29, and available at Nordstrom, the Paula's Choice website, or from Dermstore. Dermstore and Paula's Choice often run %-off specials, to help bring the price down.

I notice a huge difference in my pores when I use that product, and a bottle lasts for a pretty long time. HTH.

[MusicMeg222]

Isn't BHA a form of acid? I understand the use of acid to help unclog pores and remove dead skin, but won't this make the dryness worse? I've heard and was told by many people not to use any products with acid as they are very drying to the skin. 

Ahh. There's so many products out there. I just need something that will work! 

[WiscyKristi]

Hi, @MusicMeg222

I've used the Paula's Choice, and haven't really noticed any issues with it drying my skin out. BHA/Salicylic acid is a preferred ingredient for exfoliating and clearing up congested pores and battling acne. The key is to only use it on the part of your face that has the breakouts or issues with pores. I'd then follow up with your typical routine (moisturizer). Make sure that you are not sensitive to an ingredient in your moisturizer, as that can cause breakouts and clogged pores.

If you aren't comfortable with that, a few other things to try would be to see if you can get a sample of an AHA peel (like Philosophy Microdelivery), or a sample of the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Transformation Gel. Both of those products are good for dry and/or sensitive skin. I notice a difference in my pores with both. If you'd try the Ole Henriksen, I'd just put it on the area with the congested pores.

[TrysBeautyItems]

@MusicMeg222 daily exfoliation is probably causing the dryness; skin has its own shedding cycle. Use a gentle, smooth cleanser 2x day - to remove grim/environment/sweat etc- and moisturizer.  A cleanser also gets deeper into the pores to clear out; an physical exfoilator just gets surface skin. Chemicals, like AHA/BHA, are what breaks the layers and under the skin skin gunk surfaces, it's a process. You're losing a lot of moisture from not hydrating, a moisturizer keeps everything balanced. Can use a hydration booster or serum under moisturizer as well.

What exact scrub are you using?

[MusicMeg222]

I currently use St Ives Coconut and Coffee scrub and Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub. Both of these smell so good and are somewhat rough, but I use them to scrub and clean my pores. 

I also use Clinique Moisturizing lotion after washing my face every morning. I can definitely feel the difference if I forget to put it on as it really helps, but my skin is still very dry and my pores are clogged and skin isn't very clear. 

[TrysBeautyItems]

Definitely stop the scrubs, they shouldn't be rough feeling. That's a sign of irritation. Clean and Clear doesn't use great ingredients, they dry the skin out. Fragrance is typically an irritant. They aren't clearing pores, that's marketing. The skin is trying to protect itself, but can't when it's being unbalanced daily.

If you want to stay with drugstore, Neutrogena fresh foaming cleanser, blue bottle, is very gentle, unscented and won't dry the skin out. La Roche Posay is very gentle as well. Fragrance is unnecessary.  Clinique is fine for moisturizer. Plus sunscreen daily. If you use acids, they can cause sun sensitivity.

Leave on acids (AHA/BHA) will help with the clogging. Slowly work up usage. I use prescription, so others can chime in on that.

Are you washing at night?

[MusicMeg222]

Yeah, I wash at night too to clean my face from the day. Should I completely stop the scrubs, use them one to twice weekly, or move to a different product? Are there moisturizing products that also help clean too?

[TrysBeautyItems]

The scrubs are too harsh for your skin, so yes stop usage completely. I have sensitive skin, and don't exfoliate a lot, maybe a couple times a month which is enough. There's Origins modern friction which is a creamier exfoliator, not to say it doesn't work.

As for acids AHA is gentler than BHA, generally. Still work up usage, don't use daily to start nor 2x day as more dryness possible.

Once using gentler, smooth cleansers the dryness can subside. When I feel dehydrated, I'll use a hydration booster or serum to help those parts that need a bit extra moisture. ELF, H20+, Dermalogica, Neugtrogena hydro boost line, all have boosters/serums.