The lower part of my face feels like sandpaper. What does it need?

[chailatte]

It's like every pore in that area has something sticking out and it's rough like sandpaper. I have combo skin. I've tried everything under the sun. Different cleaners, moisturizer, oils, and peels. When I touch it, my fingers feels oily. I'm in my early 40's. It's been happening for a year or so now. No pimples, just a sandpaper feeling. When I use my 15 x mirror. I can see EVERY SINGLE PORE filled with something white, every single one of them! What does my skin need?

[fieldsofclover]

If you're ok with a physical exfoliator, I really like the LANCER - The Method: Polish for this kind of thing. My pores clog really easily so sometimes I get myself into a situation like this, and this is the one product I've found that helps immediately without being too harsh... the "grit" in it is extremely fine so it just gently buffs everything away.

*Make sure to wait at least a day after using a product like this before using an AHA product!*

The price tag on this is pretty brutal, but since you don't use very much each time (maybe a nickel-sized amount) a travel size will still last a long time.

[radleyas]

I had that!! For me, what worked best has been Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial, and the Framboos. As @WinglessOne has mentioned, peels are what you’re looking for here. If you like her suggestions, go with them. She’s always right on the money!

[WinglessOne]

@chailatte  You mentioned you’ve already tried peels. Does that include BHA (salicylic acid) peels? A leave-on BHA exfoliant in the 1-2% range is the first thing I’d try. Mine is made by Paula’s Choice, but there are many options out there. You could try another peel—something meant to be rinsed off (or neutralized) a few minutes after application—unless you’ve already gone that route with no success. 

You can also try AHA exfoliants. But a BHA will get down into your pores, unlike an AHA, so it can clear out the gunk. Both are exfoliants that remove the top layer of dead skin cells. But AHAs aren’t oil soluble, so they can’t reach into your pores like BHA. 

Neither BHA nor AHA goes as deep into your skin as retinol, which is not an exfoliant and doesn’t remove gunk from the surface of your skin. Retinol encourages new skin cell turnover at deeper skin layers. You could try a retinol, but I’d give a BHA exfoliant a shot first. 

And of course, if you can see a dermatologist or medical aesthetician, that’s the best way to get personalized recommendations. 🙂 There might be something else going on with your skin that a doc can diagnose and treat. 

[Ispend2much6]

@chailatte   I did some quick research.  After 40 it seems like all kinds of things happen to the skin!

Anyway, on the site Healthline the condition called sebum plug and keratin plug are described, and how to treat them.  I don't know if this is what you have; it kind of sounds like it, but maybe reading about it can get you started in the right direction.

They recommend a facial scrub, daily use of topical treatments such as glycolic and salicylic acid ointments.  Also the use of retinoids.

The best scrub I've used is Lancer's The Method: Polish.  I've even used it on my feet!  It made my skin feel smooth for a few days at a time, so I know it was doing a good job at exfoliating.  Here's a link to a set for a few more dollars than the polish alone: https://www.sephora.com/product/the-method-polish-glow-P403816?icid2=products%20grid:p403816:product

Another product that might help is a clay mask.  They really help draw out anything that is blocking your pores.  Here is one that I find effective: Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask- https://www.sephora.com/product/deep-cleansing-mask-P309214?icid2=products%20grid:p309214:product

I have expensive tastes. 🙂  I try to only recommend products I have tried but hopefully someone else will join the conversation and recommend some other great products.