How to clean your pores. Last week we talked about how to prevent breakouts so that your skin ready before a big night, so today let’s look at some great long-term care options. The past few days have been hot and muggy and that makes all the pollution that’s hanging overhead feel even worse. The problem is that just washing your face isn’t really enough and unclogging your pores requires a deep cleanse. The good news is that there are a number of things you can easily do at home.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR PORES

Steam. This is one of my favourite treatments when my skin is looking especially lackluster. Simply pour steaming water into a bowl, place a towel over your head and slowly lower your face toward the water. For an even better experience, add a few drops of peppermint or green tea to the water. If you are prone to breakouts, several drops of tea tree oil will be a great choice for you. Steam for 10-15 minutes. Always be careful with boiling water.

DIY honey/lemon masks.  Almost every DIY face mask lists honey as an ingredient and that’s because of its healing properties, as well as helping to tighten your pores. The simplest mask is to apply a few tablespoons of raw honey right to your face, but you can also add a tablespoon of cinnamon or a tablespoon of yogurt with a teaspoon of olive oil to smooth out the impurities in your skin. Lemon is another one of those seemingly miracle ingredients because the acid is a natural exfoliant. You can add it to the above masks or simply place a few drops directly on to your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash your face with warm water. These easy masks can be done 3 or more times a week as needed, but remember that lemon can be drying when applied directly on your skin.

Parsley. Not only is it great for diminishing dark spots, but parsley makes for a great pore cleanser as well. The parsley can be used every other day on its own or twice a week when mixed with lemon and honey. You can soak a small head of parsley in warm water and then dip a wash cloth in the water and apply it to your face for 10-15 minutes. Or to make a mask, finely chop a small head of parsley (after you’ve soaked it in warm water) and combine it with a tablespoon of honey. Apply it to your face for 10-15 minutes.

Sugar scrub. Using scrubs on a regular basis is always a must, but sometimes scrubs can be a little bit harsh on sensitive skin so another great option is sugar. A simple recipe is to take two tablespoons of sugar, mixed with a half a lemon (juice) and a little bit of water. Crush it all together until you get a thick paste and gently massage it into your skin, then wash it off.

Baking soda. This is another easy mask to do at home. Two teaspoons of baking soda mixed with a teaspoon of water will make for an excellent ph balancing mask. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and then wash it off. Of course, as with all the masks, you can also add a teaspoon of honey into the mix.

Clay. I admit that I generally buy a clay mask, but it’s super easy to make one at home as well. Take three equal parts of powdered clay (which you can purchase at your local health store), oatmeal and water, combine them together and leave the mixture on your face until it dries. This mask is best saved for summer months as it can be too drying in the winter.

Remember that washing your face on a daily basis and always after you exercise will go a long way to keeping your skin glowing and healthy looking.

Do you have any tips for unclogging your pores?

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*images courtesy of Dollar Photo Club