Properly Removing Blackheads and Cleaning Clogged Pores at Home

Hello Ladies! Today I would like to share my step by step routines on how to clean clogged pores and removing stubborn blackheads at home.
Blackheads, Acne and clogged pores are caused by our unhealthy diets, lack of sleep, poor hygiene,oily skin, hormone changes, dirt, cosmetic and other beauty products irritations(these are only few of many reasons and situations that causes break outs).
I tried many different methods since I was in college, I spent lots of times in many different skin spas, I've also tried many different products for preventing and reducing break outs and i find it somehow did not work for me.

Here's why
First, going to a spa is very expensive. Why would I want to spend lots of money when sometimes staffs do their job half ass or sometimes they recommend you additional services that you don't really need. Its a ripped off, and I can do what they are doing at the comfort of my own home. 

Secondly, I keep buying anti-acne products. Now I know, even how expensive your anti-acne product is, if you don't clean your face properly, it will not be as effective as you thought when you bought it.

Since internet is very common now and a part of our everyday living, I've done lots of readings and researching on how to prevent acne,blackhead and clogged pores and how to remove them and some article says you can prevent acne by eating healthy foods, having enough sleep and exercises, you can prevent blackheads by properly taking care of your skin, but one article stuck on my mind and it says "you can't prevent clogged pores,only you can clean it".

Here are my simple and easy step by step routine that I'd like to share for proper face cleaning.

photo credit to thenakedchemist.com

Clean your face everyday in the morning and at night before going to bed. 

Followed by your moisturizer.

Put on some sunscreen in the morning before leaving your house to prevent sunburn and protect your skin from harmful UV lights from the sun.

Do this exfoliation method weekly allowing the skin to rest and renew.

 

 Brush your face using a dry-brushing method. Do this with dry face using this dry brush, gently scrub your face to remove dry skin.

After that, wash your face with a mild facial wash. Massaging your face in a circular motion using your mild facial wash helps blood to circulate resulting a healthy and glowing skin.

 Dry your face with a clean towel. Put on your favorite face mask and leave it for 15-30 mins.

While you are waiting for your timer to beep (for your face mask), you have two options in preparing your facial steam

If you don't have a facial steamer, you can use this DIY method.

Prepare a pot filled with water and boil it.
While boiling, remove your facial mask, rinse it if its instructed.
Prepare a bowl and a clean towel
Pour the boiling water into the bowl
Put a towel over you head, and put your face over the bowl close enough that you can feel the steam on your face for about 10-15 minutes
What it does is open your pores, makes it easy to remove white heads and black heads

or

Use this power operated facial steam

Its much easier to use since it has its own timer.

Just plugged it in and set the timer.

Put your face over the facial steamer close enough to feel the steam on you face for about 10-15 mins

After this process, you will need a blackhead removal tool like this photo below

Make sure that the tool you will use is clean and sterile. To sterilized, wash the tool with anti-bacterial soap, rinse it thoroughly and put it in a boiling water for 5 mins. Let it cool down and wipe it with alcohol.

Note: Make sure that your hands are also clean before removing your blackheads and cleaning your clogged pores.

 Use a magnifying mirror with light so you can see the pores and not miss it.
Get a tissue paper to put all the removed blackheads and whiteheads.

After cleaning the face, put on your favorite moisturizer while the pores are open, then get a cold damp towel and gently pat it in your face to close the pores.




As I've said, I only do this weekly to give my skin time to rest and renew. 
DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed dermatologist or skin expert, I am sharing this blog based on my own experience. 

So there you go ladies! I hope you try this simple and easy technique in cleaning your face at home. Let me know your questions and suggestions if you have any, and I will gladly answer it. Thanks for reading my blog. 

For my  Easy Skin Care Routine Blog, please click the link below and it will direct you to my article
http://mariamaharlika.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-easy-skin-care-routine.html

-xoxo 

My Easy Skin Care Routine

Hello there lovelies! I am here again.. This time I would like to share my essential routine for young, glowing and healthy skin.

We cannot predict our weather nowadays, it's either hot or cold, humid or dry. All of this affects our skin.
Our skin gets dry and dull looking due to these weather changes.

But hey, I've got a skin secret to share! (well, it's not really a secret, many of us know this routine,just that some of us doesn't have the time to do it.) 

I'll keep this blog short :) Like you, I am also busy in my everyday life..

First thing you'll need is of course WATER!

 It is very essential in our life. Water detoxify's our body. It hydrates us especially the skin. Lack of water causes many fatal diseases such as heart disease, kidney failure etc.
But drinking plenty of water everyday changes everything. More water means less toxins in our body, and our skin will stay hydrated, healthy and youthful looking skin.

I take 3 sips of not so cold water every 15 minutes to keep me hydrated. (I prefer not so cold.)

If you are not so fond of water, you can also drink fresh juice or tea, as long as you have fluid intake. Avoid drinking sodas, it is not good for your health as they are full of processed ingredients that are harmful to the kidney. 

secondly, a LOOFAH.....! oh yes! 

It may not seem so significant to you but hey, it can do a lot of good things to our skin!
Everyday I use this for dry skin brushing.
What does it do? It removes dry skins, tighten pores, good blood flows, and reduces cellulite. Leaving the skin silky smooth and glowing!

Directions
Your skin should be dry as well as the loofah.
You should only brush toward the heart. Making a long sweeps motions. Avoid sweeping  back and forth, scrubbing, and scrubbing/sweeping circular motions.
Start on your feet, moving up the legs, then work from the arms towards the chest. Direct the brush counter clockwise when brushing your stomach. And oh, don't brush too hard. It may irritate your skin.
Take a cool (or normal water) shower for better results. Hot water only dries the skin. Do this every day or even twice a day if you like, and you'll see the amazing results :)
Also when taking a shower, you may want to use mild soaps for everyday use, like the ones that are used by babies. Less chemicals on your skin, the better. Chemicals on skin makes the skin photo-sensitive and often gets sun burned or irritated when exposed to sun. 


Thirdly, this two very effective combination body scrub for skin exfoliation and rejuvenation.

The Coffee Scrub! 
You don't have to spend much money for spa treatments and buying expensive body treats to achieve a silky smooth, and glowing skin.
Get rid of unwanted skin boo-boos and cellulite.

Here's an easy d.i.y steps for making your own coffee scrub. You'll only need two essential ingredients.
1 cup of ground coffee
2 tsp of olive oil

And Voila! A coffee scrub!!( So easy)- I know right :) and its very organic.
You have to treat your skin with coffee scrub at least twice a week. You don't have to do this everyday. You should give your skin a rest since you are doing the dry skin brushing that already exfoliates your skin.

Fourthly, the everyday VIP (very important perks)

Lotion, Face moisturizers and Sunscreen - whether its rainy, sunny, dry or cold, this three v.i.p's are essential to our skin. Don't take a chance from getting sun damage or dry skin and other skin problems.
Its harder to erase sun spots, fine lines and blemishes than taking care of our skin.
Be determined and patient.





I know some of us are lazy following such beauty regimens, but hey,in the long run you'll see the amazing results. 

I hope this skin care routine helped you. I'll be back for more beauty tips and regimens :)
Bye for now... Stay healthy and beautiful...

-xoxo