Pores for thought
The best way to manage your pores effectively is a regular, thorough cleansing routine to minimize the build-up of sebum and surface dirt.
Pores are essentially openings in the skin, and there are two types: sweat glands and follicles, which secrete oil. Pores become clogged when oil, grime, makeup or pollutants accumulate as hardened plugs and these plugs form blackheads.
Clogged pores occur most often around the nose, which has more oil glands per square inch than any other area on your face or body. When the duct is blocked, the waxy 'sebum' – that’s the oil – trapped inside becomes infected and produces whiteheads, also called pimples.
Conventional methods of clearing blackheads and whiteheads include squeezing, but this is painful, it often leaves permanent scars, and it may lead to infection when the skin is broken. That means you’re more likely to get acne.
Suction with a vacuum tube is often used in beauty salons, but that can cause broken capillaries and it isn't very effective. The treatment is superficial and may not remove deep-seated plugs completely.
A good routine would involve 3 easy steps:
1. Cleanse
Whether it's a bar, foam, towelette or a scrub, Pond's offers you a choice to suit every cleansing preference and skin type. What's more, advanced face care ingredients and deliciously luxurious formulas offer a complete beauty experience that makes skin feel as fresh as it looks. Just wash, rinse and enjoy. We recommend these daily cleansers from Pond's.
- Pond's clean sweep cleansing & make-up removing towelettes provide gentle deep cleansing with effective make-up removal to wisk away dirt and make-up in one easy, portable step.
- For the convenience of towelettes with the added benefit of anti-aging formulation, try Pond's dramatic results age-defying towelettes.
- A time tested classic, Pond's cold cream is renowned for its gentle cleansing and make-up removal, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.
- Coming soon: Pond’s multi-talent 3-in-1 beauty bar effortlessly makes cleansing, make-up removal and toning a one-step process.
- Coming soon: Pond's pristine clean gentle cleansing foam removes make-up and impurities without disturbing skin's delicate moisture balance.
2. Tone
Use a toning product to kill bacteria and remove any residual makeup. Natural ones such as tea tree oil and witch hazel are good: they have antiseptic and astringent properties.
Coming soon from Pond's is Pond's cool, calm & perfected pore shrinking gel toner. This complexion-perfecting gel toner refines pores, removes excess surface oil and keeps skin shine-free all day. Lightweight humectants prevent stripping and drying while delivering long lasting, skin softening benefits.
3. Exfoliate
Exfoliate with skin care products such as scrubs, creams and masks to slough off dead skin cells and stimulate cell renewal. Pond’s recommends these cleansers and treatments to help you complete your beauty routine.
- Pond's exfoliating clean sweep cucumber cleansing towelettes are specially made to exfoliate and deep clean skin as they remove all traces of make-up.
- Coming soon: Pond's purely polished micro-dermabrasion anti-aging kit. This gentle, at-home treatment will give you the same dramatic results as a professional microdermabrasion treatment when used three to four times per week for a two-week period. Pond’s purely polished renews skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and discoloration.
- Coming soon: Pond's fresh start daily exfoliating cleanser gently revitalizes and purifies skin for a polished, radiant complexion.
Other helpful tips:
- In addition to keeping your face clean, you should resist the urge to pick at spots. Try using Pond's clear solutions pore strips to unclog pores and remove unwanted blackheads.
- If you wear make-up, be sure to remove it thoroughly before going to bed. Avoid using make-up and skincare products that may aggravate pore clogging. For instance, applying a cream that is too rich on already oily skin may lead to the accumulation of debris inside the pores. It's important to know your skin type.
- If you exercise regularly, make it a habit to cleanse your face after every workout. Good skincare practices will help to keep your pores clear and your skin free of blackheads and pimples.
- Protect and hydrate your skin with the right moisturizer after cleansing. Moisturizers guard against everyday assaults that can strip skin's natural moisture barrier and leave it open to pre-mature aging, dryness and dullness. Pond’s offers a line of age defying moisturizers and treatments that deliver advanced care for skin that has begun to show the signs of aging.
