Even if you have seemingly perfect skin, clogged pores a reality for most of us, myself included. And even though clogged pores are super common, the information online about congested skin actual is and what it looks like is, um, ~congested~ itself. So to help clear some things up for both your skin and your brain, we spoke to the experts about all things pore-related. So back away from the magnifying lighted mirror, and turn your attention to the below instead to help you finally get rid of those clogged pores.
What are clogged pores?
Simply put, clogged pores are pores that have been blocked by a mixture of sebum and gunk. As a refresher, sebum is the oily liquid made from our sebaceous glands. The purpose of sebum is to keep the skin lubricated, but when the collection of that oil is mixed with the wrong stuff (dead skin, bacteria, environmental debris), it can make small pores look bigger and make your skin appear congested.
What causes clogged pores?
We all have pores (yes, even that one friend with annoyingly perfect, seemingly poreless skin). These are small openings in the skin where hair follicles exist and where your sweat glands and sebaceous glands can empty their contents onto the surface of the skin, as explained by board-certified dermatologist Courtney Rubin, MD.
If you have clogged or congested pores, it might be because your skin overproduces sebum or you may have an accumulation of dead skin cells and other debris (like makeup) in your pores. Dr. Rubin says all of this increases the risk that the pore could become blocked, and blocked pores can lead to, yup, acne.
What do clogged pores look like?
When your pores are clogged, they can appear larger and maybe even darker, or as board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, describes it, they can create the appearance of black dots on your face. If you’re confused as all hell because you thought you had clogged pores but now you don’t know the difference between those and blackheads, you’re not alone.
Joshua Zeichner, MD, board-certified dermatologist, says even dermatologists don’t agree on the distinction between a lot of similar terms that are often used interchangeably. But don’t stress. Whether your pores are full of sebum plugs (sebaceous filaments) or a combination of sebum, dirt, and dead skin (clogged pores and congestion) or an oxidized pore plug (a blackhead), the difference in terminology isn’t that important because they’re all treated similarly. This leads us to what you really came here for…
How do you unclog your pores?
Let’s start with what you shouldn’t do, and that is squeeze your clogged pores. “If you constantly squeeze your pores, the wear and tear of squeezing will eventually make your pores bigger over time, so I don’t usually recommend this method,” Dr. Idriss says.
Most derms are also against using gadgets like like pore vaccums, facial cleansing brushes, and pore strips to unclog your pores either. “I don’t usually recommend instrumenting the face in order to unclog pores,” Dr. Rubin says. “They will just fill up again, and instrumentation can lead to inflammation or scarring.”
Now for what you should do, and that’s use a topical retinoid, like a night cream or serum with retinol in it (check out three of my faves below). “Retinoids address the root cause of pore congestion by decreasing sebum production and by helping dead skin cells slough away properly (rather than sticking to themselves and causing blockages),” Dr. Rubin explains.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatmen
Dr. Zeichner is also a fan of retinoids for clogged pores, either one prescribed by a doctor or one from the drugstore. “Over-the-counter retinoids like adapalane help calm inflammation in the skin and prevent cells from sticking together and blocking the follicles,” Dr. Zeichner says. “Think of them like pipe cleaners to keep the pores open.” And while you’re shopping for those products, go ahead and add a clay or charcoal mask to your cart, which Dr. Zeichner says could also help absorb excess oil.
Shop these clarifying clay and charcoal masks:
If you're dealing with clogged pores, it's also worth running the products in your existing makeup and skincare routines through a pore clogger checker, like the ones here, here, and here. These checkers scan the ingredient list of whatever product is inputted and then flag anything that has the potential to clog pores. Even products labeled "non-comedogenic" can be filled with sneaky pore-clogging ingredients, which makes these checkers super helpful.
Will exfoliating get rid of clogged pores?
Yes, exfoliating will help get rid of clogged pores. Dr. Idriss and Dr. Zeichner recommend products with chemical exfoliants, like AHAs or BHAs, to dissolve excess oil and the dead skin cells that block the pores. “I don’t love physical scrubs,” says Dr. Idriss. “They are not specific to the clogged-pore problem and can lead to more wear and tear.”
Top-rated exfoliators for unclogging pores:
Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum
And while exfoliating might make it possible to remove a lot of buildup in the pores, you likely can’t remove all of it. “I think there will always be a certain amount of ‘cloggage’ in your pores, but you can lighten or limit the appearance of pores with a solid skincare routine,” Dr. Idriss says. And Dr. Zeichner adds that any unclogging you do achieve won’t last long, sadly. “Our body continually produces more oil, so clearing blockages gives only a temporary effect. The pores usually fill up again within a few days.”
The bottom line:
Can you get rid of clogged pores? Not forever, no. But can you minimize the clogs and blockages and stop it from becoming full-blown acne? With the right products and skincare routine, absolutely—and you don't need to shell out big bucks on a fancy skincare tool to do it, either. If you stick with a gentle exfoliating skincare routine, avoid ingredients that are known to clog pores (like too-thick creams and coconut oil), and keep your fingers off your face, you’re likely to see an improvement in the appearance of your clogged pores within a few weeks.
Meet the experts:
- Courtney Rubin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena in Pasadena, CA, and the cofounder and chief medical officer of Fig.1, a refillable skincare line.
- Shereene Idriss, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York, NY and Dr. Idriss Skincare. Dr. Idriss is also a clinical instructor in dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best pore minimizing treatments. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to pore products and treatments.
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan with more than 10 years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle articles, including hair trends and the best wigs on Amazon. She interviewed experts and researched clogged pores to write this story.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
