Posts Tagged ‘clogged pores’

Is it possible to get smaller pores? Tips for reducing large pores

As an esthetician, I get so many clients asking about how they can reduce pore size.  While this is not an easy issue to tackle, there are ways to reduce the appearance of large pores (and it’s not as simple as buying one product that promises to close pores!).

The first step is finding out why your pores are enlarged.  Here are some examples and choose which number applies to you (may be a combination of 2 or more):

1. Your skin is oily – your skin is thick, it produces an excessive amount of oil and it gets shiny and feels greasy

2. You’ve had (or still have) acne which caused deep scars and damaged pores

3. You have clogged pores (blackheads) – your oil is hardened and stuck inside your pores causing them to stretch out

4. Your skin has lost its elasticity – mostly caused by aging and UV exposure, the skin loses its firmness causing the pores to stretch

Now that you know why your pores are enlarged you can choose the correct way to go about tightening them.

It doesn’t matter what is causing your large pores, you will need to exfoliate your skin properly to resurface and  remove build up, allowing the pores to appear more refined.  Unfortunately that drug store apricot seed scrub won’t quite cut it in this case!

Here are my favorite intensive exfoliating products:

   

1. Jan Marini Clean Zyme Cleanser & Skin Zyme Mask – Best for all skin types

2.Yonka Alpha-Complex Wrinkle Defense Retexturizing Gel with AHA’s – Best for dull skin with fine lines & wrinkles

3.B.Kamins AHA & BHA Daily Peel Pads – Best for normal to oily skin with clogged pores/blackheads

4.B.Kamins Lactic-10 – Best for all skin types including sensitive and skin showing signs of aging

5.B.Kamins Anti-Blemish Pads – Best for oily skin with acne, and/or clogged pores.

*If your skin has a lot of sun damage, deep dilated pores, has acne damage, or is very thick and oily you would benefit most from a professional, intensive exfoliation series such as microdermabrasion or chemical peeling.  These must be done in spa or medical center by a professional only.

If your pores are enlarged because they are clogged, you need to remove what’s clogging them before you can think about tightening them.  Salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid) helps to dissolve oils including hardened oils trapped in the pores.  Choose an exfoliator that contains salicylic acid and kill 2 birds with 1 stone! Exfoliators 3 and 5 contain salicylic acid.  If have lots of deep clogged pores I recommend that you go into the spa and have a professional esthetician extract them for you so that you can start off your new skin program with clear pores.

If your pores are enlarged because your skin is just plain old oily you should choose skincare products that are formulated to balance your oil secretions without stripping your skin of its natural moisture.  I recommend Skeyndor Clear Balance Pore Normalizing Factor and Skeyndor Clear Balance: Pore Refining Repair Serum.

If your pores are enlarged due to loss of elasticity you should get on a skin firming program or use a skin firming serum to tighten the skin and pores.  Here are some great skin firming products:

                           

GM Collin Visible Lifting Concentrate             Cellex-C Advanced-C Skin Tightening Cream

Remember, our estheticians are always ready to answer your specific skin questions or recommend products tailored to your skin’s needs – just ask!

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acne Not Just a Problem for Teenagers

40% of women are affected by adult acne.

A 1998 study conducted by the Sofres survey institute on 4,000 women aged 25 to 40 showed that 17% of women surveyed had acne and 24% had moderate acne (one to two spots).

What is acne?

Male hormones cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. The pilosebaceous follicles are invaded by lipophilic bacteria, which break down the triglycerides present in sebum, releasing irritating fatty acids. This causes hyperkeratosis of the follicular canal, finally resulting in the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads).

Comedones are made up of corneocytes, sebum, bacteria and hair and may be open (partly blocked pores – blackheads) or closed (fully blocked pores – whiteheads). In the latter case, the follicular wall – stretched by excess sebum – breaks and empties its contents into the surrounding tissue, forming a microcyst that is followed by inflammatory lesions such as papules and pustules.

Acne is difficult to treat if the skin is intolerant. However, if you use the appropriate cosmetic products, limit smoking and alcohol intake, eat a balanced diet, manage your stress well and really know how to relax, you have already put all the odds in your favor.

Spots are often concentrated in the lower part of the face (chin, neck) and sometimes on the neckline.

Beauty steps to take care of your skin…

1 – GENTLY CLEANSE THE SKIN
Cleansing does not mean “stripping”. The more you rub your skin, the more you’ll encourage it to protect itself by secreting more sebum. As a result, your skin will be even greasier. Avoid creamy cleansers which can clog skin.  Opt for a cleansing gel or foam that rinses off with water.

• Phytomer OligoPur: Purifying Cleansing Gel
• Phytomer Eau Marine Alcohol-Free Tonic Lotion

2 – MOISTURIZE THE SKIN
All skin types need nourishment.Contrary to common belief, even oily skin needs to be moisturized and protected. Choose a moisturizer that regulates sebum production and tightens pores.

• Phytomer OligoPur Hydra-Matifying Control Cream

3 – RESTORE CLEAR, RADIANT SKIN
Exfoliate once or twice a week to clarify your complexion. Exfoliants rid the skin of dead cells and impurities. After exfoliating, apply an absorbent and matifying mask if you wish to regulate excess sebum.

• Phytomer Peeling Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes
• Phytomer OligoPur: Shine Control Purifying Mask

4 – HEAL MINOR BLEMISHES
To conceal blemishes, avoid irritating the skin by touching it. Apply a specific, drying, correcting skincare product directly where needed. Its active ingredient helps prevent the spread of bacteria and maintain the balance of the cutaneous flora.

• Phytomer OligoPur: Anti-Blemish Target Gel

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog.  As special offer just for being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

How to treat acne skin with glycolic acid products

What is Acne?
A skin condition which involves the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Acne is characterized by comedones (clogged pores), papules (pimples), pustules (infected pimples) or cysts (large, inflamed pimples) appearing on the face, neck, chest and back.

Although acne is a skin disorder that usually begins during puberty, many adults have a low grade, persistent form of acne. According to a recent poll by the maker of an acne treatment product, over 75% of working women with acne believed the skin disorder influences the types of jobs women get. Nearly as many women believed acne deters job promotions.

Acne is now highly treatable, sometimes preventable and even curable. Although this skin disorder is very common and many individuals outgrow it as they enter adulthood, treatment is necessary to prevent the development of scars. Also the emotional anguish of acne sufferers can be eliminated by improving their skin condition and appearance through treatment. Acne affects 17 million people and is the most common dermatological condition treated by physicians in the United States.

The removal of dead skin cells with the AHA - glycolic acid keeps follicles open and skin clear. The antiseptic action of AHA glycolic acid kills bacteria and prevents infection.

What causes acne?

• Rapid cell growth stimulated by hormones.
• A buildup of dead skin layers.
• Blocked follicles breeding bacteria.
• Excess Oil

Why is a Glycolic Acid Treatment so effective?

• Reduces the skin’s oil content.
• Exfoliates layers of dead skin cells.
• Keeps follicles open.
• Provides antiseptic control of bacteria.

Glycolic treatment recommendations from Jan Marini Skin Research:

1. Cleanse with Bioglycolic Face Cleanser (Deeply cleanses and exfoliates to prepare skin for next steps)

2. Treat with Bioglycolic Bioclear Face Lotion (normal to oily skin) (treats acne, scarring, enlarged pores, fine lines, discoloration and inflammation)

Or Bioglycolic Bioclear Face Cream (dry to very dry skin) (treats acne, scarring, enlarged pores, fine lines, discoloration and inflammation

3. Moisturize with Antioxidant Hydro Silk Protecting Hydrator (All Skin Types incl. Oily)

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog.  As special offer just for being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!