People with clogged pores often use harsh products and routines.
Avoid using products that strip the skin of all the skins natural oils, causing a tight, dehydrated feeling after cleansing your face. These products can be damaging to the skin.
If you do have oily areas, your skin may then over-produce oil.
Plant oil blends can make efficient cleansers and moisturisers
Nutrient rich, cold pressed, unrefined plant oils will also nourish the skin.
Antioxidants are particularity important in skincare. Antioxidants can be found in cold pressed, unrefined plant oils.
The skin type and condition depends on which oils are suited.
Not all facial oils are truly natural or nutrient rich, so read the ingredients list, look for the wording: cold pressed & unrefined.
Balancing facial oils are the key
They actually have quite the opposite effect than most people think.
Oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as essential fatty acids linoleic (omega 6) and alpha linolenic (omega 3) are the most suitable for skins prone to clogged pores, oily/normal/combination skin.
If you do break out after changing to natural skincare oils, this will calm after a few days, if you are using the correct oils.
Which are the correct plant oils for skin prone to clogged pores?
Light non pore blocking plant oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega 3, 6 and even omega 5 and low in mono unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids. There are a list of plant oils, with basic information under ingredients on the Vedani Botanicals website and also in depth information on plant oils on the Vedani Botanicals blog to come.
During 20 years of formulating skincare blends I have found that congested skins respond well when we avoid the following:
Avoid oils rich in saturated, mono unsaturated fatty acids and waxes as they may clog pores.
Plant oils rich in oleic acid (omega 9) are best kept to a minimum.
Avoid saturated fatty acid rich plant oils including coconut oil and butters such as shea butter.
It best to completely avoid waxes.
It may also be best to avoid leave on products containing jojoba and high percentages of rosehip oil in acne prone skin, (the highest percentages are found in the first few ingredients of the ingredients list).
Be gentle
Be gentle with your skin, including gentle products, and gentle product application and removal.
Always cleanse and moisturise your skin in the morning and evening. Problematic skin often has a compromised acid mantle / skin barrier, gentle products and procedures help to repair and maintain the skin barrier.
Shower filters can reduce chemicals added into water at the treatment plant which may irritate sensitive skin.
Around 6000 different chemicals are found in modern cosmetics
Only around 2000 of them have been researched and only a small percentage of those were found to be safe. Many components are not actually used for the skin benefit but to preserve, scent, colour, etc. the product. Unfortunately, many of those cosmetic ingredients are associated with skin irritations, allergies and other health issues.
Nut and seed allergy sufferers, should check ingredients carefully
Some people are allergic to essential oils. Not all essential oils are suitable to be used in skin care, and not all essential oils are of a high enough quality to be used in skincare.
Please do not be tempted to use neat essential oils to treat spots, essential oils are extremely potent, great care and consideration should be taken with essential oil use. There is an article on essential oils on the blog please read this if you are interested in essential oils.
Skin hygiene
Try not to keep touching your face.
Do not squeeze pimples, if you must, cleanse face beforehand, use extremely gentle pressure with a clean tissue wrapped round clean fingers. Then cleanse again and moisturise.
Clean your make-up bag, brushes and applicators regularly, we like to use castile soap and water.
Clean your phones regularly and also computer keyboards (think how many times you may touch your face, while typing).
Change pillowcases often, 2-3 times a week.
Change face cloth after every use.
Bamboo pillowcases and bamboo cloths are ideal as they are naturally anti-bacterial.
Use laundry soap that is as natural as possible, free from harsh artificial chemicals that can irritate your skin. Do not use fabric conditioner with bamboo fabric.
Relaxation
Stress can affect our health and therefor our skin. Stress management may also be helpful, there will be a different article on how to help reduce stress and improve sleep.
Diet has a huge impact on your skin and the rest of your body.
As well as using truly natural and organic beauty products, and household cleaning products, try to have a healthy, balanced, varied diet.
Your skin and body will thank you for essential fatty acid, nutrient rich and anti-oxidant rich foods and skincare.
Zinc helps to make new cells and heal wounds
Zinc is a particularity important element in the diet for problematic skins.
It is found in: meat, shellfish, dairy, whole grain cereals, wheat germ, pumpkin, sesame, squash seeds, pomegranates, avocados, raspberries, loganberries, dates, soybeans, lima beans, green beans, brussel sprouts, asparagus, potatoes pumpkin, and swiss chard, spinach, mushrooms, cashew nuts, pine nuts, pecan nuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and dark chocolate.
Omega 3 and 6 are called essential fatty acids
Omega 3 and 6 are essential for health and should be consumed in the correct ratio, most western diets are severely lacking in omega 3. There are three types of omega 3 fatty acids: Alpha linolenic acid, are found in plants, such as chia, flax and hemp, sacha inchi seeds, walnuts and green leafy vegetables. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are found in fish. Marine algae and phytoplankton are thought to contain omega-3 fatty acids, which could be is good news for vegetarian and vegans, as all 3 types of omega 3 fatty acids should be consumed.
Try and eat plenty of fresh, organic vegetables, and a few fruits (remember sugar content).
Avoid processed foods.
You may find it helpful to reduce dairy, animal fat (not fish), cocoa butter, sugar and refined grains such as white flour and rice, white bread, pasta and rice, for a month or so and see if you notice a difference in the condition of your skin.
If you are concerned about your calcium intake while reducing your dairy intake, good sources of calcium includes:
Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and okra, nuts, fish where you eat the bones such as sardines and pilchards.
Keep hydrated with filtered water or herbal tea (not fruit teas). Freshly squeezed lemon in filtered water every morning helps to detox. Cucumber sliced and added to a jug of water is delicious and nutritious!
Consider probiotics.
The condition of your skin may be a symptom of the disruption of flora in the intestinal tract. Live natural organic cows, ewes or goats milk yoghurt, (if you are not vegan or dairy intolerant) can also help build up your good bacteria.
Ask about probiotics at an independent health food shop you trust and has nutritional knowledge