Did you know that an adult has around 5 million pores all over the body, except for the palms and the soles of the feet? Pores are the tiny openings through which the oil, or sebum, produced by your body is transmitted to the surface of your skin. It’s extremely common for pores to become clogged for several reasons – excess oil resulting from hormonal changes, dry skin, a buildup of dead skin cells, or dirt and oil becoming stuck beneath the surface. Even though clogged pores are most common on the face, they can appear all over the body.

When the skin closes over the top of a clogged pore, you get a whitehead/pimple -  a closed comedone, and when the clogged pore is open and exposed to the air, you get a blackhead - an open comedone. There are many ways to unclog pores, but we have examined 7 so you can minimize pores with minimal effort and for maximal results.  

1. Pore Strips

There’s something oddly rewarding about peeling off a pore strip and examining all the gunk you’ve just pulled out of your face. But pore strip effectiveness holds far less satisfaction. Pore strips contain water-activated ingredients that adhere to the top layers of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. What you see in the marvelous display of debris on a used strip is mainly taken from the surface of your skin. So, while they’re undeniably fun and cost-effective, pore strips are not the best long-term solution for eliminating clogged pores. 

Pore Score: 4/10  

2. Clay Masks

Where sheet masks lock moisture in, clay masks soak up excess oil to clean out pores. A fantastic product designed to remove blackheads is KIWI™ Active Pore & Blackhead Mask. With its creamy formula, rich in detoxifying clays, and a potent plant oil complex, this mask softens skin and loosens stubborn impurities that have accumulated and hardened in your pores over time. 

It is easy to apply and rinse and boasts 98% natural origin ingredients while also being vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and suitable for all skin types. Applying the mask is also the perfect prep step before using KIWI™ Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum device.

Pore Score: 9/10

3. Pore Vacuum Device

After KIWI™ Active Pore & Blackhead Mask has worked its magic, you should continue the treatment with KIWI™ Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum device. The device extracts impurities from deep within pores to make them appear smaller and also reduces wrinkles and age spots. Its T-Sonic™ massage temporarily dilates pores while perfectly calibrated vacuum suction gently yet effectively extracts excess oil and impurities from deep within. In addition, the device exfoliates dead skin cells and encourages healthy skin renewal with its Adamas diamond tips.

Pore Score: 10/10

4. Scrubs

Choose a scrub with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid. Exfoliators help remove the top layer of dead skin cells, dirt, and oil, and salicylic acid helps draw out impurities from deep within clogged pores. But don’t go overboard trying to see results faster; you can damage your skin by scrubbing too hard or too often. Scrubs are a once-a-week-only method.

Pore Score: 6/10  

5. Extraction Tools

A comedone extractor unclogs pores precisely - without using your fingers. The small loop targets whiteheads, while the flat loop helps eliminate blackheads. It is undeniably effective, but the technique can be challenging to master. You might do more harm than good if done wrong, leaving scars or forcing impurities deeper into the pore. Translation: do your homework before you decide to go down this route.

Pore Score: 8/10  

6. Facial Cleansing Brush

Keep your pores from clogging in the first place by adding a sonic face brush to your cleansing routine. A fantastic solution is LUNA™ 4 facial cleansing device with velvety-soft silicone touchpoints and T-Sonic™ pulsations to exfoliate dead skin cells and lift away impurities that can clog your pores. Clinically proven to remove 99% of dirt, oil, and makeup residue. LUNA™ 4 also promotes circulation, lymphatic drainage, and absorption of active ingredients and is gentle enough to use twice a day.

Pore Score: 9/10  

7. Professional Facial

An appointment with a professional should be a mandatory step in your routine to eliminate gunk from clogged pores. They know how to get rid of blackheads without damaging the surrounding skin while you lay back and relax to soothing spa sounds.

Pore Score: 10/10