By Kwangjin Jang, Benefit National Brow & Beauty Authority, Korea

Feb 1, 2023

There likely isn’t a single person who hasn’t experienced clogged pores on their nose at least once, no matter how runway-ready the rest of their face looked. Your nose is one of the most common areas where clogged pores appear (and yes, it’s totally normal!). We should know—our Benefit pore experts deal with some very nosey pores and we can help you get in the nosey-know!

Here are my go-to tips to clean and unclog pores that show up on the nose...and trust me, I believe this routine is the greatest of all time.

Resist the Temptation to Squeeze

The most important rule when it comes to clogged pores on your face or nose is:

Just. Don’t. Squeeze them.

Okay, phew! Now that we got that out of the way, here is a simple, straightforward way to unclog your pores: use targeted pore products to help loosen and wash away pore-clogging dirt and debris.

While the quick satisfaction of squeezing the dirt and gunk from your pores is nice, sticking to a consistent pore routine is an incredibly effective way to maintain healthy-looking pores without the risk of damaging your skin, which will reveal healthier-looking, smoother skin.

Wash Your Face Before Bed

Yes, that means YOU (and yes, EVERY night!). Think about all your face faces during the day…from makeup to sweat to environmental pollutants, a lot of dirt and debris can accumulate on your skin. And if you hit the hay without washing it off? Dirt, oil, sweat, and residue can accumulate and make their way onto your pillowcase overnight…and, yup, clog your pores. YIKES.

It’s SO important to wash your face at night. Try a pore-clearing, makeup-removing cleansing oil like The POREfessional Get Unblocked to not only remove your makeup, but to clear out the dirt and oil that has accumulated on your skin and pores throughout the day.

The Double-Cleanse Will Be Your New Best Friend

When it comes to cleansing, we think you should double down. Pore-purifying foaming cleansers are great for visibly removing dirt, oil, and impurities without drying or stripping your skin, but to get a thorough cleanse…I’d start with a cleansing oil.

Start your nighttime skincare routine with a pore cleansing oil to loosen up the dirt and gunk that has collected in your pores, then follow up with a pore-purifying foaming cleanser like The POREfessional Good Cleanup. Think about it like this: the cleansing oil melts away oil, dirt, and debris…then the foaming cleanser visibly removes it and purifies pores.

Turn To a Toner

To help keep pores on your nose looking their best, I recommend regularly sloughing off dead skin cells with a gentle exfoliant (hey, if those dead skin cells aren’t on your face, they can’t get stuck in your pores, right?). Try The POREfessional Tight ’n Toned toning foam, which uses a balance of AHAs and PHAs (that’s alpha hydroxy acids and polyhydroxy acids) to help visibly tighten and refine pores and improve skin texture.

Use Moisturizer to Lock in the Good Stuff

After double cleansing, the bad stuff is out…but now we need to make sure we keep the good stuff in. And by good stuff, we mean moisture!

Using a moisturizer can help keep your skin balanced and can help increase moisture in the skin over time. Using a lightweight, smoothing moisturizer for pores like The POREfessional Smooth Sip, not only hydrates and helps improve skin texture, but also visibly minimizes pores over time. (I know, right?)

An Extra Step (If You’re Feeling Extra)

At Benefit, we always say…do MORE for your pores, see MORE from your skin. So, if you’re ready to add one more step to help keep the pores on your nose clear and clean, here’s one you won’t want to miss…

Add a Clay Mask!

I absolutely love using clay masks. They make me feel pampered and luxurious. The POREfessional Deep Retreat pore-clearing clay mask deep clears pores, mattifies for 12 hours* (lookin’ at you, oily nose and T-zone!), and helps skin look clearer and less congested over time. The best part? It feels oh-so-comfortable…no stripping or drying here!

*instrumental test on 32 participants 

Pores Need Love, Too!

It’s time to accept that the pores on your nose won’t be going away, no matter how much we might wish they just…would. But the sooner we embrace their beauty, no matter how they look, the sooner we can develop a healthier relationship with them (and our skin). They really do so much for us, it’s only fair we try to do the same back. Find a Pore Care routine that works for you (and your nose)—it can seriously do wonders.

The smallest steps towards self-care lead to remarkable results, and if you have questions on where to start and what’s best for your skin, we’ve always got you covered. Learn More about your pores…and let’s do more for our pores, together.

Sources

1. Chertoff, Jane. “5 Ways to Unclog Pores and 2 Methods to Avoid.” Healthline. 11, Aug, 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-unclog-pores#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
2. Pedroja, Cammy. “What Is Sebum and Why Does It Build Up on Skin and Hair?” Healthline. 26, Nov, 2018, https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sebum
3. Boulanger, Amy. “Choosing a Healthy Facial Moisturizer.” Healthline. 30, Jul, 202, https://www.healthline.com/health/cosmetic-safety/healthy-facial-moisturizers
4. Yetman, Daniel. “How Clay Masks May Benefit the Health of Your Skin and Hair.” Healthline. 4, June, 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/clay-mask-benefits
5. de Bellefonds, Colleen. “Add Chamomile to Your Skin Care Routine to Soothe Redness, Fight Acne, and Reduce Signs of Aging.” Healthline. 8, Jun, 2021, https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/chamomile-benefits-for-skin
6. Strauss, Rebecca. “Every Sunscreen Question You Have, Answered.” Healthline. 4, Nov, 2021, https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sunscreen-guide