Little Known Tricks for Congested Skin
If you’ve ever woken up in the morning before and have seen oily, congested skin looking back at you in the mirror, you might be looking for ways to give your skin a little extra care.
We all wish we could wake up looking like the actresses do in the movies, but unfortunately, we all tend to have better skin days than others. It’s easy to get caught up in your everyday routine and responsibilities and leave your skincare at the wayside, after all.
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Even if you’ve got a busy schedule to keep up with, prioritizing your skincare is just as important! Skin congestion is something that all of us go through at some point, but it’s usually a pretty easy fix.
If you’re looking for solutions for how to get rid of congested skin, we’ve got some little everyday tricks to help you get your skin back where you want it to be. Plus, this will provide you with the resources to help your clients with their skin issues - even if you don’t have congested skin yourself!
What is Congested Skin?
Congested skin refers to when your skin's pores are clogged from dead skin cells and excess oil that has been trapped inside.
Similar to how a congested nose tends to be, congested skin has a lot of dirt, oil, and debris stuck inside, without the ability to get them out.
Congested skin accumulates a lot of oil and dead skin cells that sit on the top layer of your skin during the day, and is a breeding ground for pimples, zits, blackheads, and whiteheads - all because there is not enough room for everything to come out of your pores.
Having congested skin is usually accompanied by a "puffy" face, as the blood vessels have also become blocked, leading to increased skin swelling.
The congested area of your face will have prominent, congested pores. You’ll notice that this is usually right under the eyes, on the forehead, and around the nose.
READ: How to Get Smooth Skin: Top Dermatologist Recommendations
What Causes Congested Skin?
There are a handful of different reasons why your skin can become congested. Many believe it is caused by an increase in stress hormones, causing the oil glands to become overactive, or regular hormonal changes (especially your menstrual cycle) can play a huge role. An unhealthy diet that is high in greasy food, alcohol, and sugar can also lead to skin congestion.
Some other contributing factors are a change in temperature or humidity and not drinking enough water.
Make-up doesn't help the situation either! When your skin is congested, your first reaction may be to cover up all the blemishes. However, your skin can become even more congested from applying all of your favorite beauty products, including foundation and concealer. These tend to trap the gunk, grime, and impurities inside your pores, causing the problem to get worse.
READ: Working with Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin: A Guide for Professionals
What Does Congested Skin Look Like?
Congested skin can look bumpy, rough in texture, dull, and show blackheads or whiteheads. It can also have enlarged pores and is usually accompanied by redness and inflamed pimples/zits.
Your skin will look like there is a lot packed under the surface, and it may even feel like your skin is tight.
READ: How to Get Rid of Oily Skin
How To Treat Skin Congestion: Do’s & Don’ts
First of all, let's talk about what you should not do when treating congested skin:
- Don't use too many products or highlighters on the face: Using a ton of products to cover up skin congestion will only cause your skin to react by producing even more oil, which will inevitably make your congestion worse.
- Don't use harsh or drying soaps: The best way to treat skin congestion is using gentle and non-drying cleansers. We want our skin clear and hydrated, not dry and irritated.
- Don’t get waxed or go under harsh skin treatments: Let your skin rest and don’t further irritate or inflame the congested area.
- Don't pick or squeeze: It may be tempting, but avoid squeezing the pimples or blackheads. This will spread bacteria and cause more inflammation, making your skin condition worse. Leave that to the pros.
- Don't go around touching your face: Seriously… keep your hands off. Touching your face will only make your skin more clogged and congested.
READ: How to Prevent Pimples After Waxing
What Is The Best Treatment For Congested Skin?
The best treatment method for congested skin is to treat the cause and not just the symptoms.
If you have any underlying allergies or hormonal imbalances, treating these first will help your skin become less congested. You can discuss these concerns with your doctor or dermatologist and see if they can lead you to a solution to balance your hormones and target allergens.
Trying to flush out your system by drinking lots of water can also help with skin congestion. Rather than removing toxins and impurities through sweat, your body can flush out the toxins through urination.
Don't forget the power of non-comedogenic products! Stick to make-up that won't clog your pores and oil-free moisturizers. Keep a regular cleansing routine to rid your skin of dirt, sweat, and grime that accumulates throughout the day.
You can also try a clay mask at home. This product will help pull out the impurities in your pores, preventing them from creating more blackheads and whiteheads.
One of the most potent preventative treatments of all is regular, gentle exfoliation. Chemical exfoliants are excellent for helping to draw out excess oil, dirt and clearing up breakouts. You can use mild acids such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid to draw out these impurities, but be careful not to overdo it!
If you have any concerns about your skin or think it might be congested, make sure you talk to a dermatologist!
However, if you are waiting for a magic pill to solve all of your problems, we don't have one! But, we can give you some little-known tricks and home-based treatments you’ll be thankful for!
READ: Best Hard Wax for Easy Hair Removal
How Do You Get Rid Of Congested Skin?
Some of the easiest ways to get rid of congested skin are to…
- Drink Water!
Water is probably the most important thing you can do for your skin. It helps flush out all of the impurities in your body, which detoxifies your pores and prevents problems such as congested skin. Make it a goal to drink a half gallon of water at a minimum every single day. If you don't like plain water, try adding freshly squeezed lemon, lime, or cucumber slices to your glass for a little extra flavor.
- Eat Right!
Eliminate greasy foods, alcohol, and sugar from your diet. These food products can clog your pores and contribute to a sluggish body. They are also the leading sources of toxins in our bodies, causing us to feel congested.
If you can't totally eliminate these foods from your diet altogether, try to cut back on them. You want to have a healthy balance of vegetables and fruits along with lean proteins such as fish or chicken.
- Exfoliate!
You can use a scrub, exfoliation mitt, or a scrubber glove to exfoliate or use a chemical exfoliant like AHA or BHA, which will help remove all of the dirt, dead skin cells, and excess oil that accumulates on your skin and gets trapped under it.
Gently removing this build-up will prevent it from becoming trapped inside of your pores.
- Pamper yourself with a facial!
A facial is a wonderful treatment for your skin and can help extract the toxins and build-up that cause skin congestion. It might seem like just a "want" or an extra expense, but you will be surprised at how much brighter and less clogged your skin looks after a facial.
If you’re wondering how often you should get a facial, a good rule of thumb is once every four to six weeks.
If you don't have the ability to go for a facial, an at-home clay mask, as mentioned above, is a superb alternative for drawing out impurities in your skin and helping prevent it too.
- Watch and wash what touches your skin!
Our final, but certainly not least important, step to rid congested skin is keeping anything that touches the skin on your face clean, and we mean extra clean. Regularly wash face towels, pillowcases, and make-up brushes. These can all contribute to your pores being clogged up and congesting your skin.
Never forget to avoid touching your face at all costs! If you must, be sure you always do so with clean and freshly washed hands.
ALSO READ: How to Get Rid of Textured Skin
Can You Wax Congested Skin?
After decongesting skin, you can get back to your normal skincare or grooming routines. That is, with the proper precautions taken of course! You don’t want to fall down the same path to congested skin again.
If you’re wondering specifically how long to wait to wax after decongesting skin, the answer really depends on your skin and hair type - best to ask your esthetician for the most accurate advice.
Once you’re ready to go back to waxing, it’s best to use a formula made with natural ingredients that won’t further irritate the area. For the best results, use Starpil’s plant-based Pure Vegan Hard Wax Beads or Roll-On, which are rich in antioxidants and will nourish your skin.
Additionally, make sure to prepare and soothe skin properly afterward to avoid further congestion by using the Pure Vegan Pre Wax Gel and Post Wax Oil and Lotion.
Shop the Entire Pure Vegan Collection
READ:PCOS Hair Removal & Waxing Guide
Final Thoughts
Congested skin is a common problem for many people, and frankly, it can be caused by numerous factors, from diet and lifestyle choices to genetics and fluctuating hormones.
However, there are plenty of ways to get rid of that unwanted skin congestion and prevent it from coming back! A lot of prevention and treatment stems from regularly cleansing your face and a consistent routine of exfoliation. Additionally, diet and lifestyle changes can help to treat the cause of skin congestion, rather than just the symptoms you face.
If you need some more guidance and suggestions, reach out to your favorite esthetician or dermatologist. They’ll professionally examine your skin and help provide you with the perfect routine to knock out that skin congestion in record time.
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