Kay, we all have that one friend whose skin is so flawlessly smooth, it looks like they’re literally wearing a filter 24/7.
Like, girl, where are their pores?? 👁️👄👁️
Don’t @ me, we’ve all been there. 🫷
But here's the tea:
Those “poreless” queens aren’t blessed with some magical genetic lottery (well, not entirely).
Turns out, there’s actually a whole science to their skin care routine behind achieving that glass-skin, no-pores-in-sight look.
And honestly?
It’s way more achievable than you think.
🥺 Why Yours Pores Aren't Going Anywhere
Let’s start with a reality check, bestie.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has pores!
Even that girl whose skin looks like it was carved by angels has them.
Those tiny holes on your skin are basically your body’s way of releasing oil, sweat, and all kinds of other stuff from your face.
They’re natural, they’re necessary, and they’re not disappearing.
But here's where it gets interesting:
Some people’s pores are practically invisible while others look like… well, let’s just say they’re more noticeable. 👀
The difference?
It’s not just genetics (tho that plays a part).
It’s actually about what’s happening INSIDE those pores.
Think of your pores like tiny holes that can get clogged up by stuff like dead skin cells, excess oils, and product buildup.
When they’re clean and clear, they appear smaller and less noticeable.
And girl, when they’re clogged?
That’s when they become those stretchy, visible pores that make you want to hide under a pile of sheet masks forever. 🥹
📌 Here’s The Thing Nobody Really Talks About
And honestly, it’s a total game-changer!
Clearing your pores isn’t a one-and-done thing.
You can’t just unclog them once and call it a day like you’re checking off a grocery list item. 🫷
When oil and dirt build up again,
Which they will ~ because, hello, that’s what skin does ~ your pores just get clogged again and you’re back to square one.
It’s giving major Groundhog Day vibes,
But for your face. 🥲
That's why I did NOT just hunt down a few miracle products and call it a day.
Instead, I figured out the whole routine, daily and weekly, to keep your pores looking clear FOR GOOD.
Because consistency is key, and your skin deserves that commitment. 🙌
❓ What's Actually Clogging Your Pores (The Plot Thickens)
Before we get to the fix, let's talk about what's actually causing this mess.
Your skin naturally makes two things that love to clog your pores:
This is the natural oil from your glands.
Just like every other part of your body, your face is constantly shedding dead cells.
Now imagine: your face keeps producing oil and shedding cells,
But, but you just… never wash any of it off. 😀
Eventually, it all:
Builds up on your face,
Clogs your pores,
And creates blackheads, enlarged visible pores, and even more acne.
It’s like a skincare nightmare that writes itself. 😨
But then, anybody, pls, tell me why I saw this wild trend on TikTok a few days ago of people bragging about going weeks without washing their face. 👁️👄👁️
And I’m like, girly, if that’s your routine, your pores are definitely NOT going anywhere.
Cleansing your face is literally the ONLY way to get rid of these oils and dead cells before they build up and turn your skin into a clogged mess.
And we’ve not even got to the exfoliating part yet!
The Sneaky Products Making Things Worse
But your skin’s own stuff isn’t the only villain here.
There’s a whole category of products that are basically pore-clogging machines called:
⚠️ Comedogenic products. ⚠️
“Comedogenic” is just a fancy word for how likely a product is to clog your pores and cause comedones ~ AKA ~ THOSE nasty little bumps that lead to acne.
It’s like a rating system for how much a product is going to betray your skin goals. 😏
I know there’s a lot of controversy around comedogenic ratings (the skincare drama is so real 😮💨), but it’s honestly a solid way to figure out what products might be sabotaging your routine.
Just a heads-up:
Some brands aren’t entirely honest about their comedogenic ratings tho, so it’s super important to do your own research before adding any product to your skin care routine!
The worst pore-clogging offenders usually have thick, greasy formulas with heavy oils like coconut, cocoa butter, avocado oil, or castor oil, I mean even argan oil (yeah I said it 🙂).
Matter of fact, if you have oily skin, remember this equation:
Girl, just stay far away!
Stick with lightweight, non-comedogenic products and watch your skin thank you! 🫶
P.S. Jojoba oil and squalane oil are perfect choices for this!
👃 Your T-Zone: The Main Character In This Pore Drama
So, your T-zone, that area of your face that goes from your forehead to your nose and cheeks.
Literally shaped like a T.
Well, that area has way more oil glands than anywhere else, which is why it gets so ✨ shiny. ✨
This is also why you’re most likely to get clogged + very visible pores there.
Honestly, your T-zone is NOT ONLY the main character in this whole pore drama,
But sometimes it’s also giving major villain energy ‼️
That's why it's key to focus on it.
You might wanna hit it with your weekly treatments a little harder, while going easier on the rest of your face.
Makes sense, right?
🗓️ The Weekly Pore-Clearing Squad
Two products absolutely need to be in your weekly rotation if you’re serious about unclogging those pores:
📌 An exfoliator and a clay mask. 📌
Remember, those dead cells are microscopic, so your regular wash just isn’t enough to get all that buildup off.
A good exfoliator removes them from the surface, making it perfect for dealing with buildup.
But please, and I cannot stress this enough,…
Throw physical exfoliators far away and never look back ❗️
Most are just too harsh, leaving you with micro tears that only cause more irritation and actually expand your pores EVEN MORE.
It’s giving counterproductive energy. 🫷
Chemical exfoliators are where it's at.
They usually contain gentle acids that literally dissolve the glue attaching these dead skin cells to your skin so they can easily glide off without any force. 💅
That’s why they get the job done WITHOUT irritation, so you don’t have to aggressively traumatize your face.
Like, for no reason. 👀
Adding a good gentle exfoliant to your skin care routine once or twice a week can literally make your pores seem to vanish.
THE INKEY LIST Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner is my absolute fav. 🙌
It’s gentle but effective, and your skin will actually thank you.
Let’s try it out: Start with once a week and see how your skin responds before increasing frequency.
Always follow with a lightweight moisturizer, ofc.
Clay Masks: The Pore Detox Heroes
My number two pore-begone weekly product is a ✨ clay mask. ✨
But wait!
Don’t just throw any random clay mask all over your face without any strategy, cuz that could easily damage your skin barrier over time.
The best approach?
Apply it only where you have the most clogging (hello, T-zone!) and rinse it off BEFORE it dries out completely.
Keep it on for 10 minutes MAX, or whatever the package says.
And girl, this is where people mess up:
Apply the clay mask.
Rinse off the clay.
And just call it a day. 🫷
It’s giving “Yeah yeah, clay mask is a scam!”
It’s giving “OMG, my face turns into a Sahara desert 🏜️, and idk why! 😢”
Cuz tell me why I don’t hear anybody talk about this?
Like AT ALL?
Cuz sis, the whole clay mask routine does NOT just stop there, and this is where the magic happens:
1️⃣ Apply
- Let’s apply the clay.
2️⃣ Rinse Off
- ✔️ Rinse it off before it dries out completely.
- 📌 But, MAKE SURE you get ALL that clay off your face properly.
3️⃣ Moisturize
- 📌 Follow up with a sheet mask.
- ✔️ Cuz right now, your face is completely clean and super dry.
- ✔️ So a sheet mask’s gonna moisturize well, and the nutrients will absorb deeply under the skin.
Not just sit on the surface!
THE PURE CLAY Detox clay mask is fantastic!
It’s food grade organic, and GENTLY cleanses your pores without being aggressive.
Your skin will feel clean but not stripped.
Which is exactly what we’re going for. 💯
Action step: Use your clay mask over the weekend when you have time to relax.
And let it work its magic. 🪄
Retinoids: Your Cell-Turnover Boost
So, the final powerhouse for your weekly routine is a ✨ retinoid serum. ✨
Think of these powerful ingredients as a real time machine for your skin. 😉
They speed up its natural process of shedding dead skin cells MUCH quicker!
Because of that, all those dead cells, that would normally hang around and clog your pores, are already loosened up and come right off when you exfoliate.
Neow, you might be wondering:
“If it’s so good, why only weekly? I’ve heard of people using it daily!”
Ofc, I saw some of those daily retinoid tutorials too, and ofc, 👏 EVERY 👏 SINGLE 👏 TIME was shocked that LITERALLY no one mentions:
⚠️ “It’s NOT for beginners!” ⚠️
Cuz girl, here’s the freaking truth: No one’s skin can’t handle that much intensity RIGHT AWAY.
Actives ingredients like these need to be introduced to your skin SLOWLY, or you could wreck your skin barrier.
I’m being FR, skin barrier should ALWAYS be the first thing on your mind when doing skincare!
So, if you’re new to retinoids, start with a super gentle formula and just stick to it once or twice a week, MAX.
Trust me, your skin will thank you for being patient.
Finally, pls do the 🥪 sandwich 🥪 method when using retinoid: Moisture 💧 Retinoid 💧 Moisture.
Your Weekly Routine:
Girl, hear me out.
Whatever you do, DO NOT do all these steps on the same day!
It’s way too harsh.
Here’s a better plan:
MONDAY
- Let’s use your retinoid early in the week.
THURSDAY
- 🧽 Then, exfoliate later in the week.
- 🧽 Because the retinoid has already done all the prep work, loosening everything up. (Those dead cells and buildups ❗️)
Making the exfoliant way more effective.
WEEKEND
- 🌚 Finally, do the clay mask over the weekend.
If your skin feels like it needs it.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
- 📌 Active ingredients always dry out your skin, even if it’s just a little.
- 📌 So pls, pls, moisturize real good right after using them.
- 📌 For example, as I said earlier, a sheet mask after the clay mask is perfect.
- 📌 And when using retinoid, let’s do the sandwich method: MOISTURE 💧 RETINOID 💧 MOISTURE.
Seriously, I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT mess with your skin barrier!
- 📌 Finally, your skin will benefit from these the most if you do them AT NIGHT.
But wait, if you’ve never ever used any of these actives before:
Let's start with a clay mask first,
Let's add a chemical exfoliator into the routine,
Do the same routine as the second week.
Finally, you're good to use the retinoid neow, sis. 🪄
Arghh, IK, there are so many rules to follow strictly when using actives. 😮💨
But it’s just worth it. 🥹
🗓️ The Daily Skin Care Routine That Actually Works
IYKYK, weekly treatments are great, 💯 but the real game-changer is what you do every single day.
This is where you’ll see the magic happen.
And honestly, just being consistent is half the battle.
Double Cleansing: The Real Tea
Ofc, step one is always cleansing.
But when it comes to your pores, double cleansing is actually the golden step that makes or breaks everything!
I’m telling you, it’s a total game-changer.
Instead of just using ONE cleanser to wash your face (which, let’s be honest, sometimes feels like you’re just moving dirt around 😅),
1st Cleanse
- 1️⃣ You start with an oil cleanser or a micellar water for the first cleanse.
- 1️⃣ To melt the sunscreen, makeup and gunk off!
2nd Cleanse
- 2️⃣ If you’re using an oil cleanser, emulsify with water first.
(Skip this step if using micellar water.)
- 2️⃣ Then, it’s time to wash face with your regular gentle cleanser.
I know micellar water isn’t as popular as oil cleansers for this, but it’s a lifesaver if you don’t like the feeling of oil.
And as I’ve just said,
It’s also a super safe bet if your skin is prone to fungal acne or just gets clogged really easily.
Yeah, I used to think double cleansing was so extra and a total hassle.
But literally everyone with great skin just tells this same dang thing over and over again.
They NEVER miss a chance to talk about it. 😳
As you see, I got annoyed and tried it LOL.
But once I started doing it CONSISTENTLY (yep, everyday!), the difference was insane.
Babe, tell me how, my skin was clearer, and my pores honestly looked so much better within just a few weeks. 👁️👄👁️
I was kinda mad I didn’t start sooner LOL!
Let’s copy my cleansing routine:
MORNING
- 🌞 Use a regular gentle hydrating cleanser.
Nothing fancy!
EVENING
- 🌚 Try double cleansing and see how your skin feels.
- 🌚 After that, just go in with the rest of your skincare.
- 🌚 Gang, if you’re wearing makeup or even just SUNSCREEN, you’ve gotta do this!
It’s literally the only way to get everything off properly.
Non-comedogenic, Lightweight Moisturizer + Sunscreen Combo
So, the last two products you need to add to your daily routine are ✨ a non-comedogenic, lightweight moisturizer + sunscreen. ✨
And gang, this is where a lot of people mess up without realizing it!
When you’re trying to minimize your pores, you gotta go for moisturizers that are smooth with a runny, lightweight formula.
Yeah, the kind that sinks right in!
We already talked about comedogenic products, and using the wrong moisturizer + sunscreen here just makes every other step pointless.
Think about it:
If you’ve nailed all the steps to unclog your pores but mess this one up, you’ll just end up right back where you started, with dirty, visible, clogged pores.
It’s giving “one step forward, 😝 two steps back 🥲” energy.
That’s why you need to make sure you’re using a moisturizer and sunscreen that:
Feels light, wet, non-comedogenic, and fungal acne safe.
Not thick and greasy.
Girl, your skin should feel hydrated, but not like you’ve slathered on a heavy oil. 🛢️
Here’s the real tea:
Some lucky people can get away with just using bar soap and water and somehow still have smooth, flawless skin.
But let’s be real, most of us aren’t one of those ✨ chosen ones. ✨
See, regular bar soaps don’t have the same soothing, pore-targeting ingredients that proper cleansers do.
The thing is,
So,
It’s a vicious cycle that nobody wants to be stuck in.
Anyway, I actually talked a lot more about this in my guide on how to have clear skin with dirt-cheap DIY tricks for acne.
Take a peek 👇
Your move: check the ingredients in your current moisturizer and sunscreen. If they feel heavy or greasy?
Babe, I think it’s time for an upgrade!
And speaking of dodgy ingredients...
I literally have a whole list of the sneaky stuff that’s been sabotaging people’s skin this whole time. 👀
They’re all in the “Ingredient Red Flags To Avoid“ section of my guide I’ve just mentioned, along with many dirt cheap, BUT effective tricks that literally saved my face AND my wallet!
Like some of these are in EVERYTHING and nobody talks about it??
That’s why I’ve gotta spill the UNHINGED truth about those ingredients PRETENDING to be skincare angels but are actually acne demons in disguise…
Girl, this list is UNMATCHED! 🔥
You can find it on page 72, BTW. 🫶
🫶 The Reality Check We All Need
Gang, I gotta be real with you.
This isn’t gonna happen overnight. 🙂↔️
I know we live in a world of instant results and magic fixes, but your skin didn’t get this way in a day, and it’s not gonna fix itself in one either.
But here's the amazing part:
Once you nail this daily and weekly cleansing routine, your pores are gonna look DRAMATICALLY different.
You'll notice your skin getting smoother,
It'll look clearer,
And those previously visible pores becoming less and less noticeable.
It all comes down to sticking with it and being a little patient.
I promise, your skin is going to thank you SM for treating it with intention and care, instead of just trying every new product you see and hoping for the best.
✅ Alright, Let Me Break Down EXACTLY How To Do This Skin Care Routine
So you’re not overwhelmed. 😉😘
Daily Morning:
Step 1
- 🌞 Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.
Step 2
- 🌞 Let’s hydrate with a lightweight moisturizer.
Step 3
- 🌞 Sunscreen.
Non-negotiable!
Daily Evening:
1st Cleanse
- 🌚 Start with a micellar water or an oil cleanser.
- 🌚 To melt the sunscreen, makeup and gunk off!
2nd Cleanse
- 🌚 If you’re using an oil cleanser, emulsify with water first.
(Skip this step if using micellar water.)
- 🌚 Then, it’s time to wash face with your regular gentle cleanser.
Moisturizer
- 🌚 Let’s finish with that lightweight moisturizer.
- 🌚 You can use some lightweight, anti-fungal serum too.
- 🌚 So, serum 👉 lightweight moisturizer.
Weekly treatments:
I mean I’ve already broken down this entire routine in the “Your weekly routine” section, but aight, here we go again. 💅
Again, whatever you do, DO NOT do all these steps on the same day!
It’s way too harsh.
Here’s a better plan:
MONDAY
- Let’s use your retinoid early in the week.
THURSDAY
- 🧽 Then, exfoliate later in the week.
- 🧽 Because the retinoid has already done all the prep work, loosening everything up. (Those dead cells and buildups ❗️)
Making the exfoliant way more effective.
WEEKEND
- 🌚 Finally, do the clay mask over the weekend.
If your skin feels like it needs it.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
- 📌 Active ingredients always dry out your skin, even if it’s just a little.
- 📌 So pls, pls, moisturize real good right after using them.
- 📌 For example, as I said earlier, a sheet mask after the clay mask is perfect.
- 📌 And when using retinoid, let’s do the sandwich method: MOISTURE 💧 RETINOID 💧 MOISTURE.
Seriously, I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT mess with your skin barrier!
- 📌 Finally, your skin will benefit from these the most if you do them AT NIGHT.
And again, if you’ve never ever used any of these actives before:
Let's start with a clay mask first,
Let's add a chemical exfoliator into the routine,
Do the same routine as the second week.
Finally, you're good to use the retinoid neow, sis. 🪄
Girl, IK, there are so many rules to follow strictly when using actives. 😮💨
But it’s just worth it. 🥹
🫂 The Community Part That Makes ALL the Difference
You know what I absolutely love about the skin care community?
How crazy supportive everyone is.
Whether you’re asking if something’s gonna clog your pores or trying to figure out if a product will work for your skin type, there’s always someone who’s been there and can give you the real feedback. 🤝
Seriously, don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions.
Real people who have been through similar skin journeys can give you advice that no amount of research ever could.
We’re all in this together, trying to figure out what works best for our unique skin. 🫶
Your turn!
Drop a comment below and tell me:
What part of your current skin care routine you’re most excited to switch up!
And if this post helped you understand your pores a little better, definitely save it for later in case you forget some steps of the wholte routine.
And feel free to share it with that friend who’s always asking for your skincare secrets. 😉
✨ The Truth Is,
That smooth, poreless look we all want?
It’s not about:
Luck,
Or spending a fortune.
It’s about:
Knowing your skin,
Being consistent,
And not giving up after a week.
Babe, trust the process. 💅
Your skin's one of a kind
So it deserves a routine that’s made just for it.
Start with the basics,
Introduce new products slowly, and pay close attention to how your skin reacts.
I’m telling you.
Soon you’ll be the person with the secret everyone wants to know. 😌
So what are you waiting for?
