Acne and blackheads seem to have built a home in your face and you can’t stop asking yourself what are your triggers? One of the most obvious causes of acne is clogged pores. Acne is primarily a result of unclean pores that contain debris, dirt and leftover makeup that you were too lazy to get rid of after that party night. Guilty and disgusted with yourself, aren’t you? That’s a good sign ‘coz at least that means you now know the root cause behind your face turning into pimple-land. While relying on non-greasy foods and consuming an antioxidant-rich diet along with regular exercise will ensure that your skin stays healthy, you need to ditch the following habits that are the real monsters behind your clogged pores and eventually, that giant zit sitting on your nose...
 

Wearing makeup during a workout

Wearing makeup during a workout

We’re all for looking picture perfect everywhere but workouts and makeup do not go together. If you want to get rid of clogged pores, it is imperative that you let your skin breathe, especially during your workouts. If you have makeup on, it will only trap sweat and bacteria further into your pores. Plus, it will just lead to skin congestion—a nightmare for every girl who wants healthy looking skin. So make sure you get rid of all the makeup before you sweat it out so you don’t have to worry about waking up to a pimple the next morning.

You can use the Lakmé Absolute Bi-Phased Makeup Remover to get rid of your makeup

 

You skip exfoliation

You skip exfoliation

Yeah, you might boast about following the cleansing, toning and moisturising skin care routine to a tee but what use is that skin care regime if it doesn’t have exfoliating at all? Scrubbing your skin with an effective scrub once or twice a week is crucial if you have clogged pores. Not only will the abrasive texture of scrubs ensure that your pores are cleansed but it will also buff away dead skin revealing a brighter complexion.

Use the St. Ives Fresh Face Apricot Scrub for brighter looking skin

 

You use the wrong makeup

You use the wrong makeup

Remember that non-comedogenic makeup is what you need to look for if you want to get rid of clogged pores. What does that mean? When a product is non-comedogenic, it means that they don’t clog pores. And when your makeup doesn’t block pores, it means there are lesser chances of getting acne and blackheads.

 

You sleep on unwashed bedsheets

You sleep on unwashed bedsheets

You might be too lazy to change your bedsheets over time but your skin won’t forgive you for that. Fabrics can contain bacteria from the skin and other kinds of germs that can easily transfer onto your skin while you sleep. What happens overnight is that your pores get clogged and your skin reacts and you either wake up to an ugly blackhead or a pimple.

 

You use an unclean cell phone

You use an unclean cell phone

Yeah, we know you think we’re talking absurd things but all your phone often lies in your bag—a place that carries everything (read: chips packets, pens that lost their caps and lotions that split over). If you think this is your bag, chances are that all those germs have now latched on to your phone and then your cheeks thereby clogging your pores. Disgusting! Make sure you wipe your phone with an anti-bacterial wipe before using it.