Pore Strips: How Effective Are They?
What started as a “beauty mask sheet for the nose”, patented in 1996 by Kao Corporation, pretty soon turned into a pore strip frenzy. A nose strip that promises to unclog your pores of all the dirt and blackheads from your skin is enough to make teens, grown women, and even men, jump on the bandwagon and add it to their skincare routines. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s cheap.
But did you know that there is also a downside to this seemingly harmless skincare product?
Before we get to that, let’s first go over what pore strips are and how they work.
What are pore strips and how do they work?
Pore strips are a strip of fabric-like material with a water-activated adhesive on one side which you stick onto damp skin and pull out after a couple of minutes. The purpose of the adhesive is to strip away dirt, blackhead, and other gunk clogging your pores. Sounds good, right? Well, not entirely.
How effective are they?
Pore strips can remove dirt and blackhead on the surface of your skin, but not the debris and oils trapped deep inside your pores which is why after a day or two, you’ll notice that the blackheads are back. Pore strips don’t have the capabilities to completely eradicate pore buildup and only serve as a temporary solution.
So what are the downsides of using pore strips?
Aside from not being able to thoroughly remove pore buildup, pore strips are pretty harmless and, contrary to some claims, won’t break your capillaries. But, there are still some downsides to using these things. It can cause irritation if used frequently and/or if you have sensitive skin. People with eczema or rosacea should also avoid using pore strips as this will further irritate their skin and even damage it.
Pore strips can also strip your skin of its natural oils which you need to keep your skin barrier intact and healthy. This is especially true if the pore strip of choice contains harsh ingredients such as alcohol.
The best alternatives you can use instead
To sum it up, pore strips aren’t really necessary since it doesn’t completely rid your pores of the gunk it accumulates. Not to mention there are more effective and totally safe ways to remove blackheads and unclog your pores. But if you find yourself unable to say goodbye to using pore strips, then it’s okay as long as you don’t have skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, etc.
Since pore strips can’t adequately clean out your pores, it’s best to supplement with other, more effective skincare products such as:
Peptide Sensi Cleanse
This cleanser is designed to give your skin a gentle deep-cleaning. It is highly effective in removing makeup and other impurities which makes it a great first-step in your nighttime skincare routine.
CranGlow MilkZyme Exfoliating Face Mask
Spalina Skincare’s mild exfoliating face mask infused with antioxidant-rich cranberries can effectively remove dead skin cells and leave you with smooth, radiant skin.
It also doesn’t hurt to visit an esthetician and treat yourself to a Hydrainfusion facial. It’s a very effective way of gently cleaning out your pores. Interested? You can book your appointment here.
