How To Clean Nose Pores In 5 Easy Steps

We’ve all been there: you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and they’re staring back at you larger than life: blackheads and whiteheads that make your nose look polka-dotted, and seem to expand your pores to several times their normal size. It feels like everyone who looks at you is seeing nose pores and nothing else. What is to be done? Is there an at-home remover that works better on nose pores than your mother’s old remedies of squeezing or using an old bobby pin? (Which, even when it does work, is painful and leaves a big red mark on your nose that’s worse than the black- or whitehead clogged pore itself). Rest easy. We’ve done the research for you and have put together a simple set of steps and effective home remedies that will have your nose pores looking clean, unclogged, and practically microscopic in no time. Read on to find out how, and kiss those unsightly nose pores goodbye.

Your skin naturally produces a type of oil, called sebum, which comes from your pores. The most active pores are the ones along your T-zone: your nose, forehead, and chin. In the right quantities, sebum helps your skin stay healthy, but many people have the problem that their skin produces too much. The excess oil can build up, mix with dirt and dead skin cells, and cause the pores on the nose and other parts of the face to be clogged. Keeping skin and pores clean can be more of a challenge when you have this problem. The results of excess sebum on your nose and elsewhere include a variety of blemishes, but two are most common. Blackheads happen when your pores become clogged with oil and dirt but remain open to the air (unlike a pimple, which is closed off). Being exposed to the air makes the oil in the pores oxidize, which is what turns them black. These are most common on the nose but can occur elsewhere on the t-zone as well. Whiteheads are very similar. They are also clogged pores, but with a layer of skin over the top which gives them a white surface. Unlike blackheads, they can have a greater range in size from practically invisible to pimple-sized. These, too, are very common on the nose but can be scattered across the face. Whether your pore problem is blackheads, whiteheads, or both, the solution is the same: you need to keep your nose pores unclogged and clean. But what’s the best way to do that? The remedies can almost always be done at home, using products that you already have or can acquire fairly cheaply. For the best nose-pore-clearing results there are a few steps involved, but don’t worry. We’ll walk you through them one at a time to remove this common skincare woe.

The most important step to keeping your nose and other pores clean and unclogged, long before you reach for a blackhead remover, is to have a regular face-cleaning routine. This will wash away excess sebum so that it doesn’t have a chance to build up, stretch your pores, and turn in to blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples. For best results, you should be washing your face every day, both in the morning and at night. If you work out or participate in a sport or other sweaty activity during the day, clean up after that as well. Be sure to pay attention to the skin on and around your nose when you are washing, or anywhere else your pores get regularly clogged. For most people, a gentle cleanser and warm water are best to ensure that you remove enough oil from your pores but not too much. Harsh ingredients and hot water can dry out your skin and actually cause your body to produce even more oil to make up for it, so it's counterproductive in the end. When you wash, focus on the T-zone of forehead, nose, and chin. When choosing a daily cleanser, let your skin type guide you. If you tend toward dry skin, get a creamy cleanser with moisturizing ingredients. If you’re more oily and acne-prone, consider something with salicylic acid to help fight it. For people whose skin isn’t overly sensitive, even regular soap could do the trick. It might take a bit of trial and error to find out what cleanser works for you—don’t give up! Keeping your face clean will help keep those nose pores clear.

Exfoliation gets rid of built-up dirt and dead skin cells in your nose and other pores by either scrubbing them off or using a chemical to remove them. This is an important step to prevent buildup in your nose pores and keeping them clear— plus it makes your skin feel smooth and clean. Since exfoliating is a bit rougher on your skin than regular cleaning, it’s not recommended for everyday use except in rare cases. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, try for one to three times a week, and adjust as needed. Focus on the problem areas, where pores are visibly stretched and clogged. You can buy a huge variety of exfoliating scrubs at any store that sells skincare products. Some of them will even be targeted at clearing blackheads or minimizing pores. You can also buy an exfoliating brush or pad to use with your regular cleanser, just make sure it’s designed for use on delicate facial skin. But for those looking for something more natural or budget-friendly (or who just don’t feel like leaving the house), there are a few do-it-yourself options that are effective home remedies.

Baking soda: this is a great ingredient for exfoliating and minimizing nose pores that you probably already have in your cupboard at home. For a simple scrub, just mix it with a little bit of water until it forms a paste, then rub gently over your face with your fingertips, paying special attention to your nose. Rinse with warm water and be sure to moisturize when you’re done. Sugar: like baking soda, it’s a kitchen staple that doubles as a beauty product. Mix with water, the same as above, or try olive or coconut oil for an exfoliating scrub that moisturizes at the same time (if your skin is already oily or very acne-prone, this might not be the best scrub for you). Sugar is rougher than baking soda, so don't use much pressure when you use this particular scrub to clean your pores. Oatmeal: part of a balanced breakfast, and a balanced complexion as well. Oatmeal can be ground to a powder or left whole and mixed with water, oil, or honey to make a scrub that leaves skin and nose pores not only exfoliated but cleaner and calmer as well. This is a great choice for people with sensitive or itchy, irritated skin. Coffee: don’t dump the used grounds into the trash— recycle them into a cleansing face scrub that shrinks your pores. The antioxidants found in the beans will help detox your skin as you wash away the dirt and oil clogging your nose pores. Plus, it smells divine! There’s an endless number of ingredient combinations you can use to create your customized face scrub for squeaky clean pores. Why not try a few different recipes, and see which one you like best. Whatever you choose, you’ll be saying goodbye to blackheads and hello to tiny pores on your nose and face.

Masks and facial peels are more intensive treatments that sit on the skin for a longer period of time to draw out dirt, oil, and dead skin from your pores. Like exfoliating, masks should only be used occasionally—a good place to start is once a week. You can target your treatment to just your nose or other areas you see blackheads, whiteheads, and stretched-out pores or do a full face treatment for all over results. Again, you can find a variety of commercially made masks and peels wherever you buy your skincare products. The ones that are labeled as exfoliating, skin-clearing, or specifically for blackheads will be the most helpful for problem pores. You can also buy clay powders that can be mixed with water or apple cider vinegar to make a fantastic mud mask. Look for 100% French green and pink clays or bentonite clay to best clear out your pores naturally.

Like exfoliators, you can find ingredients in your cupboard to make a great mask to shrink and clear your nose pores. Here are a few of the best ones, but don’t be afraid to do some mixing and matching of your own! Lemon juice and honey: both of these ingredients are naturally antibacterial, so they’ll purge your skin of blackhead and acne-causing bacteria while leaving it clean and bright. Add some cinnamon for an added kick of power and watch your nose pores unclog and clear up. Egg whites: these can be whipped and used as a mask all on their own to tighten pores and nourish the skin, simply leave it on until it dries and then rinse with warm water. For a peel-off mask that will unclog pores even better and leave your nose spot-free, add a bit of cornstarch and powdered sugar to the mix and peel off when dry. Plain yogurt: this contains lactic acid, which will dissolve dead skin that would otherwise clog up your nose pores. Use it alone or mixed with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for even more benefits.

You can buy specially made blackhead remover strips that are shaped to cover your nose. These are put on wet and left to dry, then pulled off, unclogging your pores by pulling away any blackheads with them. This is a great way to clean out your nose pores before starting a cleansing and exfoliating regimen, or whenever you need a little extra help. It's a great way to get blackheads out of your pores before a special event so that you can enjoy yourself and not wonder if people are staring at your nose. You can make your own blackhead remover strips as well: just soak a strip of paper towel in egg white, press against your nose, and peel when it dries (pro tip: rip it off quick, like a Band-Aid, for minimal discomfort).

If you’re putting effort into cleaning and shrinking your nose pores, you don’t want to undo all of your hard work and see those blackheads and whiteheads cropping up again. Here are some everyday dos and don’ts to prevent the problems that cause unsightly nose pores in the first place. Makeup: don’t worry, we’re not going to tell you to go without. What you do want to do is make sure all of your makeup and other skin products like moisturizer are oil-free and non-comedogenic, which means they won’t clog your pores. Sunscreen: wear it, even if it’s cloudy or you spend most of your time inside. Sun damage makes skin less able to repair itself, which means blemishes form more easily and stretched-out pores won’t spring back into shape, even when you’ve unclogged them. Pay special attention to your nose when applying sunscreen, as it’s more exposed and more likely to get burnt. Squeezing blackheads: don’t do it! As tempting as it may be, squeezing black and whiteheads can damage the delicate skin on your face and drive oil and impurities deeper into your pores, making them larger and more blemish-prone. It’s best to avoid touching your face in general, especially if you haven’t just washed your hands, as you’ll likely just add more dirt and oil to your skin.

If you’ve tried everything else and stuck to a cleansing, exfoliating, and mask regime for several weeks, and are still suffering from blackheads and unsightly nose pores, it might be time to consider professional help. Dermatologists and estheticians have tools at their disposal that you just can’t get from home treatments. And these treatments can be targeted at problem areas, like the nose, so you get the results right where you need them. Microdermabrasion: this is a more advanced version of those facial scrubs that might not have been quite enough to unclog and clean out your nose pores. Instead of the usual scrubbing materials, tiny crystals are used to exfoliate the top layer of skin. This gets rid of old, dead skin, dirt, and oils. The skin underneath—and your pores—will be cleaner and clearer, and you might even see an improvement in any scars and discoloration. Chemical peels: these are pretty much what they sound like, but don’t let it intimidate you! Chemical peels work much the same way as microdermabrasion, but instead of crystals or other exfoliants, chemicals are used to dissolve the dirt and dead skin. Again, this reveals the new, clean skin underneath—and the clear nose pores as well. Laser treatment: this feels like a science fiction way to get the blemish-free results of professional skin treatments. Specialized, directed lasers are used with great precision to zap away the top layers of skin. Give it a try and see that the future includes a blemish-free face and near-invisible nose pores. Extraction facials: these are facials that include blackhead and whitehead extractions, where pores in the nose or other parts of the face are unclogged with special blackhead removers that won’t cause the skin damage you risk when you do it yourself.

If you came to this article hoping for an easy, one-step blackhead remover for your nose, you might be feeling overwhelmed. But remember: those removers, even when they work, won't prevent your nose pores getting clogged again and the blackheads and whiteheads re-appearing. It's better to take a few extra steps to achieve long-term results. And it's not really as complicated as you might think at first. The might be more than one step, but it's still pretty simple: clean, exfoliate, mask, and prevent. That's not much to do in exchange for clean skin and shrunken nose pores. You're probably doing some of it already, and our recipes for home remedies make it easy to start any of the steps that are new to you immediately. Adding professional help is an optional final step, only if the others don't do enough for you. Try the at-home remedies first, and give it some time before you decide you need additional treatment. If you do seek more help, make sure you find a licensed professional and they'll help you clear any stubborn nose pores. Follow these steps, and you'll have squeaky-clean skin and a nose free of blackheads and oversized pores in no time!