Smooth and flawless skin. We all want it, but achieving a clear complexion is often far easier said than done when you suffer from congested and breakout prone skin.

What is congestion:

Congestion is the build-up of dead skin, dirt, sweat, oil, and impurities within the pore. It can be caused by your day-to-day activity, diet, life, stress, and the choices you make for skin through makeup or skincare. Congestion can be in the form of acne/breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads.

How to tell if you have congested skin:

The easiest way to tell if you have congested skin is to run your hand across your face. If your skin texture feels bumpy and uneven to touch, chances are it’s congested. You may also see blackheads, especially on the T-zone and cheeks, and possibly some small whiteheads.

The causes of skin congestion:

There are several factors that cause congestion: poor or incorrect skin care, insufficient or a poor cleansing routine, using comedogenic (pore clogging) ingredients within skin, hair and makeup products, and insufficient exfoliation. Congestion can also be caused by over-active oil glands triggered by hormones, poor gut health and a poor diet.

What is a breakout?

Breakouts most often appear where our skin has the most oil glands. That means on the face, chest, and even upper back and shoulders.

During a breakout or an acne flare, the hair follicle fills with dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and sometimes bacteria. This leads to swelling, redness, and inflammation. Eventually, the pores become clogged and push their contents to the skin’s surface causing what we know as a pimple. Pimples are different from blackheads and whiteheads and form when a plugged hair follicle contains bacteria, which leads to inflammation and red pimples.

What is a blackhead?

Blackheads are easier to identify, since their self-explanatory name sums it up: they typically appear dark or black on the skin and are a type of mild acne.

Within the pore, a blackhead is a black flat or sometimes raised dot that is composed of dirt or makeup residue. To treat blackheads, regularly exfoliate with AHAs and BHAs or use a physical face scrub as another option.

The best ways to treat congested skin:

Ensuring that you’re cleansing and exfoliating your skin properly (and with the right products) is by far the best way to tackle congested skin concerns. Also have on hand a blemish clearing gel to speed up the pimple process and incorporate hydrating toners, masks and boosters into your skincare for overall skin health.

Try our faves for clearer skin

Blemish Clearing

Face Scrubs

Blackhead Removal

For more information and guidance on best skincare for your skin type, please feel free to email hello@absoluteskin.com.au or call us on 1300 334 683.  

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