Beauty Clinic: Help with clogged pores
Q. I’m 20 years old and need advice/help because I have a lot of clogged pores. The products I currently use, which are for oily to combination skins, do help at first - so my pores are clean and my face clear - but by bedtime I feel like my face is just full and horrible. The products actually seem to increase oil on my face so I think perhaps I should stop using them. Can you suggest something else please – I am on a strict budget. A. We suspect the products you are using have sent your skin into a vicious cycle. They are almost certainly stripping the skin of natural oils, which triggers the sebaceous (oil) glands to produce more oil, which you then try to stop again with the same potent drying products – and so it goes on – and on...
The key, in our experience, is to use gentle natural products, with no pore-clogging mineral oils or harsh synthetic chemicals. Once your skin has settled down again, you may find the problem resolves itself.
The range we recommend is Amie Natural Skincare, which was started by beauty industry insider Fiona Parkhouse for her own daughter’s touchy teenage skin. The products are very good value indeed.
It is just worth saying what Amie Skincare does not contain: no mineral oils, petrochemicals, sodium lauryl or laureth sulphate, parabens, and no ingredients of genetically modified origin or animal ingredients. So all Amie Skincare products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Beauty Bible asked Fiona Parkhouse which products she suggests for your skin dilemma and here they are:
Radiant Dawn Exfoliating Daily Wash/£4.95 for 150 ml: this gentle gel/scrub contains green apple plus lemon extract to cleanse and clear, with blueberry seed to exfoliate and vitamin E to keep skin soft - buy here
Spring Clean Deep Cleansing Mask/£5.95 for 100 ml: use this two or three times weekly to help purify pores, and combat oiliness and blemishes. Based on French white clay to draw out impurities and excess oil without stripping skin, it also has natural zinc oxide, a potent anti-bacterial to clear blemishes, and lime butter to tone the skin and shrink pores - buy here
Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser/£4.95 for 75 ml: this very light daily moisturiser hydrates the skin with natural plant sugars, nourishes with organic rosehip and bilberry, while also controlling shine with lemon fruit and orange blossom extracts - buy here
All products are available from www.amieskincare.com, where you will also find lots of information about caring for young skins.