How do i keep my face clear?

ok my face isnt too bad, but everyonce in awhile i get some marks on my face and they can be really annoying. But one thing i do have is black pores on my nose. i wash my face 2 atleast twice a day with "irish spring" soap. but nothing seems to work on the black spots. any advice on what to use or do?

How do i keep my face clear?
Seriously, you are definitely going to want to stop with the soap. It is very harsh and can strip your skin of the moisture it needs. What you need to do is continue washing your face twice a day and then use a good exfoliator 2-3 times a week. What it does is help get the dead skin cells off and open up those blackheads so the debris can come out. You can always go to Sephora or even Walgreens and look at the different skincare lines that fit your budget, Oh, and don't forget the sunblock. Good luck.
Reply:Buy a gentle face cleanser made for oily/acne-prone skin to be on the safe side. Try it once a day, make sure it doesn't irritate your skin, then try upping it to twice a day. After you work out or get sweaty, clean your face. Also, try a acne treatment gel from the store to prevent future breakouts. It doesn't sound that bad, so just keep your face clean and treat it with the gel before you go to bed :) They have versions of these things for men, so no worries.
Reply:try biore pore strips they pull out blackheads


http://www.drugstore.com/search/search_r...
Reply:Have u heard of those "Biore Black Head" sheets that REALLY do remove them, most of them anyways,? You lay it over the area and then peel it off and it literally pulls the black head out with it! They are amazing! besides that- be sure to keep your pillow cases extremely clean, keep your hands off your face ( don't rest your face in hands when studying etc...) and maybe switch to a soap meant for clearer pores- like Aveeno For Acne etc...
Reply:black pores don't come out by only washing, it's a lie! yes cleansing can reduce them but doesn't REMOVE them..go for peelers or something
Reply:When approaching acne (or any face care routine, really), you must remember the basics;





Cleanse Gently, disinfect, exfoliate, and moisturize if needed.





Remember that so called 'mens lines' are complete cosmetics doublespeak (to put this into prospective, L'Oreal's mens line has a fairly decent moisturizer for $18. The exact same moisturizer is put into a smaller squeeze tube, and marketed to women for $27. This kind of example happens more frequently than you think). Another problem with the mens lines is that they usually contain quite irritating ingredients (Peppermint, Citrus, Alcohol, etc.).





I'm going to give you a bit of an overview of a skin-care regime, step-by-step, that should clear up your skin.





STEP ONE: Cleansing





A cleanser isn't going to get "into" your pores, it's physically impossible (If it could get "into" our pores, our faces would be bleeding. They'd be clear, but they'd be bleeding) What it can do is wash way excess oils and dirt. It shouldn't leave your face dry for more than a few minutes after cleansing. Stay away from anything in bar form.


There are 2 problems with bar soap. The first being that most are tallow/fat based, which has the ability to clog pores. Secondly, they clean TOO well, leaving you skin horribly dry. You know that horribly tight feeling you get after washing with bar soap, where you move your mouth open slightly and you can feel it around your eyes? You might think that you want all oil stripped from your face, but in the long run it's not beneficial in the least.





Another "Big" thing with acne care is cleansers with a chemical exfoliant in them (BHA's and AHA's). The problem with medicated cleansers like those is that all the medication is being washed down the drain before it can get to work on your skin. Sometimes the label will tell you to leave it on your face for 1-3 minutes for it to become effective, but the problem with that notion is that while the chemical exfoliant (or disinfectant) is getting to work on your face, the irritation factor is also upped because the cleansing ingredients are being left on your face far too long than necessary.


Thus, you want an exfoliant and disinfectant free, water-soluble cleanser that doesn't contain fragrance, irritants, or coloring agents (all of those spell trouble for skin). An excellent one you can get at most drugstores is Cetaphil. There are 2 types, the first is a non-foaming gel cleanser that's best for someone with very sensitive skin. The second is a foaming gel based cleanser, and is great for someone with oily skin. They both come in generous-sized pump bottles and retail for about $15.


Don't use fingernails, or jab at your skin while cleansing to "Loosen" a whitehead. It's not going to "loosen" anything, and you'll end up tearing your skin, causing more problems.





STEP ONE b: Manual exfoliating





The only way to get rid of blackheads is to exfoliate, either manually (as in a cleanser with small abrasive particles), or chemically (using an acid in the effective PH). You don't need a separate cleanser to manually exfoliate. One of the best, most inexpensive manual exfoliants is baking soda mixed with cetaphil. Simply mix about a heaping teaspoon of baking soda with about 3 pumps of cleanser in your palm, and blend to form a paste. Then apply this paste to your face, and rub gently for 30 seconds at the most and rinse.





Blackhead clearing strips are a complete waste of time. They're simply a hairspray-like film on a pad. What you see on it after ripping it off your skin might impress you, but you must remember that all you're doing is ripping off the top layer of skin. You can't "pull" out a blackhead, it (again) is another physically impossible idea. You might "see" the blackhead on the strip, but all you're seeing is the top layer of skin. The actual irruption is left untouched, and will resurface again.





STEP TWO: Toning (If desired)





The whole wording behind a toner is absurd, as a toner wont tone anything. That being said, a toner can be a great addition to a skin-care routine for several reasons. The first being that it can remove excess bits of cleanser if you haven't been too diligent about rinsing, and second, if it's equipped with good water-binding agents and anti-oxidants it can take the place of a moisturizer with very oily skin. A toner isn't necessary, but if you can find a soothing one with the aforementioned traits, it's an option to consider. it's also great for use as a mens aftershave, as most mens 'after shave' products can contain up to 60% alcohol (alcohol is a BIG no no). A good, alcohol free toner is quite hard to find. One that you might consider is the Neutrogena alcohol free toner. To warn you, it does contain a lot of fragrance. And although it isn't offensive in the least, it can possibly spell irritation to some very sensitive types.





STEP THREE: Disinfect





To understand acne, you have to know what causes it. There are mainly two causes. The first cause is an excess build-up of skin cells that mix with sebum (oil), thus clogging the pore. Inside, the pore is still sloughing off excess skin cells. These cells have no means of getting out, and a buildup begins. The second cause is acne-causing bacteria. This bacteria gets into a pore, and irregular cell-sloughing begins. The pore gets clogged, and infection begins.


This is why you can't just "zap" a pimple, because -believe it or not- what you're seeing on your face has already been going on for 3-4 weeks.


Disinfecting is a big part of an acne regime. It not only can eliminate what you already have on your skin (for acne), but it plays a big part in preventing further breakouts.


Now, when you think disinfecting, you probably think grain (rubbing) alcohol. The problem with grain alcohol is that it's a pretty in-efficient disinfectant (once it's applied and kills a bit of bacteria, it's neutralized, just leaving irritation in its wake). it's far too drying (and irritating) to facial skin.


One of the tried and true methods of disinfecting is Benzoyil peroxide. It stays on your skin for a longer period of time, and it poses less risk of irritation). It comes in 2.5%, 5%, and 10% concentrations. Start at the 5% concentration (the 2.5% is hard to find) and work your way up if you don't see results in about 4 weeks. Apply it to your skin quickly, but not sloppy. Remember to rub it in very well, because if you don't (and you use it before heading out) it can leave a faint white crust where you've applied it (and no one wants to look like they've been drooling all day). Be careful not to get it in or around the eye area, and wash your hands after applying it (Also, be careful to not get it on your hair, as it can bleach hair at the 10% concentration). It's really not as dangerous as it sounds, but it's always good to take cautious measures. A great benzoyil peroxide gel is Clean%26amp;Clear's PersaGel. It comes in 5% and 10% concentrations. About $7 Canadian





Note: The only downside to benzoyil peroxide is a possible drying effect. Some people are more prone to it, while others can slather it on and not get any dryness at all. If you do get dryness, simply apply an emollient moisturizer (such as Avon's Hydrofirming bio6 night creme (ranging in price, about $12). It actually compares to some very expensive moisturizers) over the affected areas, after all other products have been applied.





Wait for the gel to dry, then





STEP FOUR: Chemically Exfoliate (on alternate days)





Chemical exfoliation has many upsides; you wont run the risk of over-exfoliating, it's more efficient than manual exfoliation, and it can be more effective than manual exfoliation. There are two types of chemical exfoliants, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA's). Alpha Hydroxy Acids (such as glycolic acid and lactic acid) are water-soluble. They're good for exfoliating (re-surfacing) the top layer of skin, but they're poor blackhead fighters due to the inability to penetrate the pore. Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic acid is the only BHA at the moment) is sebum (oil) soluble. It has the ability to penetrate the pore and eliminate blackheads. Beta Hydroxy Acid is a bit of a bastard twin to Aspirin, so it shares some of it's anti-inflammatory properties, which can actually make it less irritating than an AHA. That's not to say that BHA is painless, as it does cause slight stinging. However, It's the ONLY irritation you should have to live with when it comes to skin care.


AHA's come in 5%-10% concentrations, and BHA comes in a 0.5%-2% concentration. As with Benzoyil peroxide, start low and work your way up.


Thus, I'd suggest using BHA. Concentrate on the blackheads and pimples on your skin, but also make sure to apply a thin layer over most of the face (the eye area is obviously off limits for this). With continual application, your blackheads should decrease dramatically, and acne scars from previous irruptions should be lightened (or eliminated completely). There are 2 types of AHA and BHA products; Moisturizers with the acid suspended in them, or gels with the acid suspended in them. For application, I prefer a gel with the BHA suspended in it, as you can apply it over areas that don't need a moisturizer (the T zone, for instance), and then you only have to moisturize the dry areas of your face. Sadly, I haven't been able to find a good BHA gel that's not in an alcohol base, so I've had to settle for Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel. It contains 2% salicylic acid, and it is quite drying, but it has really helped with the blackheads and acne scaring. For both sides of the face, apply about 2 pea-sized amounts, blending in well. For about $12 Canadian.





Again, wait for it to dry, and then





STEP FIVE: Moisturize (if desired)





If you've got some dry patches of skin (like your cheeks, for instance) use a good moisturizer. The makers of Cetaphil also make Nutraderm, a great lotion also in a generous pump bottle for about $15. It's not always available at drug stores, but I've seen it being carried at Safeway, and even some 7-11's.


Simply smooth it over the dry areas of the skin.
Reply:Use a different soap. I used to use a cheap soap and my nose and chin were basically pimple after pimple and I switched my soap to Olay. My brothers use it too. It really works.
Reply:Read tips on Treating Acne, Skincare and Home Remedies on this site
Reply:I suggest using an oil-free face wash. Neutrogena's oil free acne wash is good. Phisoderm is decent as well. Afterward, put on some moisturizer. If your skin is oily and has big pores, use a pore minimizing and oil-free moisturizer such as Biore's Pore Minimizing Moisturizer. If your skin is dry, get something like Aveeno's. If you have some pimples, get the Neutrogena benzoyl peroxide (it's 2.5% which won't dry out your skin) %26amp; put it on your pimples, or if you want, a light coat all over your skin. VERY light coat, though. If you have zits, you can put more on the zit. You should do this twice a day. I'd advice to experiment a bit and see how it works. Also, get an exfoliator face wash (such as St. Ives Apricot scrub) and do this a few times a week. It will help take the dead skin cells off your face and help minimize pores. Get a toner, like clean %26amp; clear's pore minimizing toner and use this on your nose maybe twice a day prior to using moisturizer. Yup...
Reply:Cut off you skin, make a mask out of it and sell it to Marilyn Manson. He lovez those 4L. BFF!