clearing clogged pores: diy salicylic acid toner

A crucial ingredient in this regime is the salicylic acid toner (and masque, but that's for another post). Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid. It encourages the shedding of dead skin cells within the follicles, keeping them clear of debris that might cause sebum to clog. Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous gland within each hair follicle. It sort of slides out of each pore onto the skin, keeping it moisturized and healthy. It can easily become trapped with the pore, though, if there's some stuff going on (dead skin accumulation, pollutants, etc.), and can become riddled with bacteria, causing breakouts. If it can't find a way out, it will become an enlarged ugly cyst. If it gets big enough, it will rupture and push bacteria ridden yuckiness into the surrounding area underneath the skin. Salicylic acid helps keep the pore free and open, minimizing the clogged sebum horror.

Clearing clogged pores: Makeup

When I FINALLY got rid of all those horrific closed comedones (BUMPS! WHITEHEADS! MINI HORROR SHOWS!) on my face, I started looking around for a makeup that I could use that would not negate all that work. I sing in a band, and like to wear matte makeup with full coverage and good adherance on stage so my face doesn't look like an oil slick under the lights. That's really the only time I wear makeup.

Carry Nation! Back in the day when all I needed was a wonderbra and black eyeliner.