Congestion 101 and The Fix – Silver Mirror

During the spring and summer months, your face can feel like a congested and pore-clogged mess. Why does this happen? How do you clear it up?

Let’s start with the basics. When you go too long between proper skincare treatments, the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin can cause congestion. These dead skin cells mix with excess oil and sink into the pores. Then, they form blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes.

Luckily, the solution for less skin congestion is pretty simple. All it takes is regular gentle exfoliation with the right exfoliator for your skin type. Here at Silver Mirror, we recommend enzyme-based or acid-based exfoliants that dissolve dead skin cells. We don’t like facial scrubs of any kind because while they are satisfying to use, they can cause micro-tears in the skin, making it irritated and dry. Book a facial with us, and we’ll handle everything.

Enzymatic exfoliants are ideal for sensitive skin types and include pineapple, pumpkin, papaya, or cranberry enzymes. Acid-based exfoliants such as peel pads include light concentrations of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and/or lactic acid, working well for most skin types.

Stick to exfoliating 1-2 times a week when starting. You will notice your skin becomes clearer, smoother, and brighter pretty immediately. But try not to get excited and exfoliate too much; there is a possibility of over-exfoliation leading to a host of other skincare problems you want to avoid! When first starting your exfoliation routine, keep a close eye on your skin’s texture and color to make sure you don’t need to increase the amount of time between each exfoliating treatment. 

Happy Spring and exfoliation!