5 Things to consider before using pore strips

huibing

07 Aug 2017

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What you are actually seeing
We hate them too: whiteheads, blackheads, and clogged pores standing at full attention in the centre of your face. But, did you know, the little stalagmite collection you're seeing on your nose might not actually be either one of them. In fact, they could very well be merely sebaceous filaments, your oil's natural sebum that provides your skin with essential oils. The key difference is that blackheads usually contain a little trail of sebum that follows, as opposed to just spikes.
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The long term implications
Slapping a pore strip or two every week might not seem like it'd do much for your face, but the consequences might not be so appealing. Enlarged pores are a large concern for many, but excessively removing sebaceous filaments can actually stretch out your pores. The dilated appearance might be off-putting, but the scarier thing is that, unless you're seeking help from a dermatologist, there's no way of properly closing them up again.
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They can tear away the first layer of your skin
Breakouts can be the bane of one's existence, and it's understandable. After all, they are a huge obstacle in getting smooth skin. Using a pore strip in an attempt to do so might be doing you more harm instead. As you remove the strip from your face, you could be tearing away the first layer of your skin. This could lead to irritated skin or, worse, broken capiliaries that will make your skin age.
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And cause breakouts too
And did we mention that the adhesive might get into your pores? After all, it has to be sticky for it to adhere to the oils, so it makes sense that some of the glue might get into your skin and cause breakouts. Plus, the ingredient list for these pore strips is full of
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They aren’t really removing blackheads
At the end of the day, if you're pore strips actually removes blackheads, you might continue to use it even more. But the truth is that these strips only remove the top of the blackheads, or the head. No matter how adhesive the glue can get, it wouldn't be able to remove the dirt stuck underneath your skin. This may lead to over-reliance, so cleanse and exfoliate your face carefully. Or, worse, they could even lead to the production of even bigger blackheads!

It’s easy to keep your nose looking pore-fect with pore strips, but are they really good for you?

There are few things in the world that are incredibly satisfying. Cuddling in your bed after a long day at work, a good soreness after an intense workout, and the childhood joy of peeling dried glue off your hands, to name a few. But, there’s nothing quite like the feeling when you’re staring at pore strips after they have been peeled (or, well, ripped) off your skin. The application itself isn’t particularly gratifying: remove the strip from a pack, before applying it over your nose for 10 to 15 minutes. The fun part comes afterwards. With a steady hand and steely gaze, you peel the strip off with an experienced hand. Then, you gaze in wonder at all that have vacated your pores.

Sounds familiar? Yeah, we have been there too. But, here’s the thing: pore strips might actually be bad for you. Although they have become a nearly essential part of our beauty routine, these strips could be causing more harm than not. There has been a rise of irresistibly intriguing options out on the market, with different scents and ingredients to spice things up, but you might want to scroll back up and read before purchasing them. Without further ado, let us present to you 5 things you should consider before sticking on yet another pore strip!

Lee Hui Bing

Photos: Getty Images

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