Pore Cleansing Method (using Innisfree Clay Mask and Botanic Farm Oil Cleanser)

In this post: Details on a pore cleansing method, before and after photos, and no promotional links!

Today I received my most recent Memebox haul. I know I said I'd take it slow... But, girl, I am still definitely taking it slow (before this haul, I didn't own a clay mask, oil-based cleanser, or sleep mask *coughs*)! The minimum for priority 2-day shipping for Memebox is $30. That's how much a movie date with a tub of popcorn costs (my boyfriend and I take turns paying for dates)! One less movie = one more haul, and let's be real, the stuff I buy from Memebox would last me at least 30 dates... With myself, but that's not reaaally the point.

So this haul consisted of various sheet masks, [Innisfree] Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask and the Botanic Farm Box (which includes an oil cleanser, sleeping mask, and 3 sheet masks). I'm going to save the actual haul for another post. I am focusing on the pore cleansing method that I read about over at Fifty Shades of Snail.

⌒(・x・)⌒

Fiddy's blog post mentions the use of 3 items:

1. 2% concentrated BHA product

2. Clay mask (any type will do)

3. Oil cleanser (it is very important that it is a true, emulsifying oil cleanser)

The products I'll be using:

1. [Innisfree] Super volcanic Pore Clay Mask - $15 on Memebox
2. [Botanic Farm] Grain Fermented Cleansing Sherbet - $24 on Memebox

Since this is not a review post, unfortunately I'm not going to go in-depth on the products, especially not after one use. I will say that I loved both tonight!

Left: [Botanic Farm] Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet
Right: [Innisfree] Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Quick summary of the steps:
Step 1: Start out with a cleansed, bare face. Apply the BHA product over problem areas or entire face. Wait 20-25 minutes before continuing on to step 2 for maximum efficacy. Do not wash off.
If your face starts to burn, wash off immediately and do not continue with steps 2-3. Give your face time to heal, and then attempt steps 2-3 without step 1!
Step 2: Apply your clay mask as normal. Follow the length of time as instructed for your particular clay mask. Rinse off with tepid water. Pat your face dry.
Step 3: With dry hands, spread your oil cleanser onto dry face. Leave in for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, massage the cleanser in circular motions into your skin for no longer than 5 minutes (focus on your problem areas). You may start to feel tiny, loose particles ('grit'). Finally, emulsify your face with wet fingers. Wash off with water. There should be no oil residue.
Going over the recommend massage time may cause irritation/damage to your skin.

I will go a little more in depth on how oil cleansers/emulsifying works later on in the post! :3

Step 1:

I personally don't own a 2% BHA product, which isn't a big deal. The BHA product is suppose to help with the removal of sebacious filament by loosening up the gunk. Since it's not what's doing the actual removal of sebacious filament, I decided to make do with what I had. I started out by washing my bare face with the [COSRX] Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, followed by the Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol, which contains just a small concentration of BHA (it's the 7th ingredient listed). Took my before picture (I hope it doesn't gross anyone out):

My pores before using [Innisfree] Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask and [Botanic Farm] Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet
(There's a water droplet on my nose, can you find it? Wait, actually, don't... >.<)

Step 2:

I waited the 20 minutes for my whimpy BHA product to settle before moving on to the clay mask (as I started watching Hanbyul's Get Ready With Me, a perfectly timed 20 minute video!). I'm using the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask. Don't feel obligated to use the one I'm using; apparently, any clay mask will do. I ended up using 5 pea-sized scoops (cheeks, forehead, nose, chin). I left the clay on for 20 minutes, basically when it completely dried. Due to my previous misconception about the efficacy of clay masks I always assumed that dry = effective.

Actually. the instructions for the Innisfree clay mask say that the mask should be left on for 10 minutes before being washed off. Since not all clay masks are made the same, follow the instructions for your clay mask or risk leaving the mask on for too long (which will only do more harm than good). - Thanks to Asian Beauty Obsessed for bringing this to my attention!

Step 3:
Wash this off and pat dry before applying the oil cleanser. Fiddy's blog recommends leaving the oil cleanser on for 15 minutes before gently massaging it for 2-3 minutes. I'm using [Botanic Farm] Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet (I am already in love with this!). I actually didn't have that much time, so I had the oil cleanser on for 2 minutes (I cry at my poor timing) before massaging it into my skin for another 2 minutes. Afterwards, I emulsified with water and rinsed off. 

Oil cleansing how-to:
For those of you who aren't familiar with how oil cleansers work, they're definitely not supposed to leave behind a residue. Oil cleansers are meant to be applied with dry hands and massaged into the dry skin without water. Once you feel like you've given your face a nice massage, wet your fingers and continue to gently work the cleanser until it 'emulsifies'. For the longest time, the term 'emulsify' made absolutely no sense to me in the context of skincare. Basically, emulsifying with water is what ensures that you're not left with an oily reside on your face. You know you're emulsifying when the oil starts turning into a more liquid, milky-colored consistency. It's also the 'power' step in removing makeup (as in, don't assume an oil cleanser isn't working if it's not taking off your makeup as you're massaging it; the emulsifying step should be doing half the battle).

I've heard that people who leave the oil cleanser on for the recommend time start to feel grit. I definitely missed the 15 minute mark, but I'm looking forward to feeling some grit next time!

And voila (much better!): 

My pores after using [Innisfree] Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask and [Botanic Farm] Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet

Final words:
This is not a permanent fix, but one that provides the intended results with the right amount of continual effort. Remember: our skin doesn't get a break just because we stop taking care of it.

⌒(・x・)⌒

By the way! I know using pore strips also provides instant gratification, but I do not recommend it! See that red spot on my nose? That's irritation thanks to a pore strip. It's been a couple of weeks already and it's only now looking like it's fading. I'm thankful it wasn't a broken capillary (which doesn't heal on its own). Don't gamble with your skin e.e;;!

Has anyone else had terrible experiences with pore strips? If so, I recommend this much more gentle pore cleansing method. If you try it, please let me know in the comments!

With that said, until next time,

Bunny