How to manage congestion.

Editor's note

Congestion — the blackheads, the visible pores, the subtle surface blockages across the nose and chin — is sebum doing what sebum does, then oxidising on contact with air. It isn't a hygiene issue. Salicylic acid is the most effective ingredient here: it's oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore rather than just on the surface. Double-cleansing matters more than single-cleansing. And the hands-off rule is the single most effective prevention against congestion becoming something worse.

Other skin concerns

• Dehydration
• Dullness
• Uneven tone
• Texture
• Congestion
• Barrier damage
• Sun spots

What 'congestion' actually means

Congestion refers to blocked or visibly enlarged pores — typically blackheads (open comedones, where oxidised sebum is visible at the surface) and the generalised clogged feeling across the nose, chin, and forehead. It's distinct from acne as a condition: congestion describes the sebum and surface buildup, not an inflammatory or bacterial process.

Myth, meet fact

• Myth: Blackheads are dirt in your pores. Fact: The dark colour is oxidised sebum, not embedded grime. More frequent cleansing won't remove them.
• Myth: Pore strips clear congestion for good. Fact: They remove what's at the very surface, temporarily. The sebum that refills the pore returns within days.
• Myth: You can shrink your pores. Fact: Pore size is largely genetic. You can minimise their appearance by keeping them clear, but pores don't close or shrink.

The beginner's path

Five pieces, in order. Around eighteen minutes of reading.

1. What congestion actually is — and isn't (3 min)
2. Salicylic acid — how it works and how to use it (5 min)
3. Double-cleansing for congested skin (4 min)
4. The hands-off rule — and why it's the hardest part (3 min)
5. SPF and congested skin — formats that don't clog (3 min)

Approach, by use case

Salicylic acid BHA two to three times per week as the core approach. Oil-based cleanser as PM step one. Gel or foam cleanser as PM step two. Clay mask one to two times per week. Niacinamide daily to regulate sebum over time. Gel SPF every morning.

Everything we've published on congestion

• Salicylic acid — the oil-soluble BHA, how to use it
• Double cleansing for congested skin
• Pore strips — what they do and don't do
• The hands-off rule — what picking actually costs you
• Non-comedogenic SPF — what the label means
• Oil-based cleansers for congested skin — how to choose
• Clay mask as a weekly congestion tool
• Niacinamide for sebum regulation — realistic expectations
• T-zone congestion vs full-face — different approaches
• BHA vs AHA for congested skin — what to start with