Why do I get blemishes even though I wash my face?

Because cleansing removes what is on the surface, but it does not stop the sebum that the skin continues to produce throughout the day, nor does it refine the pores. Imperfections appear when that excess sebum and dead skin cells accumulate inside the pore. Skin prone to imperfections needs a complete and consistent routine, not just a good cleanser.

Among those who have taken our online skin analysis, one in three people say they have skin with imperfections. It is the most common skin type.

What happens inside the pore

Every pore is the opening of a sebaceous gland. Sebum travels up this channel to lubricate the surface, and along the way, it encounters dead cells that the skin sheds constantly. If there is too much sebum or the cells do not shed properly, a plug forms. Exposed to the air, that plug oxidizes and looks dark: this is a blackhead. No morning cleanse prevents this process from continuing throughout the rest of the day.

Why cleansing is not enough

Over-cleansing is the most common mistake. Washing your face many times a day, with very hot water, or with a product that leaves your skin feeling tight, strips away the lipid barrier that protects it. The skin is left feeling uncomfortable, and the shine returns quickly.

Another mistake is not moisturizing. Many people with oily skin skip cream for fear of shine, but fat and water are different things: sebum is oil, and skin can have plenty of oil but little water. When dehydrated, it doesn't look more matte; it looks uncomfortable and dull.

Then there is what accumulates during the day. Sebum, dead cells, and traces of makeup or sunscreen continue to reach the pore after the morning cleanser. And there is consistency: a routine that changes every week doesn't show any results, because the skin needs weeks, not days.

A five-step routine

The order follows a logic: cleanse gently, balance, treat the area that needs it, and moisturize with a light texture.

1. A cleanser that does not dry out

For combination to oily skin, the Purifying Cleansing Gel from the Pure Menthe line has a fresh gel texture. Apply to a damp face in the morning and/or evening, massage, and rinse. In a satisfaction study with 25 volunteers, 92% stated that their skin felt soft and looked matte, and 80% felt their pores looked smaller. These are perceptions from those who used it, not clinical measurements.

2. A lotion that balances

The Mattifying Tonic Lotion from Sebo Active Clear is applied with a cotton pad, morning and night, after cleansing. It is enriched with natural succinic acid. Here we do have a measurement: we measured -64% skin oiliness in a clinical study of 21 cases.

3. A serum for imperfections

The Anti-Imperfection Serum combines macroalgae with 2.1% natural succinic acid. Its texture is fluid, light, and milky, and it is applied morning and night to clean, dry skin, before your cream. In a clinical scoring of 25 cases, used together with the lotion and the Sebo Active treatment, we measured -35% fewer blackheads in 1 week. This data applies to the whole regimen, not the serum separately.

4. A cream that hydrates without clogging

The Anti-Imperfection Cream is applied after the serum, morning and night. We formulated it not to clog pores, while hydrating and mattifying; in a satisfaction test of 95 cases, 88% reported their skin was mattified. If you prefer an even lighter texture, the Zero Defects Mattifying Gel Cream is for combination to oily skin.

5. Once or twice a week, something deeper

The Charcoal Pore-Cleansing Mask is used 1 to 2 times a week on clean skin, left on for 5 minutes, and rinsed with water. It complements the routine; using it daily would strip more from the skin than it needs.

All these products are in the imperfections collection, and cleansers are in facial cleansing.

Habits that change the result

• Remove makeup and sunscreen every night. Even if you don't wear makeup, sunscreen remains on the skin and reaches the pore.
• Do not touch or squeeze imperfections. Manipulating them prolongs the mark.
• Change your pillowcase frequently and clean your cell phone screen, which spends a good part of the day against your cheek.
• Use sunscreen every day, even with oily skin, in a light texture. We provide guidance on how to choose sunscreen in Colombia. In the humid heat of Barranquilla or Cali, a fluid is better tolerated than a dense cream.
• Give it time. With the serum, we see results in 1 week and visible improvement in 4 weeks. Evaluate your routine after a month, not three days.

When to slow down

Products for imperfections contain active ingredients. The lotion and cream can cause discomfort due to their efficacy: do not use them on irritated skin and discontinue use if irritation occurs. Always avoid the eye contour and lips.

If your skin also reddens easily, start with fewer steps and add more gradually; we explain this in skin that reddens easily: how to build a gentle routine. If imperfections are very extensive, painful, or do not improve with a consistent routine, consult a dermatologist.

Frequently asked questions

Does washing my face more often help with imperfections?

No. Two cleanses a day, morning and night, are sufficient. Over-cleansing leaves skin feeling tight and does not prevent shine from returning.

If I have oily skin, can I skip moisturizer?

It is not recommended. Oily skin also needs hydration, because sebum is oil, not water; what changes is the texture. Look for a light cream or gel cream designed for combination to oily skin.

How long does it take for an anti-imperfection routine to show results?

It depends on each skin type. With the Anti-Imperfection Serum, we see initial results in 1 week and visible improvement in skin quality in 4 weeks, when used with the lotion and cream from the same line.

How often should I use a charcoal mask?

The Charcoal Pore-Cleansing Mask is used 1 or 2 times a week on clean skin, leaving it on for 5 minutes before rinsing.

How do I know what skin type I have?

You can take our online facial analysis: it's 8 questions and takes less than a minute. At the end, it recommends a routine based on your answers.