According to Koro, most people aren't exfoliating their skin properly which leads to a buildup of dead skin and oil on the skin's surface, and voilà, clogged pores.
"A lot of people don't know that using these acids is a form of exfoliating," said Koro. "They think they need a physical scrub." And while scrubs are great for addressing uneven texture in the skin, she explained that scrubs are not going to address blackheads.
To address the actual gunk in your pores, you need something "spicy" — that's what Koro calls chemical exfoliators. "Those wonderful acids are really emulsifying all that buildup that we have in our pores, she said. "So, the minute someone feels something spicy, they automatically confuse it for irritation or an allergic reaction, but really, it's not. Think of it as giving your skin a good workout."
Depending on your skin type and its unique sensitivity, Koro recommends using a gentle chemical exfoliator two to three times a week to see results. If you're looking for "spicy" product recommendations, she is sharing a few, ahead.