CLOGGED PORES
and unread texts
By Liv, emotionally drained, barrier-compromised, still glowing
There’s something about summer in the city. The heat, the iced lattes, the rooftop flings. The sweat-soaked walk home from said flings. And the inevitable moment I stare at my phone, pores congested, heart slightly too, wondering if maybe — just maybe — I need to detox more than just my T-zone. Let’s be honest: my pores aren’t the only ones full of stuff they don’t need. Sunscreen, pollution, “hey you up?” texts… there’s buildup everywhere. The more I ghosted my cleanser, the more he ghosted me. And while I didn’t get closure in my situationship, I did get a whitehead right in the middle of my chin. Balance?
When you don’t cleanse your day off (Or your DMs)
Clogged pores aren’t always about the wrong product. Sometimes, it’s about skipping the right ones. I learned that the hard way after sleeping over (mistake no. 1), using his 3-in-1 shower gel on my face (mistake no. 2), and forgetting I’m a human being with a barrier to protect (final mistake).
Enter: my revenge routine. A proper jelly cleanser (non-stripping, obviously), a toner that didn’t burn, and a gel cream that made me feel like the main character even while ghosted. Oh, and SPF — because clarity takes time, but sun damage doesn’t.
What I Learned from my congested skin
My skin was yelling for a reset — just like I was. Turns out, double cleansing and cutting off emotionally unavailable people have the same effect: instant glow. And while I can’t stop the city from being sticky, or my ex from watching my stories at 2AM, I can keep my pores clear and my standards higher.
So next time your face (or your inbox) feels heavy, take a breath, grab your cleanser, and delete the text. One clears your skin. The other clears your energy.
Glow tip: Store your jelly cleanser in the fridge. Cold product + warm city = instant clarity. For your pores and your brain.
You can’t swipe away clogged pores
I used to think I could scroll my stress away. Dating apps, memes, skincare hacks I’d never actually try. But no filter can fake a glow if your skin is screaming under layers of SPF, makeup, and the emotional debris of “what are we?” conversations. Turns out, your skin knows when you’re spiraling — and it will show you in the form of surprise texture.
So I did what any glowing girl would do: I started treating my face the way I wished he’d treated my feelings. Gently, consistently, and with zero alcohol (in my toner and in my choices). Was it over the top to romanticize my skincare routine? Maybe. But who needs bare-minimum flings when you’ve got barrier-boosting rituals and a glow that claps back?