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CLOSED COMEDONES | How I cleared my clogged pores, routine and products

Natalie O'Neill

151,292 views

I just launched my FREE retinoid guide here: https://stan.store/natalieoneilll/p/h...

A deep dive into how I fixed my closed comedones (clogged pores) and my advice to you on how to improve yours, if you’d like to.

Below are all of the links I mentioned in the video, as well as links to products. Some of the links are affiliate, which means I may make a small commission if you decide to purchase something. Let me know what I should film next!

00:00 Intro
02:17 What are clogged pores
02:42 Causes of closed comedones
07:38 What caused my closed comedones
10:51 What I changed to remove my closed comedones
14:07 Why I choose a retinoid instead of acids
15:22 How retinoids work
17:22 Pore clogging ingredients
18:58 My exact routine with products
24:50 Alternative products
25:29 The best starter retinoid
27:48 What to expect when you start a retinoid
29:24 The purge
33:15 Advice for best results
35:05 Adding new products into your routine
37:04 How often to use a retinoid

Other useful links

FREE Retinoid Guide - https://stan.store/natalieoneilll/p/h...
Ask Me Anything on Substack - https://substack.com/chat/5168294
ALL Product Recommendations - https://shopmy.us/shop/natalieoneill
My Exact Skincare Routine - https://stan.store/natalieoneilll/p/m...

My personal routine

Oil cleanser https://jordansamuelskin.com/products...
Water based cleanser (discount code NATALIEONEIL) https://collabs.shop/zptqqg
Barrier serum https://amzn.to/3U09FaO
Moisturiser https://amzn.to/4aPFhGY
SPF https://ultraviolette.co.uk/products/...
Retinoid - Differin/adapalene (prescription)
Discontinued retinoid - Avene Triacneal

Other links

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@natalie_oneillll
Instagram - www.instagram.com/natalieoneilllll
Skincare blog - www.natalieoneilll.com

20 Comments

@rainydays72 2 years ago Pinned

I love that ur most watched video is the Mary had a little lamb dubleat remix 12 years ago 😂

@thisizshortlycherifa7810 1 year ago

Textured skin is normal but its also normal to try to improve it

@ih8usernamezalot 2 years ago

"Its very rude" bro I felt that in my soul

@E.Maxted 2 years ago

Please keep posting girl

@mariaineslibrarium7690 2 years ago

Having you on YouTube is the best thing ever ❤️

@missmagnum5861 2 years ago

I am honestly so confused by all the suggestions. I have comedonal acne and honestly haven´t find a perfect balance in my skincare despite being "in the game" for three years. Honestly my biggest concerns are, that you get so many different suggestions from experts. Like for example use a salcily acid wash in the evening. And incooparte a retinol. But don´t over exfoliate and don´t use retinol with an acid. I honestly don´t know what to do.

@seska__ 2 years ago

So glad to see you on YouTube! This was such a great breakdown 😄Your tiktok videos helped me so much with my clog prone skin - I started using the cetaphil moisturizer (US version, but I think the formula is still pretty similar) because of you and it's made such a difference in the random CCs I would get along my cheeks!

@JulietaPirraglia 2 years ago

Hi Natalie, love this video & I really hope you keep posting! Love your tiktoks and blog, but also getting the info in a long-form video is soooo good!!

Some ideas for future videos:
-Hormonal acne and products
-Sunscreen recommendations
-Non prescription retinoids recommendations
-Barrier support recommendations
-Why don't you cleanse in the morning
-Products that you hate and why
-How to deal with a compromised skin barrier

Hope you have a lovely day & thank you for your advice!!

@msl1689 2 years ago

Unfortunately, I can't oil cleanse. I've tried several different types of oil cleansers and all of them have broken me out. I ended up with closed comedones all over my face.

@Lina-ok6zr 1 month ago

"It's almost like taking your skin to pilates" 😍 ok ok ok!!!!

@nlovart6721 2 years ago

I was gonna download TikTok just to go back to your videos but here it issss a whole 39 min video! Thank youuuuu

@gulnarismayill 1 year ago

CeraVe moisturiser was causing me closed comedones and blackheads on my forehead and nose area, and i was using it long enough, because my skin is dry and thought that i need a thick moisturiser, but as i changed to water based moisturiser (Neutrogena hydro boost), ive seen the result from the 1st usage, i was shocked, my nose was never as pure as now, like there's no blackheads at all

@strawbeeycookietea 8 days ago

How do prevent picking at them? I literally cant help it no matter what

@mayararibeiro6988 1 year ago

I just LOVE yoir instagram content (I'm still learning how to use tiktok) and I ADORE the longer videos on youtube! Retinol amd azelaic acid have changed my skin! And it was thanks to you that I got the routine that is working for me!

@lea-so5hc 2 years ago (edited)

Hi Natalie! Currently on my 2nd week (14th April) of using differin to sort out my acne. My texture seems to have gotten worse and it seems that there are a lot more closed comedones on my cheeks and forehead (where my main acne issue was) but the redness is going down.
I’m going to keep you everyone updated on my journey!!
Current routine:
cetaphil moisturiser
simple face wash
Differin gel

April 19th: a lot of texture has gone down on my right cheek, however still a lot of texture on my left cheek and forehead.
I’m planning to bump up the use of differin from 2x a week to 3x a week as my skin has tolerated 2x for 4 weeks now.
🤪

30th April: both cheeks seem to be a lot less red and the closed comedones have flatten down massively!! Still a lot of small spots left though and still tiny spots on my forehead. I’ve increased the frequency of using differin to 4x per week

@LC-sd4yl 2 years ago

And what if the skin is very sensitive, that double cleansing damages the skin barrier 😭😭 my condition atm, if I use double cleansing method, it damages my barrier and if I don’t my pores get super clogged 😭😭 help please

@lilaand1844 2 months ago

I feel like ive tried so many different oil cleansers/tried so much double cleansers through the years and they always give me acne within a few days. Same with micellar water, it just irritates my skin, even the ones everyone swears are so mild. Right now im using dermalogicas daily microfoliant almost every day to get rid of my spf, but im sure its damaging my skin barrier as well, but with just my cleanser (face formula daily gel cleanser) it doesnt seem to get the spf off. Atleast its gotten a bit better since i changed spf to a korean one thats not waterproof.