by Susan Smalls

Created on: July 14, 2009

We've all seen the commercials for pore cleansing strips, and those of us who have used them have felt the sick satisfaction of looking at the strip afterwards and seeing all the junk that it pulled off our face. As a result, we become addicted to them, knowing that they work because we can see the evidence afterwards. However, these pore cleansing strips can be quite expensive once we start using them every day. As women, we always want to look our best, so we try not to think about how much money we are spending when trying to look our best. But looking our best does not have to be quite as expensive when it comes to cleaning out our pores. There are quite a few remedies that can be made for much cheaper than the name brand strips, and they work just as well too.

The best recipe that I found combines milk and unflavored gelatin. To create the mixture, add one tablespoon of gelatin with one and a half tablespoons of milk into a microwavable bowl. Mix the ingredients together and add a couple more drops of milk if the mixture is too dry. Microwave on high for ten seconds, and then stir. Apply the mixture to your skin with a make-up brush and let it completely dry before peeling it off.

A similar paste can also be made by combining baking soda with water or a liquid facial cleanser, and some people have even used toothpaste to clear out their pores.

Along with toothpaste, some people also use Elmer's glue or duct tape to peel all the dirt out from inside their pores. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have tried both glue and duct tape, and although they did clean out my pores and leave a smooth feeling on my skin, it was more painful than the gelatin recipe above.

I have even heard off people who take the transparent part of the inside of an egg and place it on their face. After allowing it to dry, they peel it off and swear that it works just as well as the expensive strips. However, this one, along with the toothpaste, I have not yet tried.

If you have sensitive skin, some of these remedies above may not work well for you, and it might be best to just stick with you know works for your skin. In some cases, buying the strips that you know work without irritation to your skin might be the best case for you. However, instead of continuing to buy the expensive name brand strips, you might want to look into the store-brand or generic ones to save you money in the long run.

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