I guess I mean clean out all the stuck sebum, but it is still a rather long prosess that takes about three weeks. The milder peels like 2% and 5% can be used 2-3 times a week, but with the 10-20% once a week is enough for most people. In the beginning peels can take some time getting used to.
Getting pores smaller is not just about dissolving the stuck sebum, but also reducing the constant over production of sebum. There are several skin care ingredients that have shown they can do this, both milder ones like green tea extracts and harsher ones like retinols. They seam all to be added to creams and lotions for daily use. I have not yet explored this field, I'm in the process
There are also some dermatologist treatments that reduce the size of oil glands permanently with one treatment, and with that also the production of sebum, but I am rather reluctant to go for that. Skin changes over the years and at some point most people have dry skin. Then what about those shrunken oil glands? I need to look further into that too.
If you try to make your own salicylic peel: the salicylic powder is most often dissolved in propylene glycol or propylene glycol / alcohol blend, my bottle also lists triethanolamine what ever that is. The first two can be found in drugstores and online. It is possible to dissolve the salicylic acid in glycerin too, but I have never come across these products my self. Glycerin as solvent is suppose to be good for dry skin.
I am over 30 now and at the moment I use 20% salicylic / 30% lactic peel to resurface my skin. Rather strong stuff, but my skin has never been better.