Enlarged pores are a very widespread skin issue that a lot of people face. A common way to deal with it is to conceal enlarged pores using primers, foundation and powder, but this is only a temporary measure, which doesn’t even always work and sometimes leads to clogged pores, blackheads and pimples. Therefore, the best way to minimise the appearance of pores is to take proper care of your skin.
Pores are an integral part of the skin structure. They are small openings in the skin where hairs emerge from hair follicles; in addition, they release sweat and skin oil (sebum). Normally, the pore size is so small that they are almost invisible unless you look really close, but if pores are clogged with excess sebum, dirt and dead epidermal cells, they can “stretch” and become larger than usual.
In addition, pores can become enlarged with age. This happens because your skin starts producing less collagen as you age, which makes it lose its natural firmness and elasticity. As a result, mature skin is often characterised by enlarged pores.
Due to the beauty industry with its perfect photos in glossy magazines and Instagram filters that can easily make your skin look flawless, enlarged pores are perceived by many as a cosmetic defect. However, in reality, they are variation of normal; the real problem is that enlarged pores can get clogged with skin oil, dirt and dead cells, which leads to inflammation and breakouts.
That is why you can and you should try to minimise enlarged pores. Luckily, there are many procedures and cosmetic products that help to tighten pores and reduce their appearance, both in beauty salons and at home, and it’s possible for you to choose the ones that will be the most effective in your particular case. Here are a few general tips that will help you to minimise enlarged pores and prevent their clogging.
Cleanse Your Skin Properly
Skin with enlarged pores needs regular and proper cleansing. For example, you can try a two-step face washing routine: first, remove impurities and excess oil using an oil-based cleanser, and then wash your face with a delicate gel or foaming cleanser.
When choosing a skin cleansing product, make sure it contains ingredients that help to tighten pores and prevent inflammation. They include, but are not limited to, salicylic acid, lemon or cucumber extract, cosmetic clay (kaolin, bentonite, fuller’s earth, etc.), sage, tea tree and eucalyptus extracts or essential oils, oak bark extract, and more.
Use Toner
Many people think that skin toners are just a marketing trick to make people buy more unnecessary cosmetic products, but they’re wrong. Skin toners have several functions: they help to remove residual impurities, balance the skin’s pH and tighten pores. Look for toners that contain herbal extracts with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.
Exfoliate Dead Skin Cells
Your skin is constantly renewing. Normally, dead skin cells are removed from its surface when your wash your face, but if you have enlarged pores, some of the dead cells get stuck in there, which results in blackheads and pimples. To prevent clogged pores, you should exfoliate once or twice a week to slough off dead cells from the skin surface.
However, many beauticians advise against using mechanical exfoliants (scrubs) because exfoliating particles can scratch the skin and strip it off moisture, which results in increased sebum secretion. Chemical peels are a safer and more gentle alternative to scrubs; they are formulated with organic acids and/or enzymes that dissolve excess sebum in the pores and gently remove dead cells from the surface of the skin. For example, salicylic acid is considered one of the best chemical exfoliants.
Moisturise. Moisturise. Moisturise
Proper hydration is vital for all skin types, but it is especially important for skin with enlarged pores or other issues. When your skin has enough moisture, it retains its natural firmness and elasticity, which prevents pores from “stretching” and becoming larger than normal.
If you have enlarged pores, you should opt for moisturising products that are able to provide your skin with enough moisture but have a light texture to prevent pore clogging. Common active ingredients used in such products include aloe vera leaf juice or gel, hyaluronic acid, squalane, aquaporins, algae extracts, thermal water, cucumber, lavender and rose hydrolates (herbal distillates), and more.
Try Absorbent Face Masks
Since enlarged pores are almost always accompanied by increased sebum secretion, absorbent face masks that help to remove excess oil from the skin surface and normalise the production of sebum can contribute to minimising enlarged pores. To keep your pores in check, use mattifying face masks with absorbent, cleansing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients once or twice a week.
For example, clay-based masks are considered especially good for this purpose. In addition to absorbing excess oil and various impurities, cosmetic clays provide the skin with minerals, produce a cleansing effect, stimulate microcirculation in the epidermis, and make the skin smooth and supple. Some of the most popular cosmetic clays include kaolin (commonly known as white clay, although it isn’t necessarily white), fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and bentonite.
Use Pore Tightening Products
If you have enlarged pores, your skincare routine should include cosmetic products that are specifically designed to tighten pores. As a rule, such products contain niacinamide (vitamin B3), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or retinoids (vitamin A); they can come in different forms, including creams, fluids, serums, etc.
Ascorbic acid and retinoids have long been known as effective ingredients for stimulating collagen synthesis and boosting skin elasticity and firmness. As a result, they help to make skin pores less visible, especially when it comes to ageing or mature skin. Niacinamide helps the skin to retain moisture and produce ceramides; as a result, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles, prevents dull complexion and minimises pores.
Enlarged pores are a very common skin issue; luckily, if you follow the above recommendations, you will easily make them less visible and prevent clogging and breakouts. In our online shop Organic Store, you will always find effective natural and organic products with pore tightening properties that will help to make your skin smooth and radiant.
Pore Tightening Products in Our Store
Aromatika Collagen Face Mask, 35 g |