If you have naturally small pores which are almost invisible to the naked eye, then there’s no need to read on, but, if you are one of the rest of us who has pores which, from time to time, are far more prominent than we’d like, this post is for you.
The first thing to say about your pores is that you’ll never fully “get rid” of them since they contain hair follicles and help our skin to release sweat and oils (they may drive us mad sometimes, but we do need them). However, while we may not be able to get rid of them, we can do things to make our pores appear smaller.
One cause of large pores can be congestion (of the skin rather than the breathing variety). Signs of skin congestion include blackheads, oiliness, and a bumpy appearance to the skin. If this is the case, using a product which contains some salicylic acid could help, as can using a vitamin A skin serum. Salicylic acid is an exfoliating acid which dissolves debris and sebum deep down in the pores – thereby freeing them up so they can shrink back into shape.
The vitamin A serum could help if your pores have been stretched for a long time. Over time, skin loses elasticity and doesn’t snap back into shape as easily. Vitamin A helps to boost the production of collagen and elastin, which should give you skin that is tauter and able to return to its small-pored shape.
Another easy thing you can do to help reduce your pore size is to exfoliate regularly; to keep your skin and your pores clear (one to three times a week is best). If you over-exfoliate you’re likely to create tiny breaks in the skin that lead to more loss of hydration and inflammation, so don’t exfoliate every night.
Also, try to moisturise regularly. As strange as this may sound, especially if you have naturally oily skin, moisturising will help. With no moisture at all, our skin becomes dehydrated and begins to try and correct this by producing more oil. If you moisturise using products that don’t have excess oil in them, this should help to keep the oiliness at bay while still keeping your skin dewy and hydrated.
Finally, it’s worth noting that pores and their relative size is a genetic thing, and to an extent, if you have large-pore genes you won’t be able to make them that much smaller. Hopefully, these tips should help though
