Pores: We all have them. The lucky ones have skin that appears as smooth as glass, while many of us have pores that are large and in charge. But what exactly are pores? What causes enlarged pores? And how do you minimize their appearance? Well, put on your learning caps, because we’re here to teach you how to minimize the appearance of pores.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Keeping your skin clean and balanced, as well as using plumping products like a hyaluronic serum, are some of the best ways to minimize the look of large pores.
Good to Know: You can’t actually shrink the size of your pores, but certain products can help make them appear smaller.
Recommended Products: So Clean! Facial Cleanser, Rose and Shine Rose Water Toner, ‘A’ Game Retinol Serum, Youth Fairy Retinol Moisturizer, and Prince Charcoal Detox Mask.
What Are Pores?
Pores are openings in your skin that allow sweat and oil to leave the lower layers of your skin and get to the surface. Your skin is an organ of elimination (and the body’s largest organ!) Both sweat and oil are necessary functions of healthy skin, and pores are their pathway to the surface. While pores are necessary, large pores can often lead to an uneven looking complexion.
What Causes Large Pores? Why Are My Pores So Big?
There are many factors that determine pore size, and unfortunately you can’t permanently change the size of your pores. The most common causes of large pores are:
- Genetics - This is the biggest reason you may have large pores. Certain skin types (especially those with oily skin) tend to have larger pores. If you have family members with large pores, chances are you will, too.
- Age - As skin ages, it loses its elasticity, making pores appear larger.
- Skin type - If you have oily skin, it means your skin produces an excess of sebum, which can result in larger-looking pores.
- Sun exposure - Sun exposure can damage your skin, making it less firm. Protecting your skin from the sun will help keep it firm and make your pores appear smaller.
- Clogged pores - When makeup, dirt, and other impurities are trapped in your pores, it can stretch them and make them look larger.
How to Minimize the Appearance of Pores
While you can’t actually change the physical size of your pores, there are things you can do to reduce the appearance of pore size. It really comes down to committing to the right skin care routine for you. We’ve broken down the best skin care routine steps and products for those who want to shrink the appearance of pores naturally.
1. Cleanser
Making sure your skin is clean of excess dirt and oil is the first thing you should do to help minimize the look of large pores. Our skin is exposed to dust and other pollutants from your environment throughout the day (and even when you sleep), and excess oils and sweat can clog your pores. It’s especially important to cleanse your skin morning and evening to clean your skin and pores clean.
Best Cleansers for Large Pores
Olehenriksen: Find your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
Olehenriksen Find your Balance Oil Control Cleanser uses glycolic and lactic acids to help clear away dead skin cells.
Fleur & Bee: So Clean! Facial Cleanser
Fleur & Bee offers So Clean!, a coconut oil based cleanser that gently removes dirt, oil and makeup, with a hint of pink grapefruit peel oil to balance your skin.
2. Exfoliator or Mask
Exfoliants can help to clear out excess dirt and oil from your pores for a deeper clean. However, over-exfoliating can irritate your skin, so it should only be done 1-3 times per week.
There are two different types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants often use granules of natural ingredients like coffee, sugar, or sea salt, to physically scrub your skin. While effective, they can irritate sensitive skin.
Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, use acids like glycolic acid or lactic acid to dissolve dead skin cells, excess oil, and dirt. Don’t be afraid of the terms chemical and acid– ingredients such as glycolic, lactic or beta hydroxy acids are derived from plants and work on a molecular level to gently exfoliate your skin, without being abrasive.
Best Physical Exfoliant for Large Pores
Aveda: Botanical Kinetics Radiant Skin Refiner
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Radiant Skin Refiner is a clay based exfoliant that uses bamboo and the energy of tourmaline to refine and smooth your skin.
Best Chemical Exfoliant for Large Pores
Tata Harper: Resurfacing BHA Glow Mask
Tata Harper’s resurfacing BHA glow mask uses beta hydroxy acid from willow bark to help cleanse your skin.
A detox mask is another great way to give your skin a deep cleanse and should also only be used 1-3 times a week. To keep from irritating your skin, you should alternate days you exfoliate and use a mask. Look for masks that use activated charcoal and clay to draw out impurities and smooth your skin.
Best Mask for Large Pores
Fleur & Bee: Prince Charcoal Detox Mask
Fleur & Bee’s Prince Charcoal Detox Mask combines coconut charcoal, kaolin clay, glycolic acid and bentonite clay to purify your pores, and organic reishi mushroom and pomegranate enzyme to reinvigorate your skin. It has a pleasant scent of ylang ylang flower oil, and includes rosehip oil, squalane and aloe vera to replenish and nourish your skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth after use.
3. Toner
This step can often be overlooked because people may not understand the purpose of a toner, but a toner can help reduce the appearance of pore size, cleanse, and hydrate skin.
Use a toner twice a day after you cleanse, but steer clear of toners that have high concentrations of alcohol. Instead look for botanical-based toners featuring tea tree oil, witch hazel, or rose water to balance your skin. Toners can be applied by spritzing, on a cotton pad, or directly to the skin.
Best Toners for Large Pores
Farmacy: Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner with Moringa + Papaya
Farmacy’s Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner with Moringa + Papaya provides gentle exfoliation, as well as toning, and can be used daily.
Fleur & Bee: Rose and Shine Rose Water Toner
Fleur & Bee’s Rose and Shine Rose Water toner, which contains two nourishing actives – rose water and glycerin – to hydrate and balance your skin.
4. Serum
One way to make your pores seem smaller is to use products that plump your skin and even your skin tone. That’s where a good serum comes in. Look for serums that include smoothing, plumping ingredients such as squalane and hyaluronic acid, as well as those with AHAs and BHAs (alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids). Retinol is also a great skincare ingredient for keeping your pores clear, smoothing your skin in the process.
Best Serums for Large Pores
Biossance: Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum is an overnight serum aimed at refining your pores with lactic acid, an AHA.
Fleur & Bee: ‘A’ Game Retinol Serum
Our ‘A’ Game retinol serum harnesses the power of retinol, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to purify, plump, and balance your skin, resulting in a smooth and glowing complexion.
5. Moisturizer
Some mistakenly think that if you have large pores or oily skin, you don’t need to moisturize, but that’s not exactly true. Moisturizing after you cleanse helps to balance your skin’s natural oils. Look for moisturizers that include ingredients that balance your skin (i.e., squalane, jojoba oil) and help to keep your pores clear, such as retinol.
Best Face Creams for Large Pores
Fleur & Bee: Youth Fairy Retinol Moisturizer
Fleur & Bee’s Youth Fairy Retinol Moisturizer contains aloe, jojoba oil and squalane to both moisturize and balance your skin. It is gentle on the skin and includes retinol to help reduce the appearance of large pores; plus, it works wonders on lines, wrinkles and dark spots, too!
Youth to the People: Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
Youth to the People’s Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid is a lightweight moisturizer filled with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to protect and plump your skin.
We also recommend using a separate eye cream to moisturize your eye area. However, large pores around your eyes really aren’t an issue, so look for an eye cream to address other issues, such as dark circles, puffiness, or fine lines.
If you do find that some of the pores near your eyes are clogged, there’s a good chance that your eye makeup isn’t being properly removed. Be sure to remove all your makeup, every day, before cleansing your skin.
6. Sunscreen
The final step in your morning routine should be to apply sunscreen. Wear sunscreen every single day, even if it’s cold or cloudy. The sun can damage your skin and weaken its elasticity, leading to larger looking pores. Look for mineral sunscreens that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as opposed to other chemical ingredients that can be harmful to your skin and health.
Best Sunscreen for Large Pores
Bare Republic: Mineral SPF 30 Face Sunscreen gel-lotion
Bare Republic’s Mineral SPF 30 Face Sunscreen gel-lotion has a nice matte finish and is cruelty-free and reef safe.
Other Tips for How to Make Appearance of Pores Smaller
- Don’t touch your face - Touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your skin. Avoid picking at clogged pores and breakouts, as it can damage your skin, stretch out your pores, and lead to scarring.
- Avoid heavy foundation - A heavy foundation can clog your pores, making them appear even larger. Opt for clean beauty products that are lightweight, such as a tinted moisturizer or loose mineral powder foundation to blur imperfections.
- Talk to your dermatologist - Your dermatologist can prescribe medications or perform treatments that you can’t get anywhere else. If you’re not satisfied with your regular routine, you can always consult with them about your concerns.
- Stop stressing over it - Pore size is not something you can actually change; so do what you can to minimize the look of them, as discussed above- and then embrace your face!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pores
How can I unclog pores on my nose?
Cleansing twice a day and using an exfoliant 1-3 times a week should do the trick. You may be tempted to use a pore strip on your nose, but they can actually irritate your skin, causing more harm than good. To get the most out of your cleanser and exfoliator, dampen a washcloth with warm water and hold it on your nose and face for 30 seconds to a minute before cleansing. This will help to loosen your pores allowing for a deeper cleanse. Then rinse your products off with cool water to help tighten your pores back up. You can also try using a facial steamer before you mask, to get the best results out of a clay-based mask.
Why did my pores get bigger all of a sudden?
They probably didn’t. Pore size is genetic and can’t be changed. However, there are things that can make your pores appear larger, such as sun exposure, clogged pores, age, or heavy makeup. Be sure to cleanse your face twice a day and use sunscreen to protect your skin from further damage.
What do large pores mean?
Large pore size doesn’t mean anything other than you have large pores. The size of your pores is determined by your genes. To reduce the appearance of pore size, be sure to follow a daily skincare routine that at minimum includes washing your face, moisturizing, and using sunscreen.
Are large pores bad?
Not at all! Pores are an essential part of your skin’s natural function. The biggest factor in determining your pore size is genetics. You can’t actually change the size of your pores, but you can make them appear smaller by washing your face everyday, moisturizing, and using sunscreen. Exfoliating regularly also helps.
Do pores get bigger as you get older?
Technically, no. Your pore size doesn’t change, but as you age, your skin loses firmness, which can cause your pores to look larger.
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