You know that moment when you are happily doing your shopping and suddenly you pass by one of those super well-it mirrors? The ones that make you stop and peek to check if your skin looks OK? Yes, that moments when you see all your enlarged pores and wonser why you ahve them and if there is anything can be done about them? Well, wonder no more.
Can you shrink or close large pores?
How magical would it be to just rub a skincare product on your face, go to sleep and wake-up pore-free? Right? Not happening. Unfortunately it is simply impossible. If some company, or someone on social media tells you otherwise, feel free to go ahead and congratulate them on their amazing Photoshop skills. Pores aren’t like doors. It’s impossible to simply close them and forget they ever existed.
Although they seem to be there for the sole purpose of making you desperate and crazy, they are actually a must-have structural element of the skin. They play an important role in keeping your skin healthy and lubricated, and without them, the skin would simply dry out. There are some pore minimizing products out there, but they don’t change the size of your pores permanently. What they do is make the pores appear less visible, but this effect only lasts while you use the products.
What causes enlarged pores in the first place? Will they stay the same all your life?
The size and appearance of your pores is partially determined by your genes. Some people are just lucky to be born with less oily, thinner skin that makes pores appear smaller and less prominent. It doesn’t mean however that your pores will look exactly the same throughout your whole life. As you age, with the loss of collagen and elastin, they will probably look larger. With a lot of sun exposure and no sunscreen, the skin cells on the pores’ edges might thicken, which will make them look bigger. Factors like dirt and dead skin cells that collect inside the pores, excessive oiliness, popping pimples and bacterial growth also contribute to the not- so-pretty appearance of pores.
What can you do about them? How can you make pores appear smaller?
Since you can’t control your genes, first, just simply accept the fact that your pores are the way they are. Then, with a peaceful mind, you will be able to move ahead and address all the other factors that might be making your pores look bad.
1. To address issues of skin debris inside your pores, and to control excessive oiliness, a good and gentle cleansing is a must. Also, clays are your best friend, so don’t hesitate to make them part of your routine. They won’t let you down. You can also try an oil absorbing makeup.
2. To avoid the edges of your pores thickening and prematurely aging, use a good sunscreen. And to temporarily tighten up your pores, try witch hazel.
3. To control bacterial growth, not popping pimples and a proper exfoliation is the right solution.
4. To enjoy smaller looking pores, as well as softer and smoother skin, try some natural acids, like lactic acid, or fruit enzymes.
So, next time you pass by one of those really well-lit mirrors, you’ll know that any treatment is a temporary fix and your skin is supposed to have pores. They are super important for your health and no, you can’t make them go away. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about them.
You can keep them clean, temporarily tighten them, conceal them and prevent their condition from getting worse. Be realistic with your expectations and stay committed to products and treatments that will be the best friends of your pores – clays, sunscreen, acids and fruit enzymes peels, and astringents like witch hazel.
