I’m going to let you in on a little skincare truth: it is not possible to get rid of large pores.
Heres the scoop: The size of our pores typically depends on our genetics. Contrary to popular belief, they do not have any muscles surrounding them which would be necessary for them to open and close. Overtime, pores tend to get clogged and may appear larger and darker. They can also expand due to loss of collagen and elastin. When oil collects in the pore and combines with dirt or makeup, the pore can become blocked. This stretches the pore, making it look bigger than it is. If the pore remains clogged, a pustule may develop.
Although we can not get rid of enlarged pores, there are a few ways to minimize the appearance of them.
Avoid pore clogging products.
If you are oily and acne prone, avoiding products that are comedogenic will clog pores. There are many comedogenicity scales you can find online. This scale rates products from 0-5, 0 being will not clog pores to 5 being highly pore clogging. Just to name a few - coconut oil, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate, carrot seed oil and shea butter - these are high on the pore clogging scale. Check your skincare and makeup products to ensure you aren’t using pore clogging products
Salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid is a BHA or beta hydroxy acid is one of my favorite products to recommend for my clients struggling with backheads. Salicylic acid is oil soluble, and works by dissolving the debris that clogs the pore and causes acne. The ingredient can penetrate so deeply into skin that actually breaks down the connections between skin cells.
Face masks.
Not just any face masks but using masks with ingredients like charcoal and clay once or twice a week can help to draw out excess oil and dirt from the skin. Be sure to remove the clay mask as soon as its dry. Leaving clay masks on for an extended period of time may result in over production of oil.
Microneedling.
This treatment has amazing benefits all around but one benefit is minimizing pore size. By creating micro-injuries to the skin, collagen and elastin is stimulated resulting in smoother skin with less visible pores
Professional treatments.
Monthly facials: Professional extractions are a must to remove all the built up dirt and debris thats trapped under the surface. Have a whole blog post about their benefits here!
There you have it! The truth about pore size. If you have any questions, reach out to myself or your local esthetician for more information.