How Can You Reduce Enlarged Pores?

I’m going to start today’s post with complete honesty, and that is however hard you try, you will never be able to rid the skin of your pores. Pores are a vital part of the skin structure and you simply can’t have skin without them. For some of us however, enlarged pores are a daily concern and although you won’t be able to erase them completely you can treat them effectively making them less visible to the naked eye.

So, with this in mind, I am going to investigate the best way of reducing enlarged pores, keeping the skin healthy and answer some of your questions along the way. Let’s jump right in and unclog (get it?) some of the mystery and skin myths surrounding our pores.

How can I tighten my enlarged pores?

Not wanting to burst anyone’s bubbles, but to tighten an enlarged pore is not an overnight success. It takes some dedication and introducing various potent skincare ingredients and daily habits to keep your skin looking healthy and pores clear.

Here are the main changes in your routine that will have the most impact at tightening your pores:

Wear a daily SPF

I feel as though I am constantly shouting from the rooftops about the importance of wearing a daily SPF of 30 and above. I haven’t gone completely mad, there is good reason for this slight obsession and that is due to the fact SPF not only protects the skin from getting sunburnt but can keep the skin’s barrier fully functioning and not suffering from any damage caused by exposure to free radicals that occur in the sun’s UV rays, as well as other environmental aggressors such as pollution and central heating. With this protective layer on the skin you will keep damaging impurities out and your pores clear, but not only that, the sun breaks down the skin’s collagen which over time will lead to the face becoming saggy and any larger pores will stretch an appear more noticeable.

Introduce a retinol product

Retinol is vitamin A and provides abundant amounts of skin benefits for the skin, from combating acne, to reducing the appearance of wrinkles. This clever ingredient can also turn its magic to pesky large pores! It has the ability to increase the production of collagen and stimulates the oil production, resulting in the skin decreasing the amount it produces meaning the pores do not get clogged and stretched by a build-up of excess sebum. By topically applying a product containing retinol over time you will find your skin becomes smoother, less frequent breakouts, no blackheads and pores tightened.

Introducing retinol into your routine is unfortunately not a quick process, but the results you are left with are without fault! If you are wanting to know more about retinol and how it would work in your daily skincare routine, check out our blog post about the benefits of retinol and why it’s so good for the skin.

Get laser treatment

If you are finding your enlarged pores to be severe there is the option of laser treatments which vary in intensity. Many skin specialists find the less-invasive treatment called Laser Genesis is the most effective as it helps stimulate the deeper layers of the skin and plumps the skin giving you a flawless and smoother looking complexion. The downside, it is a costly procedure and must be performed by a fully trained professional after you have consulted a dermatologist about which product is best for you and your skin concerns.

Is there a treatment to reduce pore size?

As mentioned previously, laser treatment is the best way to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. However, it is known for being costly and so many have praised the modern formulations of makeup to provide short term benefits to making large pores less visible. Primers in particular that are regularly considered hybrids of skincare and makeup products can “fill” in any enlarged pores giving the skin a flawless finish. If you decide to use these products or ones similar it is vital you practise a thorough skincare routine, ensuring the face is fully cleansed and all traces of makeup removed every night.

How can I have poreless skin?

This is an impossible task as all skin has pores, however, there are some tips on how to keep the pores clear and prevent them from becoming stretched.

1. Keep the skin clean- ensure you cleanse the skin every night, removing all impurities, dirt and left-over makeup that can clog the pores and cause them to become enlarged with blackheads and spots.
2. Use a chemical exfoliating toner containing AHAs, such as glycolic acid and BHAs, like salicylic acid that works its way deep into the lower layers of the skin and keeps the pores clean.
3. Apply a daily SPF, as I have shared the importance of sticking to this step previously, I want to encourage you all to use it every day, yes, even on cloudy days as UVA rays are always present.
4. Following the skin advise I mentioned earlier in this post will also keep your pores clear and looking less noticeable

Do pores get bigger with age?

As we age the production of collagen and elastin begins to slow down meaning lines and wrinkles become more prominent and the skin begins to sag. Pores become stretched and more visible with the breakdown in support structure of the skin. You can combat the sign of ageing skin with a collection of potent skin ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, SPF, hyaluronic acid, AHAs and BHAs making up your daily skincare routine. You can find more about these effective anti-ageing ingredients over on our website.  

There you have some answers to the most frequent questions relating to pores and the best way of going about reducing their appearance. You may be surprised to hear that the only person that really notices your pores is you, everyone else will just see a happy, healthy face- especially if you’re smiling! Come and join us on Instagram for more skincare chats, weekly giveaways and quality skincare products right at your fingertips.