Most would associate a flawless face with being poreless, but let's be honest: everyone has pores and large pores are a concern for all. Contrary to popular belief, pores aren't your enemy. They help create sebum oil, which hydrates your skin.
If you have oily, normal, dry, or combination skin, large pores don't discriminate! You cannot magically eliminate your pores—no matter what those strips say. Whether you love them or hate them, they're here to stay, so focus on what you can do to keep your skin healthy!
What are Pores?
Fun fact: pores are on every inch of your skin, except your palms and soles. So, what exactly are "pores"? Those small dots on your face around your hair follicles naturally release oil and sweat. Often, hair follicles and pores are interchangeable.
The hair exits the surface of the skin through the pore. Your skin can't function properly or healthily without pores—embrace them!
What Causes Large Pores?
We're all guilty of looking in a magnifying mirror to examine every inch of our skin. Sometimes you can't help but ask yourself, "Why me?". Genetics plays a crucial role in determining pore size. If your parents have large pores, there's a high chance to inherit them too.
Yes, pores play a vital role in the appearance of your skin, but as you get older, your skin loses elasticity. Pores tend to enlarge or expand when skin sags or is stretched, which comes naturally with age.
Wash Your Face Regularly
First things first, clean pores always appear smaller. Remove the dirt by washing your face — especially after a workout. Shrinking pores starts with a good skin care routine by cleansing your face properly, removing debris, and preventing dirt build-up, allowing the sebum oil to quickly reach the skin's surface. A gentle wash in the morning and night can make a dramatic difference.
Exfoliate! Exfoliate! Exfoliate!
Newsflash! Don't skip exfoliation! Dead skin pile-up seeps into your pores, making them more pronounced. Twice a week, scrub your skin. Cleansing cleans on a surface level while exfoliating forces build up out.
Face Mask
Masking is an excellent way to unwind, but face masks also naturally reduce the look of pores. During your skin care rituals, tackle pores once or twice a week with a good face mask—your skin will thank you later!
Use Makeup Primer
To protect our skin’s natural makeup before applying actual makeup, use primer. The right primer works to minimize pores by smoothing the surface of your skin.
Once you’ve washed, cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized, make your skin look more refined with primer. Usually, Silicone-based primers are thick—perfect for filling more prominent pores.
Wear Sunscreen
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but it’s all with good reason! Daily use of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is a must to maintain happy, healthy skin.
Sun damage is the prime culprit in pore expansion. To protect yourself from the sun’s harsh UV radiation, opt for a lightweight formula to help keep small pores.
The bottom line
Pores tend to have a negative connotation; we promise there isn't anything wrong with them! Although pore size is mainly genetic, large pores can also result from an overproduction of sebum or aging.
To shrink pores, remember consistency is key. Forget a dull complexion, get a youthful glow, and commit to a daily skin care regimen to stop all these skin frustrations right in their tracks! Don't know where to start? Try our Pore Tight Kit that is perfect for all skin types!
