Skin Care Secrets: How to Minimize Pores

What Causes Large Pores?

Many different factors can cause enlarged pores. Here are some of the most common reasons why your pores might be large:

• Aging skin can cause enlarged pores due to the decreased elasticity in skin.
• Genetics and hormones can also play a role in enlarged pores.
• If you have acne, you may have enlarged pores. This can also be due to excess oil, dead skin or dirt clogging pores.
• Sun exposure can make pores look larger.
• Increased hair follicle volume can also cause large pores because the pore at the end of the hair follicle often becomes clogged.
• Certain products—particularly those that are oil-based—can cause clogged pores, making them look larger.

Can You Really Shrink Your Pores?

When it comes down to how to minimize pores, you can't actually shrink them because pore size is determined by genetics. But the good news is you can make their appearance less noticeable by making changes to your skin care and lifestyle, which we'll go into below.

5 Ways to Minimize Pore Appearance

The easiest, fastest and most effective way to minimize your pores is to make sure your skin care routine is tailored to target that aim. Following these simple skin care tips will help reduce the appearance of pores.

1. Cleanse Daily and Often

If you're prone to larger pores, you might also have acne—which means it's very important to cleanse your skin thoroughly, at least twice a day. Be mindful of these things:

• Try not to skip cleansing, no matter how tired you are. Because enlarged pores are often that way because they are clogged, if you don't cleanse your face every day, it can lead to further acne and pimples since the pore is blocked.
• Always remove your makeup thoroughly at night. Makeup can clog pores, which makes pores appear bigger, so it's important to make sure you remove every trace of makeup from your face, lips and eyes. You can double cleanse or use a micellar water before cleaning to be extra thorough.
• Choose an oil-free cleanser and avoid oils in your other products if you have large pores. Instead, choose water-based products or those that contain humectants rather than oils so that you can still get moisturized skin. One example of a humectant is honey, which can add moisturize to skin without clogging it when used as a skin care ingredient.

2. Unclog Pores with Exfoliation

Larger pores often mean skin is clogged and exfoliation is one of the best ways to get your pores unclogged. Keep the following in mind:

• Since clogged pores are often associated with acne-prone skin, go for a chemical exfoliation versus a physical exfoliation, which can be rougher on skin.
• Choose chemical exfoliation products that contain salicylic acid or glycolic acid to smooth skin and unclog pores.
• Make sure to not overdo it when you're exfoliating. Exfoliating too much or using a product that's too strong can actually irritate skin, which can make pores look larger or more visibly clogged.

3. Incorporate Retinol in your Routine

Large pores are often a result of aging skin and retinol is another great product to use to reduce their appearance. Even if you don't have aging skin yet, it's worth using it as an early prevention tool because its benefits are many. Aside from helping to minimize the appearance of large pores, retinol can also:

• Smooth the texture of skin
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Increase the production of collagen

4. Use a Clay Mask

One of the best ways to make pores look smaller is to apply a clay mask. Since clay absorbs sebum, using a mask once or twice a week can help remove oil and excess dirt, which often clogs your pores and makes them look bigger. Make sure to use it on a different day than the day you choose to exfoliate, so that skin doesn't get too irritated.

5. Wear Sunscreen

As we mentioned above, sun exposure is a main cause of enlarged pores, so wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 30 can help prevent future sun damage that causes enlarged pores. It can also help prevent further inflammation, since enlarged pores are often associated with acne-prone, irritated skin.

Seek Professional Guidance

If you find that the above techniques and products still aren't helping you reduce the appearance of large pores, it's always a good idea to get help from a professional. Since enlarged pores can be caused by a number of different things ranging from acne to aging skin, a dermatologist can prescribe prescription-strength products and can also help recommend a skin care routine that is customized to your skin.

Overall, having large pores is a very common issue that many people deal with, no matter what your age or skin type is. Using the right products and getting into a daily routine can make a huge difference in reducing the appearance of large pores, but consistency is key.