Enlarged Pores: How to reduce their appearance on your face?
No, the answer is definitely not “pile on the beauty products”.
Your pores are mostly invisible to the naked eye. But the 20,000 of them present on the face tend to bother quite a few of us! This usually concerns people who have naturally oily skin. The pores expand to accommodate the excessive sebum on your face… and once you reach 45, your skin begins to lose its elasticity, making those pores even more noticeable.
It takes new habits to make a change
The more your skin is assaulted (with harsh cleansers, acidic toners, steamy showers, rough towels), the more it produces sebum. If the problem is due to combination or oily skin, it might be time to renounce your scrubs and drying cleansers, lotions and toners that contain alcohol, as well as do away with emollient creams that are too thick or greasy. Pick enzyme exfoliants instead, as well as cleansers with a mild pH that is close to that of the skin. Balancing masks made of clay or charcoal-based ingredients can also help. If you have blackheads or acne, you might want to visit a dermatologist to find the best solution.
Maintain the firmness of your skin
Spend each morning rubbing an ice cube over your face to keep inflammation at bay and to slow down the effects of aging. Other options to keep your skin firm would be to use massaging tools and anti-aging creams to boost the production of collagen and elastin. By keeping your face youthful, you will avoid the stretching and wrinkling of your epidermis canvas, which in turn prevents those pores from enlarging.
Pore-refining products
While they only offer a temporary solution, you can invest in some convenient pore-refining products to create a smoother looking canvas. These products will help blur out those pesky pores and ensure that your makeup glides on easily. Be sure to look for products that will not dry your skin out or your skin will inevitably produce more oil to replenish what was lost.
Yasmine Meurisse
Read more:
Killer Question: Is it possible to shrink your pores?
Essential Advice: Makeup tricks to look younger (even in your mid-40s)
Made in Singapore: 8 Home-grown beauty brands you should know about
