HOW TO MINIMIZE PORES & PREVENT OCCASIONAL BREAKOUTS

 

A pore is a tiny opening through which the hair grows. Sebaceous glands which produce sebum (oil) are attached to the inside of a pore. Production of sebum is necessary to keep our skins soft and hydrated. 

There are many factors that contribute to large pores. You can’t shut your pores completely but you can reduce their appearance to a great extent. Generally, people with oily/combination skin types suffer from large pores. Decrease in the skin's elasticity and sun damage, which happens with aging, also cause pores to expand. Another quite common factor is clogged pores. When a pore is bunged with excessive oil, dirt or dead skin cells, it causes it to dilate and as a result, it appears enlarged. Also, blocked pores lead to acne and black heads.

To reduce pores and prevent sporadic zits, you need to make sure your pores are completely clean. Follow these easy steps for a clean and clear skin.

That’s a no brainer. Of course we all know we need to cleanse. Cleanse at least twice a day. Look for face wash with ‘oil-free’ written on it. My personal favorite is Noxzema Triple Clean Anti-Bacterial Lathering Cleanser.

If you wear makeup very often, never forget to take it off. Get yourself a good makeup remover or cleansing milk. For myself, I find double-cleansing technique to be most effective. Like I mentioned earlier, pores become blocked with oil and impurities. Oil doesn’t mix with water so chances are your regular face wash isn’t helping much at cleaning out pores thoroughly. Double-cleansing is a Japanese technique which involves cleansing/removing oil or makeup with an oil based makeup remover/cleansing milk and then washing your face with a good facial cleanser. The idea is to break up oil, makeup and grime in the first step and remove it completely in the second. You can also use extra virgin olive oil to remove makeup. I love using Nivea Visage Refreshing Cleansing Milk.

To remove any remaining traces of oil and debris, use a toner after you cleanse. Toning also helps soothe and nourish your skin and reduces the size of pores.

Go for an alcohol-free toner instead of an alcohol based. In my experience, alcohol based toners dry out skin really bad. For product suggestions, click here.

You need to get rid of dead skin cells that sit on the surface of the skin. Look for a good facial scrub preferably with micro beads. Exfoliating once a week is good enough. Too much exfoliation causes skin irritation so that’s a big no no. I find The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion to be very effective for this – love it! An excellent economical option would be St. Ives Green Tea Scrub.

A clay mask is like a pore-purging magnet I swear. It sucks out excess oil and debris like no other. Too much use can cause skin to dry out so I suggest using it once or twice a week. You could try Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque which is my absolute favorite. 

I have personally tried these and find them extremely useful.

Take a bowl, mix one or two table spoons of baking powder in some water and make a slightly thick paste. Apply all over your face and let it dry completely. Rinse to remove. Baking powder not only minimizes pores but also gives a nice glow to skin. In addition to that, it gets rid of a tanned complexion.

Try aspirin mask. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which is used to help clear pimples and blemishes. Mix 5-6 aspirin tables in some water. Apply the solution on your face while rubbing in circular motion for a couple of minutes and rinse later. Do not try this if you are allergic to salicylic acid. 

Both home remedies require you to tone and moisturize afterwards as they can be quite drying.

A popular belief is that moisturizing makes skin oilier which is in fact not true. People with combination/oily skin skip it only because of this. Stripping the skin’s natural oils results in the overproduction of sebum which is a breeding ground for bacteria that causes breakouts. To maintain a balance, always hydrate your skin with a moisturizer especially meant for your skin type.

Moisturizing before bed at night works brilliantly for me – I highly recommend it.  Night creams are specifically prepared to pamper and nourish your skin while you sleep.  Skin heals itself during the night and putting on a night cream will rejuvenate your skin, improve blood circulation and help balance your skins natural oils.

I always suggest picking up a light gel-based moisturizer for day and night. My most favorites are L'Oreal Hydrafresh Aqua Gel for daytime and L'Oreal White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening Night Cream. If you're willing to shell out some bucks, I suggest trying Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. 

We all die for that pore less skin, don't we? Makeup can also come in handy to blur out pores in a matter of minutes. There are special primers designed to minimize the look of pores and make your skin look flawless. You can go for Benefit The POREfessional or Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector. A good drugstore alternative would be Monistat Chafing Gel.

Another great way to fill in pores is to do your foundation, preferably powder or cream, with a sponge. Press the sponge firmly against your skin and use a dabbing motion to get the product into the skin. This would give you a smooth, airbrushed effect.