Ahhh the dreaded appearance of large pores. Most of us complain about them, we all try to do our best to hide them with makeup and apply products that say they are going to help reduce the size and look of them, but it doesn’t seem to work as well as we hope. Well I'm here to help with some insight on this troubling issue.
First of all, what is a pore?
A pore is a tiny hole in our skin that has a tiny hair attached to it, this hair has a gland inside of it called the sebaceous gland that produces sebum (oil).
When this sebaceous gland releases oil, it rises to the top of the skin and collects inside of this pore. What causes large pores you ask? Well, firstly its genetics. If your mother or grandfather had larger pores, chances are you obtained this fantastic trait from them. Other factors include excessive sebum production, when a person's sebaceous gland produces more than the usual amount of sebum, this causes oily skin. As we get older we lose elasticity in our skin and when our pores become clogged with dirt and oil its harder for these pores to spring back to their original size making them appear enlarged. Also excessive sun exposure with no protection has been reported to cause larger pores as well.
One common question I always get asked is “how can I shrink my pores?”
Sorry to break it to you, but there's no way to actually shrink your pores. You can however visibly reduce the appearance of larger pores. How you ask? There are specific treatments that can be done to help reduce the appearance of large pores:
The best way to treat large pores is to prevent them from happening in the first place. A good skincare routine allows you to keep those pores clean and tight. First things first, NEVER I repeat NEVER go to sleep with your makeup on. No matter how exhausted or late it is always remove your make up before bed, even if you just have to use a facial wipe, it's better than leaving all that oil causing makeup to sit on your face overnight. With that being said, always wash your face morning and night with a gel water based cleanser. I personally recommend ZO Gentle Cleanser or for acne prone skin I recommend ZO Exfoliating Cleanser. I also believe that EXFOLIATING IS KEY in order to dissolve all the excess oil on your skin along with dead skin cells, dirt and makeup. I recommend exfoliating with the ZO Dual Action Scrub or the ZO Exfoliating Polish. A pro tip that I have for women when it's their time of the month, exfoliate at least 3 times that week due to hormonal changes causing more breakouts. Exfoliating also helps to even out your skin tone.
Avoid using creamy or oil based products if you have an oily skin type, oil attracts oil and can cause more breakouts. Once a week use a clay based masque to help absorb all excess oil and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
Also avoid using oil based makeup, these foundations or concealers clog the pores, causing more congestion, blackheads and whiteheads. Opt for mineral based makeup or non-comedogenic products instead. Another pro tip is using a primer for large pores before applying your makeup, by doing this you are applying makeup to a smooth, even surface without drawing attention to large pores.
ZO Skin Health has product formulated specifically for those who suffer from enlarged pores. Instant Pore Refiner is a must have product if you're trying to avoid looking like a trillion hole golf course.
This powerhouse product reduces oil production and mattefies the skin while preventing future congestion and breakouts. This product works by exfoliating the acne causing dead skin cells that build up around the pores. Key ingredients include:
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract: Balances oily skin and minimizes oil on the surface of the skin
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine: Works to exfoliate dead skin cells around pores to prevent congestion; reduces the appearance of pore size and pore depth
ZO-RSS2™ and ZOX12™: Anti-inflammation and antioxidant complexes defend against harmful extrinsic factors
Antioxidants and SPF are essential in your skin care regime in order to prevent pores from becoming more enlarged. I recommended ZO Daily Power Defence, it can be used AM or PM, I use this product religiously and I must say my pores have never looked smaller! Always use a sunscreen with SPF 30 -SPF 50, anything stronger contains too many chemicals and can make you break out on your skin if you are an oilier individual.
Saunas and facial steaming also help to detoxify and open up your pores, just make sure to cleanse your skin before and after entering- and ALWAYS use a toner once you have opened up those pores. In my opinion, diet and hydration really helps in reducing the amount of oil production. Drinking at least 8 cups of water helps to detoxify and cleanse the skin, yes you probably will be rushing to the bathroom more often but I promise you it will be worth it. Also staying away from oily foods and high saturated fats like dairy and pork is best. Clean eating is the best for your skin, so a diet of lots of veggies and low saturated fats will help to clear your skin.
I hope this information and my pro tips have given you the insight needed to reduce those unwanted large pores. At Skin Worthy, we value educating our patients on their skin concerns, if you are looking to reduce the appearance of your pores or would like to learn more, we encourage you to come in for a complimentary consultation. We will discuss your goals, assess your skin and decide the best plan of action for your specific needs.
-Carolina
call Skin Worthy 647-350-7546 to book your consultation today!
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