Pores are essential for a healthy skin – they produce sebum oil, a good oil to soften, and supple the skin, pores are also good in maintaining clean skin due to their ability to remove toxins from the skin. if we continue to mention the benefit of pores on the skin, we might not leave this page. As beneficial as they are to the skin when they are too large can cause a lot of ‘texturedness’ on the skin. I’m not sure about you but ‘texture’ is not a word I like to use along with my skin ; why not ‘smoothness’?
While you can’t make pores totally disappear but you can make them smaller and refined – this starts with use of effective skincare products that can shed dead skin cells to unclog pores as we all know ‘un-sheded’ dead skin cells can clog the pores which can lead to more damage to the skin. So the question is how do we refine the appearance of large pores on the skin?: Come with me:
1. Avoid Harsh Exfoliator
When exfoliating, the use of brush with hard bristles and physical exfoliators should be avoided as these can be harsh on the skin thence dryness and flaky skin. The solution to this is the use of leave on exfoliants like AHAs, glycolic acid, lactic acid, BHAs – salicylic acid. These hero ingredients are to buff away dead skin cells and resurface the skin. They’re commonly found in serums, moisturisers and toners, but whatever you do ensure you get them serums and toner form, as the skin will gain more when they’re in these two forms. BHAs are know to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin hence helping the skin to thrive. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week and avoid over exfoliating to allow you skin to heal during the week.
Paula’s Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant (100ml)
£35.00
REN
Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic 250ml
£30.00
2. Thorough Cleansing
This little step seem very simple, you’d think it’s common sense to cleanse but truth be told if you do a shabby cleansing you’d be left with dirts that clog your pores even if you do your daily skincare routine. So, you are most advised to pay attention especially at night to remove your makeup first with a makeup remover, then use your cleanser to wash, rinse ensuring excess sebum oil and sunscreen are washed off. Most enlarge pores caused by clogged up pores are due to lack of patience during skincare routine. Cleansing is the second step in a skincare routine comes after removing your makeup – the use of gentle cleansers that won’t strip your skin of it’s nourishing goodness leading to more oilness. Despite the fact that we want to ensure the pores are well cleansed – the goal is never to be squeaky clean but with the use of wash cloth to help with thorough cleansing this will allow nourishing ingredients in products to work better.
Glow Recipe
Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser 160ml
£31.00
Drunk Elephant
Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser
£36.00
3. Use Niacinamide Serum And Retinol
Although the use of both products at the same time can be a little bit intimidating but if you manage to get grasp of what you’re doing, the use of both hero ingredients regularly will help you achieve your skin goal in no time. Niacinamide is proven to visibly minimise the size of enlarged pores, even out skin tone, strengthened weakened surface, etc. it can be used day and night. While retinol on the other hand is known for regeneration of skin cells, helps pores to function normally. When applying your serums start with lighter ones then progress to heavier formula just like we do our moisturisers..
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% 30ml
£5.00
Dermalogica
Dynamic Retinol Renewal Serum 30ml
£89.00
4. Tighten Your Day Time Routine
For your makeup routine always use a pore minimising primers as your base product this will blur out any imperfection on the skin creating a smooth perfect canvass for your makeup look. The use of retinol in the day is not advisable as retinol is known to exfoliate making the skin sensitive to UVA + UVB rays from sun light, the best time to use your retinol is at night. The use of sunscreen in the day is a yes! yes! as this will protect the skin from UVA + UVB rays which cause pre-mature ageing which starts with disruption of pores. Avoid using too much shimmery and glowy base products for your makeup as this can make you pores more noticeable under your makeup. For oily combination skin type use lightweight beauty products in form of fluids and gel while creamy emollients beauty products are recommended for dry skin type
Supergroup!
Every. Single. Face. SPF 50 suncream 50ml
£30.00
Murad
Restorative Hydro-hyaluronic Cream 50ml
£65.00
