We all have pores. Pores play an integral role in skin health, allowing the skin to breathe and providing a link between the oil glands and surface of the dermis to hydrate and protect the skin. That being said, we don’t necessarily want to put them on full display.
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First things first: you can’t shrink, erase, or get rid of your pores (nor should you want to). However, the appearance of enlarged or prominent pores can be tackled. While the actual size of your pores is largely attributed to genetics and can’t be changed, you can minimise their appearance by unclogging and tightening them through skincare and blur or mask them through strategically applied makeup.
Here’s everything you need to know about minimising the appearance of your pores.
What are pores?
Before going about reducing their appearance, it’s important to actually understand what pores are. Present all over your skin, barring the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, pores are minute hair follicles that contain a sebaceous gland. These glands produce sebum ( a type of oil) on the surface of the skin. When clogged with too much sebum, pores can become more visible.
How to minimise the appearance of pores
1. Be fastidious about sunscreen use
Crucial for preventing skin cancer, premature ageing, and hyperpigmentation, diligent sunscreen use pops up in just about pretty much every skincare story. However, it’s for good reason. The sun breaks down the collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in saggy skin and making your pores look less tight. Remember to wear a minimum of SPF 30 every day.
2. Turn to acids
You heard us. Regular exfoliation is essential to remove dead skin cells, sebum, and debris from the skin, to keep pores clean and prevent them from getting clogged and enlarged. As a preventative measure, AHAs are a great option; they work on the surface layer of the skin to smooth and brighten, while reducing the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines. However, if you already suffer from blackheads or clogged pores, a BHA exfoliant is your best bet; they penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, working to unclog pores and moderate sebum production, making them ideal for oily or acne-prone skin.
3. Try a retinoid
Retinol and other retinoid derivatives aid in speeding up skin cell turnover (the quality that makes it a star anti-ageing ingredient), which not only aids in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation, but helps treat acne and reduce the appearance of pores. Retinol and retinoids work to increase the skin’s collagen production while decreasing sebum production, leading to a lower incidence of breakouts and blackheads, and tighter pores.
4. Incorporate niacinamide
For particularly stretched on enlarged pores, niacinamide can be a saving grace. Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide aids in tightening pores while preventing them from becoming clogged. Plus, regular niacinamide use works to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce the impact of environmental damage.
5. Prime and prepare
When applying makeup, you can mask the appearance of visible pores by using a blurring primer to even out the surface of the skin, providing a smooth canvas for foundation.
FAQ
Pore size is determined by genetics, so you cannot actually shrink your pores. However, you can reduce or minimise the appearance of your pores through considered products and treatments.
The best ways to minimise the appearance of your pores are to apply sunscreen daily, incorporate niacinamide into your skincare routine, exfoliate with AHA and BHA acids, and use retinol or another retinoid at night.
Words by Esmé Duggan
