Who wouldn’t want their skin to be porcelain-like smooth, right? Wishful (read unrealistic) thinking aside, everyone has pores on their face – about 20,000 of them – whether we like it or not. Notorious for being too noticeably wide or gaping in appearance at times, pores are technically always ‘open’ so that your skin can breathe and, well, do its job of regulating sebum production. That said, the size of a pore does enlarge or shrink (like a camera lens) depending on many factors. Let’s look at some of these before we get into the best sheet masks for open pores that will give you super-smooth skin.
What Causes Enlarged Or Open Pores?
• Genetics: Before we place blame on our lifestyle or other external factors, it’s important to consider the genetics side of the story. Sometimes, we simply inherit large pores from our parents – but that’s okay, dear reader. Don’t let it bog you down because genetically enlarged pores can be made to appear smaller with the right ingredients (keep reading).
• Sun Damage & Ageing: As we age, the skin produces less collagen naturally and loses elasticity. This causes pores to become distended and they start looking visibly bigger. The sun contributes indirectly to this as sun exposure fastens up the ageing process of the skin. The trick is to ensure you use sunscreen daily – yes, we mean every single day – and follow good sun protection practices.
• Clogged Pores: A common culprit behind enlarged pores is the impurities and oils that get trapped in them. Dead skin cells and pollutants can accumulate over time in pores and disrupt the natural flow of sebum. To combat this, our pores respond by expanding. A simple skincare routine, like the CSMS, can keep this from happening when followed diligently.
Ingredients That Shrink Open Pores
Before we jump to the list, let’s take a minute to accept the fact that we can’t make our pores disappear entirely. With the right ingredients, however, we can enjoy the next best thing, i.e. smaller-looking pores that give your skin a smooth finish.
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is a type of AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that gently exfoliates the skin. It’s one of the safer AHAs to use, even for sensitive skin, to slough off impurities and clogged pores. We recommend this sheet mask from Unspoiled containing 0.5% lactic acid and 0.5% hyaluronic acid. Both ingredients work together to lift away the grime and hydrate the skin, making pore openings appear smaller.
Best For: Sensitive, acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
One of the most popular BHAs (beta-hydroxy acid) in skincare, salicylic acid works like a mild astringent. A generous slather of this hero ingredient helps reduce oil and dirt from the pores, making them appear smaller in size. To see a noticeable change in your pores, use this Bright Complete Sheet Mask from Garnier twice or thrice a week. Enriched with niacinamide and vitamin C, customers vouch for this sheet mask’s ability to brighten and plump up the skin.
Best For: Oily, sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Yet another buzzing ingredient in skincare holy-grail products, niacinamide a.k.a. vitamin B3 is known to deliver great pore-shrinking results in just a couple of uses. It also evens out skin tone and brightens up dull, tired-looking skin. You must try MCaffeine’s green tea and niacinamide sheet mask, which also claims to help control oil secretion. The serum used in this mask also contains caffeine, which has a soothing effect on the skin, helping relax enlarged pores.
Best For: Oily, acne-prone skin
Aloe Vera
An age-old remedy from kitchen gardens, aloe vera remains a trusted name in skincare. Delivering results to make skin visibly bright and smooth, aloe vera helps tighten open pores by adding intense hydration and helping extract dirt settled in pores. From the coveted UK brand Simple, we recommend the Kind To Skin De-stress Sheet Mask for a heavy dose of nourishment and plumpness. If you have easily irritable skin, this is the best sheet mask to try for clogged pores.
Best For: Sensitive, dry skin
Lemon
A natural exfoliator with antibacterial properties, lemon has many good-for-skin qualities, including diminishing the appearance of enlarged pores. When used consistently, this lemon-serum-soaked sheet mask from Nykaa Skin Secrets can slough off dead skin cells, excess oil, and other pore-clogging elements. The ingredient list also includes honey, which has naturally healing properties that help calm damaged skin.
Best For: Oily, acne-prone, damaged skin
Rose Water
One of the oldest ingredients in beauty, rose water or gulab jal was used in the Middle Ages for brightening the skin and as a base for perfumes. Legend says empresses used to bathe in rosewater, and you, too, can channel this energy with rose water toners and sheet masks. We recommend this bamboo-based sheet mask from Mamaearth, which is good for your skin as well as the environment. Aside from rose water, the key ingredients include milk, niacinamide, and avocado for deep moisturisation. With regular use, your open pores will be barely-there size.
