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Now, before you start to curse the pores you have on your face, let’s not forget that they exist first and foremost to enable our skin to breathe. Having said that, we can completely understand the bane of having these seemingly large crater-like things on your face. Unfortunately, for some people, pores appear larger and/or more in quantity since excess oil sits around the skin’s pores, making them appear enlarged.
The bad news? Whether you have big pores or small pores is largely genetic. The good news? There are certain things you can do to handle open pores and minimise their appearance.
Want our pore-fessional opinion on the best treatments for open pores? Read on! But first, let’s get the basics right about what a pore really is, what types of open pores are there, and the causes behind them.
What Is A Pore?
Simply put, a pore is an opening on the surface of your skin that lets it breathe. Further, there are two types: sweat and oil pores. Research says that the former can’t be seen by the naked eye and, when overactive, it can cause excessive sweating. The latter is connected to an oil gland and is found all over our body, except the palms and soles. Oil pores are the most notorious of the two types of pores, as they can get enlarged enough to be noticeable.
What Are The Types Of Open Pores?
O-shaped:
Most commonly found on the T-zone on oily, acne-prone skin.
U-shaped:
People with dry skin tend to notice these types of enlarged pores.
Y-shaped:
This type of enlarged pore is more common in ageing skin due to loss of natural collagen, and typically appears on the cheeks.
What Causes Enlarged Pores?
According to research, these are some common culprits behind enlarged pores are:
- Genetics
- Depleting collagen with age
- Reduced elasticity
- Sun damage
Now that you’re caught up on all things science, let’s get into the real deal.
The Best Treatments For Open Pores
1. Wash Your Face, Missy!
Pores enlarge when they become clogged with dirt, oil, bacteria, or dead skin cells causing them to become inflamed. Wash your face regularly to avoid the build-up and help your pores look smaller. Use a Salicylic Acid-based face wash, like Dr. Sheth's Neem & Salicylic Acid Face Wash to cleanse your skin and minimise your pores.
2. Use A Pore Tightening Toner
A good toner can help minimise pores and set your skin a-glowing! Get rid of pesky open pores and keep your skin hydrated and oh-so-refreshed with a good pore-tightening toner like Biotique Bio Cucumber Pore Tightening Toner With Himalaya Waters. The cucumber in the toner will help with reducing skin puffiness and tiredness and will help to restore natural skin freshness too.
3. Ice, Ice Baby
Want to temporarily minimise the size of your pores? Ice is basically a cooling agent that reduces inflammation in the skin by reducing blood flow and decreasing oil production. Just two to three small ice cubes wrapped in a cotton cloth and applied gently to your face will instantly make a difference. Cool, no?
4. Say Hello To Retinol, Y’all!
If there’s one guest you definitely want to invite to the skincare party, it’s Retinol. A vitamin ‘A’ derivative, retinol stimulates the metabolism of skin cells and encourages collagen production. Regular use can visibly reduce the appearance of not only large pores but even brown spots and wrinkles. Add a retinol-infused product like St.Botanica Retinol 2.5% + Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid Professional Facial Serum to your daily skincare regimen as it promotes healthy skin renewal and repair. Your skin will thank you for it!
5. Mask Away
Unless you live under a rock, you already know that masking is quite the fad du jour. Everyone who’s anyone has been caught masking away to glory and sharing the proof on Instagram! Luckily, we found an appropriate way for you and those pesky pores to jump onto the bandwagon. The Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2X tightens pores and controls sebum production while gently exfoliating to remove blackheads. You can use it once or twice a week for refreshed and firm-looking skin.
6. Shun The Sun
Apart from genetics, we also get open pores when our skin loses its elasticity over time. This happens because excessive sun exposure can lead to enlarged pores thanks to the damage it causes to the collagen in our skin. Well if that doesn’t get you to SPF-up, we don’t know what will! Use a good sunscreen like the Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ to make sure your skin is uber-protected.
Are open pores your worst nightmare? Check out the best home remedies for open pores on the face.
