Large pores can be an irritating feature of your skin. Large pores can mean you are more prone to oily skin, spots and blackheads and they can make it more difficult to wear makeup. Annoyingly, they are pretty much caused by genetics.
Pores are a key part of the structure of your skin, and like I just said, they are often genetic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce their appearance. We are going to talk you through our tip and tricks for helping them tighten-up and appear smaller, so they are less noticeable.
A common reason for enlarged or open pores is that they are blocked. Try to keep your pores clean by regularly washing, taking makeup off before bed, and spot-treating areas of your skin which are more prone to oil build-up.
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Gently Cleanse, Tone And Moisturize Daily
To keep your skin clean and balanced, wash your face with a gentle cleanser every day. Don’t go for your which contains harsh chemicals or fragrances or that will strip your face of all its natural oils. Instead, choose products which will balance the oils on your face.
Dampen your face with lukewarm water and then massage the cleanser into your skin, focusing on areas with large pores. Afterward, rinse the cleanser off with a splash of water.
Tone
Toning your skin means you close your pores. You have a great choice in the number of toning products around, but if you are keen on natural options, we have two suggestions.
Our first recommendation is simply cold water. In the same way that warmth opens-up our pores, being exposed to cold closes them. Therefore, splashing off your cleanser with cold water will naturally close your pores.
An alternative is witch hazel, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can fight bacteria. To use it as a toner, put a few drops of witch hazel on a cotton ball and dab it over your skin.
Moisturise
After you have cleansed your face, apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Non-comedogenic means that it will not clog your pores, and therefore will not hold your pores open with debris. Moisturising is an important step in your daily skincare routine, as forgetting to do so can cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate the what has just been washed away by the cleanser.
A great, natural moisturizer is aloe vera gel. You can squeeze it straight out of an aloe vera leaf, and it is effective for many different skin problems. It can balance your skin oil, moisturize and tone your skin reduce, as well as prevent blemishes, all in one, making it a great option for people with large pores. If you don’t already have an aloe plant, you can get buy one from Amazon here.
Use A Facial Steamer, Weekly
Trapped oil, blackheads and other debris in your pores can force them open, giving them the appearance that they are larger than they really are. By giving your pores a deep clean and removing the debris caught inside them, they can return to a tighter size and appear smaller.
One of the gentlest, yet most effective ways of clearing out your pores is to give yourself a facial steam. You can do this either with a purpose-built facial steamer, which will give you the best results, or you can easily give yourself a DIY facial steam. Steaming your face will encourage your pores to naturally open with the warmth. The warmth will also increase your circulation and temperature so that your pores perspire. The steam softens the debris within your pores and the perspiration helps to push it out.
Steaming your face will make your skin more receptive to other topical products. Therefore, it is a good opportunity to apply a face mask after you have steamed your face. Skin-balancing clay masks are a good choice as they also absorb impurities. There are many different types of clay, so choose one to suit your skin type. Apply the clay with clean hands, then sit back and let it dry. Once it hardens, you can rinse it off with water.
Some facial steamers also release a cold steam, which is an excellent way of closing your pores after you have steamed and/or washed off your face mask. This will seal in the nourishment from the clay, tighten your pores up and prevent more dirt and impurities from getting in.
Steam your face with warm steam once a week, for longer than 5 minutes but less than 20 to get the best results from your steam. If possible, giving yourself a cool steam afterward to get the best results. If you would like to know more about facial steamers, have a look at our reviews of what we think are the best facial steamers on the market.
Eat A Healthy Diet
It is surprising how much our diet affects, our skin, but to be healthy on the outside, you need to be healthy on the inside. Keeping your skin healthy from the inside will help it retain its elasticity and glow, enabling it to retain its structure, tighten pores and look great.
Enrich your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, which contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that make your skin healthier and more resilient. Zinc, which is found in red meats and fortified breakfast cereals, is also important for your skin health, as are fatty acids such as omega-3, which is found in nuts and oily fish.
Wear Sun Protection
Sun damage to skin is one of the leading causes of premature aging, which can cause your pores to get larger. To protect yourself from the sun, make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat if you go out in the sun.
If you are prone to breakouts, choose a non-comedogenic sunscreen, such as Neutrogena Clean Face (buy it from Amazon here), it is oil free and will not block your pores.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few things you can try to reduce the size of your pores. By keeping your skin clean, healthy and nourished, you can clear-out and tighten up those pores to make them smaller and less noticeable. To find out more about keeping your skin clear, check out our blog.
