How to Minimize Pores

You’ve probably seen quite a few products on the market that claim to “minimize pores”. Before you snatch up that product expecting miraculous results, know that there is nothing you can do to get rid of your pores. Your skin has and needs those pores. For some people it’s obvious, for others they are barely there, but if you look closely in a mirror, you may see small dots along the surface of your face, usually around the t-zone. Those small dots are the openings of hair follicles and each one contains a sebaceous gland, which produces your skin’s oils. For those of you who have enlarged pores, there are some steps you can take or products you can try to minimize their appearance.

Large pores are the result of one thing: clogged pores. Those oversized dots are the cause of excess oil and dead skin cells so it is important to avoid products clogging your pores and forcing them to enlarge. Products like thick, heavy creams or even ingredients that will over dry your face (like alcohol-based products). Instead, switch to products that will deep cleanse your pores like a daily facial cleanser or this botanically-based mask. These types of products cleanse your skin to remove any buildup from inside your pores. Once all that bacteria, sebum, and dead skin is removed from the pore, the pore has the chance to close up. Make sure to tone your skin and you can even use cold water or ice on the skin to close up the clean pore.

Okay, so good and appropriate skincare is a no brainer. You want results now. Some primers on the market help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores by filling them in with silicone to blur their appearance. This one by POREfessional or this one from Smashbox are one of the top selling primers on the market. In addition to those, another makeup product you can use is pressed powder like this one here. YouTube star and makeup artist Wayne Goss recommends pressing powder into the pores to fill them out.

And that’s all you have to do! Remember that good skin starts with a good skincare regimen, so look at what you’re using and make sure you are using good, safe products that address your concerns. But while you wait for your skincare to take effect, makeup products will do the trick for the time being!