How To Minimize The Appearance of Enlarged Pores

person Posted By: Ailsa Watson

Let starts with, what are pores? Pores are the visible openings of the hair follicles to their connected oil glands

Let starts with, what are pores? Pores are the visible openings of the hair follicles to their connected oil glands. While the size of our pores are mainly determined by our genetics, they can sometimes appear to be larger when the collagen in your skin is weak. This can be down to age, sun exposure, or over-picking at your skin (we have all been there but it’s time to stop!). Pores can also expand when they are clogged with dirt or oil, that’s right, blackheads!

While people with oily skin are more prone to enlarged pores, this is something we can all suffer from. If you have naturally oily skin, the excess oil that your skin produces can cause your skin to swell, enhancing the look of larger pores. This can also be caused by dead skin cells and a build-up to dirt. Sun damage, genetics, and aging are also causes of enlarged pores.



While pores play an extremely important role in keeping our skin naturally lubricated and moisturized, enlarged pores are just not fun. In this article, we are going to tell you if it’s possible to shrink your pores and which products you can use in helping to minimize them.

Washing your face should never be forgotten about

If you don’t wash your face, it can lead to a build-up of oil and dirt which can worsen the appearance of pores. In the mornings you can opt for a gentle face cleanser and some lukewarm water, then in the evenings, we recommend double-cleansing. This ensures all the excess oil, dirt and makeup is removed. We have written a guide to double-cleansing, learn more here.

Hop on the ice roller trend

You may have seen this trend appearing across social media, and that is the ice roller trend. While it looks like a way to make your skincare or self-care routine a little bit extra, it is also a great way to reduce redness and puffiness, both of which help minimize the appearance of large pores. While this isn’t a long-term fix, it can reduce the appearance short-term.

Don’t be afraid of the word acid in skincare

Acids usually fall into two categories, AHAs & BHAs. Examples are:

AHAs - glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid

BHAs - salicylic acid 

Both, help to dissolve oil and dirt built up inside your pores, causing them to stretch. Implementing an exfoliating acid like glycolic acid or salicylic acid into your routine on a regular basis is a great way to maintain the pore-minimising results. We recommend exfoliating 2-3 times per week, however if you have sensitive prone skin it’s best to stick with 1 time per week.

Consider trying retinol

Known as one of the best anti-aging ingredients in skincare, retinoid also helps to strengthen the walls of your pores by stimulating collagen production. While retinol can be very strong, don’t be intimidated by it. Start slow, and build up your skin's tolerance to it. Also, always wear SPF when using it!

Masks aren’t only for self-care

Not only are masks are a relaxing weekly ritual, but they can also help with the appearance of large pores. We recommend using either a clay or charcoal mask, to help draw out bacteria and oil built up in your pores. While this is a short-term fix, indulging in a weekly masking ritual can help to maintain the results.

Our Intense Acne Battling & Purifying French Green Clay Mask uses a potent combination of Green Clay and Zincidone to help lift away impurities.

Our award-winning Deep Pore Oxygenating & Purifying Kaolin Bubble Clay Mask works to go deep within the pores to remove blockages and excess sebum.

SPF everyday

Research from the American Academy of Dermatology showed that only 33 percent of Americans reapply sunscreen every two hours, while 42 percent either tend to not reapply sunscreen at all or reapply it only when their face gets wet. While 30 percent apply sunscreen just to their face instead of also applying it to other areas of their body.

As always, we are an advocate for wearing broad spectrum SPF every single day. UV rays can break down and damage the collagen found in your skin, so it’s important to prevent this from happening by wearing SPF every day, all year round.

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