Aside from anti-aging, pore size seems to be a huge complaint from customers.
A study conducted by L’Oreal Paris revealed that roughly “45% of women wish they could change the size of their pores and almost one in three women (28%) are more concerned about their pore size than wrinkles.”
With so many products out there that claim to shrink or eliminate your pores, how do we know what works? Let’s take a closer look at what a pore really is.
What is a pore?
A pore is a small opening in the skin that allows oil to reach the surface. On average, an adult has five million pores on their body with approximately 20,000 on their face alone. Without pores, our skin would be dry and cracked since oil produced in the sebaceous glands travel up the pore to the skin’s surface and naturally moisturize the skin.
How is pore size determined?
For the most part, pore size is determined by genetics and generally speaking, is most prevalent in men. However, oil, dirt, dead skin cells and our lifestyle can impact pore size. For example, avid sun worshipers often see an increase in pore size because the sun’s UV rays breakdown and weaken the skin’s elasticity; the same can apply to aging skin. Oily skin types typically have an excessive accumulation of dirt, oil and dead skin cells, leading to large, visible pores and in some cases acne.
How to minimize pore appearance
Since you can’t get ‘rid’ of pores (and really, you don’t want to as they flush out toxins and help regulate temperature) here’s a couple of suggestions to help reduce their appearance.
- Thoroughly cleanse skin daily
- Regular exfoliation with either enzymes or hydroxy acids (i.e. glycolic, lactic, or salicylic)
- Those with oily skin types can benefit from using clay-based masks (look for kaolin or bentonite) about 2x/week
- Limit excessive sun exposure and always wear SPF
- Make sure you are using the correct skincare products/makeup for your skin type- makeup primers can help reduce pore appearance
- Consult with a dermatologist and/or esthetician for other options such as chemical peels
- Avoid pore strips as in the long run can stretch out skin even more
Questions? Comments? Have a pore-minimizing product you love? Do share!