The Active Ingredients that will Minimize Enlarged Pores

The world of beauty has been known to sell some untruths. Untruths like pores can be permanently shrunk or that they can open and close. They can’t and they don’t.

You can only temporarily diminish the appearance of your pores using techniques like Fiddy’s of Fifty Shades of Snail. Physically shrinking the actual size of your pores is not a thing. Keeping skin plump and hydrated can help but just like the width of your feet and the (true) shape of your eyebrows, the size of your pores stays.

What makes pores enlarged?

Allow me to explain through Cosmetics Cop, Paula Begoun:

Almost exclusively, hormones regulate the oil glands that produce the sebum (oil), which moves through the lining of each pore and then onto your face. With normal oil production, the oil easily flows through the pore lining and out of the pore, imperceptibly spreading over the skin’s surface. The problems arise when your oil glands make too much oil. This excess oil mixes with other substances (such as dead skin cells) in the pore, causing a clog. Not surprisingly, this clog makes it difficult for the oil to flow freely, which causes the pore itself to enlarge.

Even though the pore enlarges to provide extra room for the oil to flow out, the oil still can become trapped (especially around the nose) by dead skin cells, forming a blackhead.

How can one treat and diminish the appearance of enlarged pores?

Well by regularly clearing your pores of course…and using well formulated skin care that has the following active ingredients.

• Retinoids. Not only do retinoids help in aging well but they’re great for enlarged pores and blackheads too.They improve cell production to help the pore function more normally. Prescription retinoids, such as Retin-A and Differin should be considered when blackheads are accompanied by breakouts.

• Salicylic acid. A BHA exfoliant, in gel or liquid form, will remove excess skin cells from the surface of the face (so they don’t build up in the pore) and exfoliate inside the pore (to improve its shape and dissolve clogs), allowing for a more even flow of oil. Exfoliation will also reduce wrinkles and build collagen.

With a little time and patience, diminishing enlarged pores is definitely within your reach. What are some of your favorite enlarged pore busting methods? Let me know in the comments.

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