Although large pores aren’t harmful in any way, many people hate the dotted and uneven appearance that they result in. Unfortunately, with pore size being determined by genetics, there’s not much that you can do to physically shrink your pores.
With that said, pores can often appear larger than they actually are due to a number of different factors. Be it the overproduction of sebum, sun damage, aging, or anything else, all of these can make a person’s pores look wider, darker, and so much more noticeable.
So, what can you do to make your large pores look smaller once again? Read on as Lavelier shares seven effective steps to follow:
1. Thoroughly Cleanse Your Face Twice a Day
The very first step in reducing the look of large pores is to make sure that you’re properly cleansing your skin. This is something that you should be doing twice a day, morning and night.
How will this help to make your pores look smaller?
By removing any excess sebum and dirt that happens to be lingering on the surface of your skin. If these are allowed to remain in place, they’ll soon start to work their way down into your pores. Once here, they’ll clump together, causing blockages that make the pores look larger and darker. If bacteria joins the party, the result is a breakout.
Mousse cleansers tend to be the best option when dealing with large pores. Unlike cream cleansers, they don’t contain heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. However, unlike foaming cleansers, they don’t completely strip the skin dry either. They’re the perfect middle ground that, when used correctly, could soon help to make the appearance of large pores a thing of the past.
If you don’t yet have a mousse cleanser, consider investing in the Biology Mousse Cleanser from Lavelier. This sulfate-free formula boasts gentle, coconut-derived surfactants that moisturize while they cleanse. This cleanser also contains coral seaweed extract, glycerin, and aloe vera leaf extract to give the skin a boost of hydration.
Once you’re done cleansing, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Avoid rubbing or tugging at your skin, as this will only make your pores look larger and inflamed.
2. Use a Chemical Exfoliant
Hopefully, you’re already exfoliating your skin a couple of times a week. If not, it’s time to start doing so. Exfoliation is one of the best ways to clear blockages out from within your pores. Not only will this immediately make large pores look smaller and lighter, but it will also help to prevent breakouts from arising.
As we mentioned above, roughly rubbing at the skin can stretch the pores out even more and make them appear bigger. For this reason, an overly abrasive physical exfoliant, such as a face scrub containing large granules, isn’t going to be much help.
Instead, what you need is a chemical exfoliant. Alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids will dive deeper into the pores than physical exfoliants. This makes them far more effective at removing blockages.
If chemically exfoliating is new to you, then start off with a gentle formula, such as Lavelier’s Intensive Facial Peel. The alpha-hydroxy acid in this blend is mandelic acid. Derived from almonds, this AHA has quite a large molecular size, making it relatively mild in nature. However, it’s still a superstar at leaving the pores feeling clear and blockage-free. The bamboo powder in this product enhances its exfoliating effect, leaving the skin looking brighter and smoother.
3. Provide Adequate Hydration
Many people don’t realize that if their skin is dehydrated, it will start to produce more sebum. Even a minor lack of moisture will stimulate the sebaceous glands, and this spells bad news for your pores. The more oil that your skin produces, the larger and more stretched out your pores will appear. There’s also a much greater chance of you experiencing clogged pores, which, again, makes them look darker and more noticeable.
Unfortunately, relying solely on the water that you drink won’t be enough to keep your skin sufficiently hydrated. This water gets delivered to all of your internal organs first before filtering into your skin cells, meaning that the skin is sometimes left lacking.
To compensate for this, make sure that you’re hydrating your skin from the outside too. Applying the Lavelier Halophil Encapsulated Serum to your skin each day is a great way to do this. This serum is enriched with sodium hyaluronate, one of the most popular hydrating ingredients in the industry. It’s classed as a humectant, which means that it binds moisture to the skin to immediately leave it feeling hydrated and plumped up.
To maximize hydration, apply your serums and creams to skin that’s damp, rather than dry. This way, your skincare products will be able to trap all of that extra moisture into your skin. This will leave your face looking more radiant than ever!
4. Protect Your Skin From UV Rays
You’re probably already aware of some of the damage that UV rays can cause. Not only are they primarily responsible for many types of skin cancer but they also prematurely age the skin. One of the ways in which they do this is by damaging the skin’s protein fibers. These fibers essentially form a scaffolding beneath the skin, holding it up and keeping it firm. Once these start to decline, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle.
Of course, if your skin starts to sag, then this means that your pores will do the same. As you can imagine, this only makes them look droopy and even larger.
So, while you can’t stop the clock when it comes to your skin, you can definitely prevent UV rays from accelerating the skin aging process and expanding the look of your pores.
To do this, you’ll need a good sunscreen, such as the Lavelier Divine Day Defense SPF 30. For most people, SPF 30 is more than sufficient (the exception is if you have sensitive skin), although you’ll need to make sure that you reapply it every couple of hours to provide consistent protection. What sets this sunscreen apart from others is that it also functions as an amazing moisturizer. It’s packed with antioxidants that not only help to enhance how protected your skin feels but also provide complexion-brightening properties.
5. Absorb Excess Sebum With a Clay Mask
When it comes to removing blockages from your pores in order to make them look smaller and lighter, exfoliation should always be your go-to. However, that’s not the only method that you can try…
Clay masks are another effective way to clear out the pores. Research shows that clay is capable of absorbing significant amounts of sebum. When applied to the skin, clay draws this out of the pores, along with any dirt that may be stuck to it.
Since clay should only remain on the skin for a limited amount of time, the best way to harness the power of the ingredient is by using a clay mask.
At Lavelier, we have a few that you can choose from, one of which is the Mineral Allure Transforming Mask. This mask boasts two types of clay; kaolin and bentonite. It’s also formulated with several hydrating ingredients, including two different seaweed extracts. Together, these ingredients will leave your skin feeling purified and super soft.
Our HydroTherm Intense Masque is also a popular choice. This mask features just one clay; kaolin. However, it takes things to the next level by gradually heating up as it’s applied to the skin. When exposed to heat, the pore openings temporarily dilate. This makes it even easier for the clay in the mask to pull out any sebum that has muscled its way into your pores.
6. Make Sure That Your Skincare Products Are Non-Comedogenic
If you’re struggling with large pores, it’s extremely important to be mindful about the skincare products that you use. It goes without saying that your main aim should be to keep your pores as clear as possible. Therefore, comedogenic ingredients are a big no-go.
What does this mean?
Comedogenic refers to an ingredient’s propensity to clog pores. Some skincare ingredients, such as coconut oil and avocado oil, are rated as highly comedogenic. Therefore, there’s a high chance that they’ll block your pores, making them look bigger and darker.
Meanwhile, other ingredients, such as aloe vera and vitamin C, are known for being non-comedogenic. This means that they don’t have pore-clogging effects.
How can you tell how comedogenic an ingredient is?
A quick search online will give you the answers that you need. This might mean that you spend a large chunk of time initially researching your skincare products but you’ll soon start to recognize comedogenic ingredients without having to look them up.
7. Keep Dirty Hands and Objects Away From Your Face
It’s not just your skincare products that increase your chances of developing clogged pores…
Encouraging any form of dirt or bacteria to transfer onto your skin will do the same. Of course, this isn’t something that people do on purpose. However, many people unintentionally develop habits that lead to this.
If you frequently touch your face throughout the day, then that’s one habit that you need to put a stop to. Your hands are home to huge amounts of germs and dirt. Touching your face only puts your pores into contact with these impurities, leaving them more likely to get clogged. Ideally, only touch your face with clean hands, keeping your hands away from your face at all other times.
Holding a dirty phone up to your face has the same effect. One study found that the average cell phone contains ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. A large portion of this moves over onto your face, and therefore into your pores, each time your phone touches your skin. To prevent this, give your phone a quick clean each day with a phone-safe antibacterial wipe. It may seem like an unnecessary hassle but your pores will definitely thank you!
Minimize the Look of Large Pores With Lavelier
As you can see, there are several steps that you can take to minimize the look of large pores. They’re simple and easy to implement, meaning that, with enough dedication, you’ll finally be able to make your pores look smaller, tighter, and less visible.
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