HOW TO SHRINK LARGE PORES

You’ve always been told, “You can’t make your pores smaller“.

It sucks, of course, and it leaves you open (ba-dum-tish, thank you) to skincare woes like breakouts and premature ageing.

Despite keeping an upstanding skincare regimen of daily cleansing and twice-a-week exfoliation, if your pores aren’t getting any smaller, what follows are some clever solutions from International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica Education Manager Emma Hobson, so you can start closing in on your sinkhole-sized problems at once…

1. WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY

“Over time, UV damage breaks down the elasticity within our skin. With the walls of the pores being less elastic, they loosen and therefore enlarge,” explains Hobson. To prevent this, wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen that defends against UVA (ageing) and UVB (burning) rays is essential. SPF is an integral part to firm and healthy-looking skin, so don’t stop until you find one you love and wear it everyday. Our one and only is Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen.

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2. COMBAT OILY SKIN WITH OILS

Those with oily or combination skin are more prone to enlarged pores: “The more active the oil flow on skin, the wider or larger the pore opening needs to be to release oil onto the skin’s surface,” says Hobson.

It’s something we’ve written about before: to regulate oily skin, fight oil with oil in the form of a super hydrating, vitamin-packed serum. In reaction, your skin should stop producing as much sebum because it realises it doesn’t need to. Try Rohr Remedy Boab and Rosehip with Vitamin E and take it one step further with an oil-cleanser, we love Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil.

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3. USE THESE INGREDIENTS AS WELL!

Hobson says the most effective solution is to use products with active oil reducing ingredients as well. “Some of the best,” she recommends, “are Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and Alginated Zinc Triplex (AZT). AZT is a combination of Hydrolysed Algin (from brown seaweed) and Zinc Sulphate which can reduce oil flow by approximately 26%. And Enantia Chlorantha Bark, which has a 36% reduction in pore size and a 49% reduction in oil flow, creating up to 55% less in skin shine.”

For Niacinamide, try:
Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Day Cream SPF 15
Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum

For Zinc Sulphate, try:
Dermalogica Skin Clearing Face Wash (contains AZT)
La Roche-Posay Serozinc

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4. QUICK-FIX TIGHTENING TREATMENTS

For immediate results there are also quick-fix treatments available. “These temporary measures work by constricting the size of the pore,” advises Hobson. “Treatments like galvanic or micro current procedures and peels that use astringents to tighten skin in the short term.”

Hit us up in the comments with your best large-pore solutions!