Your skin needs pores, for without them, sweat would never escape. And sebum would never be able to keep your skin naturally moisturized. When you’re young, your pores are tight. Look at any small child and sigh with dreaminess over how smooth and flawless their skin is.

Large pores can make you feel older and unattractive, and unfortunately, they don’t open and close the way a door does. Their size is also determined by genetics. More oily skin types tend to show pores more, and as you age, pores seem to look larger and larger.

You may have heard that using cold water will shrink your pores while hot water opens them up. This is only half true. Water temperature isn’t going to help you shrink your pores, though cleansing your skin with warm water will most certainly help coax the gunk trapped in there out when washing your face.

Cold water can temporarily dilate your pores though, but once your skin warms up to the temperature of the air, your pores will be back as they were. Don’t give up hope though. There are things you can do that will have a bigger impact.

Minimizing Large Pores

You can’t change your pore size permanently, but you can help minimize them. All those products out there can’t correct the size though they can help make them look smaller. The trick is in exfoliating your skin.

When you exfoliate, you get the dead skin cells and oil out of your pores. Keeping pores clear of blockages is what will give you the refined and clarified appearance you’re after. That’s why it’s recommended you exfoliate two to three times per week, depending on your skin type. By doing so, you will help keep your pores from appearing too large.

You can’t stop genetics, but you can use proper skincare to keep those pores from looking too noticeable. Once you exfoliate, you’ll notice your skin looks brighter, smoother, and has a more evened-out tone. Another reason not to skip exfoliating? When you leave oil and cellular debris clogging the way, it can stretch out your pores to make them appear even larger.

Ingredients To Choose For Pore Minimization

If you want to see less of your pores, make sure you use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). These include glycolic acid and retinol, both very effective at helping smooth down pores. A topical prescription retinoid may also help.

Another option is choosing pore strips. They help with blackheads to clear the upper portion of the pore so it gives a clearer appearance. When you use these in conjunction with products that contain AHAs, you’ll see the kind of radiant skin you want - skin that looks youthful, clear, and smooth. It might not be like that of a child, but it will certainly be noticeably improved!

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com. 

Photo by Angelos Michalopoulos on Unsplash