How To Minimise Open Pores

Pores. They seem to be the bane of my skin existence. Tiny little dips splattered all around the center of my face that just refuse to leave the party. What's worse is that when they're not my own pores I'm noticing, they're my boyfriend's, taunting me as I sit across from him unable to focus on the adult Lego blog he's been trying to explain to me for the last 5 minutes as all I see are tiny little blackheads flecked across his nose. It's a living nightmare, I assure you. Now, while I can't get rid of them completely, I have thankfully come across a few little tricks to minimise their appearance so that I can finally focus on his words. So for all those out there facing a similar daily struggle, this one's for you!

DISCLAIMER : While I believe pores can be of concern for many people (myself included), it is less than likely anyone will notice them if they were looking at you from across the table. Pore size really is something you will only notice if you are either 10 centimetres from a mirror or are face to face with someone, which is generally my day to day life outside of Covid-19 as I am, after all, a detail-oriented makeup artist. My below advice is purely to help those concerned with their skin ‘s appearance and to give you confidence going forward. Always seek counsel from your dermatologist if you find you have skin health issues which simple over the counter products cannot fix.

WHAT ARE PORES?

A pore is the opening surrounding a hair follicle. When it comes to facial pores, most of them are seemingly invisible much like those found on the rest of your body, however, the oil glands which are located at the base of the hair follicle can sometimes enlarge causing your pores to appear larger and more noticeable to the eye (especially if you are 10 centimetres away from a mirror). Other contributing factors to why pores can seem enlarged included the thickness of the hair follicles, genetics, reduced collagen production and reduced elasticity in the skin due to dehydration or ageing. When a pore becomes clogged, this can also bring further attention to the area as this is when we begin to see blackheads and blemishes take place on the skin surface.

HOW CAN I MAKE MY PORES SMALLER?

Just to be clear, unfortunately, there is nothing that will truly shrink a pore down in size or make them disappear completely - no product can. However, there are some very effective ingredients that will make them appear smaller.

RETINOIDS - The best topical medium for making pores look better is the nightly use of topical retinoids or retinol, which are forms of vitamin A (a natural ingredient). Retinoids do two things: it increases skin cell turnover, which helps improve the overall thickness of the skin, and they increase the purging of oily plugs from the pores – the less packed the pores are, the smaller they look.

BETA HYDROXY ACID - Salicylic acid is also an excellent ingredient as it exfoliates deep into the pore wall due to it being an oil-soluble acid, which means it is able to rid the pore of dead skin cells that can make them appear larger.

NIACINAMIDE - This powerful antioxidant regulates oil by soothing inflammation and restoring moisture levels in the skin. By helping to renew the natural production of skin-strengthening ceramides, the epidermis can retain optimal moisture level and protect itself from dehydration, which is one of the biggest contributing factors to a slackening of the pore wall. (Note - If using Vitamin C, make sure to alternate the use of these two ingredients so as not to impact their efficacy. IE. One for the day - One for the night).

WHAT PRODUCTS ARE GOOD FOR OPEN PORES?

CLEANSERS

It goes without saying that cleansing is a number one must when it comes to controlling what’s going on inside the pore wall. Maintaining a clean, healthy surface is one on the first steps in making sure your pores don’t become clogged, leading to blackheads & breakouts. One of my all-time favourite cleansers is the La Mer Cleansing Gel. This 200ml cleanser is truly like the Fairy Liquid Concentrate of facial cleansers in that you really only need a drop to thoroughly cleanse the skin and remove all traces of makeup. Key ingredients in this foaming oil-free gel formula include Magnetised Tourmaline and La Mer’s patented Deconstructed Waters which work to draw out impurities in the skin while maintaining a balanced and hydrated surface, thanks to Aloe Vera and Algae extracts. It’s an amazing cleanser for combination to oily skin types, plus the size can last well up to a year (speaking from personal experience).
If you would prefer something which is non-foaming, you could try something like the Double Phase Cleanser by Beauty Pie. Formulated for combination to dry and dehydrated skin, this cream to milk cleanser uses Passionflower, Baobab, Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Aloe Vera to gently break down debris on the skin which is then removed with a hot cloth for gentle daily exfoliation & to remove any final residue. (If you’ve never tried Beauty Pie membership before click here for a trial month free of charge).

TONERS

When it comes to post-cleansing, I find toners are a great option to quickly reduce oils on the skin surface & help minimise the appearance of pores. A great on the go option is the Oil Eliminator Toner by Keihl's which comes in a handy little spray bottle so you can keep it in your bag & spritz when needed. For those who are looking for actual pore reduction, I suggest Perricone's Intensive Pore Minimizer which combines DMAE which strengthens and tones the pore by stimulating the arrector pili muscle located at the base of the hair follicle, and Salicylic Acid to effectively cleanse the pore. To use, simply pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and apply to the skin.

MASKS, TOOLS AND FIXES

If you're as much a fan of a little self-care ritual as much as I am, then these are for you. One of my favourite clay masks is the Beauty Pie Super Pore-Detox Black Clay Mask, which combines both Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid for deep exfoliation, Salicylic Acid and kaolin to draw out impurities in the skin, eliminate excess oils and improve circulation in the skin, leaving a brighter surface and tighter pores. After removing your mask, you can follow up with something like the Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor. This amazing tool uses ultrasonic technology to oscillate debris out of the pore without any irritation. Furthermore, it can be used to enhance the penetration of your active ingredients found in the rest of your skincare. It is a real game-changer and can break any of those nasty squeezing or picking habits which are known to scar the skin.

When all else fails thankfully there are methods of refinement. I'm talking about cosmetic ‘filler’ products. Those wonderful little beauty products you can keep in your makeup bag for when you need to look like your most polished version of yourself. These filling products come in many different forms such as primers, touch up wands or skin serums, & are primarily loaded with silicones which fill the pore in order to provide a more even surface to the skin. My personal favourite is Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, as it perfectly primes skin by melting into enlarged pores & fine lines without balling up, leaving skin with a beautiful matte finish. This primer also has a natural SPF 15, which helps protect your skin from UV damage.

If you liked this post or have any questions regarding further product recommendations (I have plenty!) please leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

NOTE : As a makeup artist, I love recommending products I have tried & tested to everyone I come into contact with. This website contains some affiliate marketing links for the products I mention, which means I may get paid a small commission on sales of those products should you purchase through my link.
My content is based on personal experience with these products and is not influenced by advertisers, affiliate partnerships or brands.