Want your skin to look smooth, dewy and “poreless”? Don’t overlook the importance of deep pore cleansing. Clogged pores often appear to be larger and even darker, making your complexion look dull with uneven texture.
Where pores came from and are they bad?
First thing to know is that, pores are the opening at the top of our hair follicles, and they are exceptionally helpful in maintaining healthy skin, as they are where the natural oils of our body released to keep our skin moisturized, lubricated and protected.
When your glands are producing just the right amount of sebum, your skin looks healthy, but not shiny. Too little sebum can lead to dry, cracking skin.
Common questions about pores:
- Can pores shrink?
The size of pore is largely determined by genetics, so it’s impossible to shrink it or make it go away (but you can make it less noticeable if care properly) - Why pores enlarge?
External environmental factors, e.g. air pollution, smoking, sun damage, aging, and acne can all make your pores look bigger.
The more collagen lost, the more the pores lose shape and look enlarged. - How to make pores look smaller?
Regular and proper cleansing can make your pores look smaller, but too much cleansing would cause your pores to produce more oil. - Why pores get clogged?
Pores get clogged with excess sebum, dirt, makeup and other debris if that cleansed and cared for properly, while oily skin are more prone to experience blockages in the pores.
8 Mistakes to avoid for healthy & clean pores
Clogged pores cause the growth of bacteria, leading to whiteheads, blackheads, and papules and thus acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. To minimize the appearance of your pores and get clear and glowing skin, here are the common mistakes you should avoid.
- Not washing your face properly
You should wash your face no shorter than 30 seconds and no longer than 60 seconds, to avoid under-cleansing or over-cleansing. - Water too hot
Rinsing your face with hot water can irritate and dry out your skin. - Using pore-clogging products
If you have oily skin, make sure the products you are using does not contain pore-clogging ingredients, e.g beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba wax, shark liver oil, shea butter, wheat germ oil, lauric acid, algae extract, lanolin, D&C Red, stearic acid etc. - Forcibly extracting blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples
Trying to forcibly pull the gunk out of your pores allows bacteria to get to the inner layer of your skin, making it prone to inflammation. - Too much exfoliation
Over-exfoliation can also cause irritation and make your skin vulnerable, causing acne breakout, burning, redness or flaking skin. - Using blotting sheets too often
Stripping away the skin’s natural oil prompt skin produce more oil, making your complexion more acne-prone. - Skipping moisturizer
Moisturizing your skin helps regulate slow down sebum production with skin, skipping moisturizer will make your skin dry out and bring the exact opposite! - Skipping sunscreen
UV rays from the sun break collagen, elastin as well as thicken skin, causing the edges of your pores to stretch and look saggy.
How to unclog pores at home fast?
- Cleanse once or twice per day to keep your face clean
- Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, 1-3 times per week
- Moisturize with products that won’t clog pores
6 home remedies to minimize appearance of pores
Cleaning and exfoliation are very important in keeping pores clean and unclogged.
- Facial cleansing brush
The brush offers deeper and more thorough cleanse by penetrating further into the pores to remove excess oil, dirt, and debris. The brittles also gently exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells to make your skin look smoother.
Try using it once or twice a week at the beginning and slowly build up your use. Normal skin types can potentially use it daily, while those with sensitive skin should stick with once or twice per week. - Salicylic acid
Unlike most tools that unclog the pores forcibly, salicylic acid is oil-soluble. Therefore It can dissolve skin debris directly. Its anti-inflammatory property also make it a must-have for acne-prone skin.
- Retinol
Retinol has the superpower ability to speed up skin cell renewal and enhance collagen production. It can alco unclog pores and dissolve away dead skin layers. Adding it to your skincare routine can help reduce the appearance of pores.
- Steaming
Heat from the steam loosens dirt and debris from clogged pores, preparing your skin for a deeper cleanse that follows. It also promotes circulation, giving your skin a natural healthy glow. Don’t steam for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. - Clay mask
Using clay mask once a week can gently cleanse deep within congested pores, while targeting skin issues such as irritation, acne and excess sebum.
- Face scrub
Face scrub is an alternative for regular exfoliation to remove dead skin cells dullness from your skin.
