The enlarged pores, visible to the naked eye that dot the skin of the face are a concern for many of us. Looking in the mirror we think about when our complexion would be more beautiful without this imperfection. Because yes, enlarged pores are exclusively an aesthetic problem, and no matter how annoying, they don’t hurt anyone.

Indeed, they have a purpose, which is to secrete the sebum that protects the epidermis. Without them, the surface of our face would remain completely dry. They are therefore essential for the well-being of our skin. Their “dilated” appearance is a simple condition, also known as “pyrexia”. The size of our pores is largely determined by genetics  

Like the colour of the eyes or hair, the texture of our skin is also entrusted to the information of DNA. Other causes, such as sun damage, ageing or having oily skin, can make their appearance worse.

How to minimise pores

Contrary to popular belief, pores cannot “open” and “close”, but we can certainly do something to avoid worsening their appearance and minimising their appearance. Cleansers, toners, serums and products specific to this problem cannot shrink pores, because they are unable to change the texture of the skin.

This does not mean that they are useless, but they can still allow us to make them appear smaller, and improve their overall appearance. The strategy to be adopted to combat enlarged pores is composed of a mix of good habits and regular treatments. The key habits to avoid making the problem worse are:

Cleanse your face regularly: Thorough facial cleansing counteracts the accumulation of sebum and impurities that can accumulate inside the pores, worsening their appearance. Clean pores return to their normal size. However, on the contrary, we also avoid excessively decreasing the skin, because this would stimulate, contrary, greater production of sebum.

Moisturise the skin daily: For the same reason, we try to maintain a good level of hydration, using a good cream twice a day. In addition to preventing the epidermis from drying out, the massage required to apply the product stimulates circulation and the production of new cells.

Use sunscreen: Sunscreen is the best anti-ageing cosmetic. In the case of pores, sun exposure can cause them to curve along the edge, appearing larger. Let’s be sure to choose a product suitable for use on the face, which protects us from both UVA and UVB rays, light and non-comedogenic.

Never go to bed without removing your make-up thoroughly: Always according to the experts that the more the pore is free, the better her appearance of her, let’s make sure that you have cleaned and removed your face very carefully, preparing for the night. If we are particularly tired we can occasionally skip some steps of the evening skincare, but never remove make-up, even better if followed by double cleansing.

Home products and treatments against enlarged pores

One of the most useful practices for improving the appearance of the face that presents pyrexia is regular exfoliation. The constant elimination of dead cells will give us brighter and more radiant skin and will avoid the accumulation of impurities inside the pores. We have talked extensively about chemical and physical exfoliation.

The most suitable active ingredients for the treatment of pores are alpha and beta-hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids will provide us with the exfoliation we need, while beta hydroxy acids will keep pores clean. A great product that contains both and is easy to use is COSRX’s AHA / BHA clarifying toner. Easy to fit into your routine, and effective without being too aggressive.

Another of the best ingredients used for pyrexia is retinol, Also called “provitamin A”, it is widely used for its anti-ageing properties By speeding up cell turnover and stimulating the production of collagen, it allows obtaining better appearance of the skin and finer grain. Among the top retinol products, the retinol serum stands out, a mix of active ingredients enriched with peptides and antioxidants particularly suitable for those who want to fight the signs of ageing as well.