Thankfully—or not depending on how you view the world—there are plenty of products that promise to clear your pores, shrink them, and make them less obvious on your face. But how many of them actually do the work, and are there any items you should be avoiding? Here, we dug into what skin care pros actually want you to do in order to take care of your skin and pores. And some people might even notice them enlarge as they age. Unfortunately, this means you might be more prone to clogged pores too. As if that’s not enough, environmental factors like weather and humidity, as well as lifestyle choices like diet can also affect how your pores look over time. Victoria Stiles, a celebrity makeup artist and creative director at ShikSona Beauty recommends “choosing a gel or water-based cleanser instead of a product that contains alcohol, [because it] is gentler on the skin and won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.” Keep in mind that if the skin is left too dry, it’ll trigger more oil production—the opposite of what you want when trying to minimize pores. She notes that many safe chemical exfoliants are effective at removing dead skin: “Most OTC products use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs—salicylic acid),” she notes about pore-minimizing topicals. These work to break down dead skin cells (as is the case with AHAs) or oils (BHAs) in order to clear out your pores. As is true with any amount of exfoliation, the key is finding your balance. Many derms recommend around one to three times a week, but you can adjust that frequency as needed. Note that retinol can increase the skin’s photosensitivity, and some people don’t react well to it. Consider incorporating bakuchiol, which has been shown to offer similar efficacy as retinol and is usually well tolerated even by people with sensitive skin. The moral of the story? Don’t skip the SPF step. Whether you use it as a stand-alone product or as an SPF-infused moisturizer or foundation, never leave home without it. Long story short, you’re not a trained aesthetician who knows exactly which extraction tools to use and the proper techniques to avoid damaging your skin. At best, these tools won’t be effective. But in extreme cases, you can end up scratching your skin or causing scars and wounds. Specifically, he recommends masks that contain “kaolin and bentonite earth clays to absorb excess oil.” This is because the clay works to draw toxins out of your pores, which gently cleans them. If you’re concerned about large pores or feel that at-home treatments aren’t working, consider speaking with a licensed dermatologist to determine whether an in-office approach might be better.
