Today is all about PORE size. The wonderful holes in your face that protect you by producing awesome sebum, but that also cause you some distress when they get clogged… And I know you hate on them because they seem to get bigger every day…
Once upon a time, an ex-boyfriend looked at my nose and said, “Your pores are big.”
He’s dead and buried.
What Should I Do To Minimize Pores
Nothing! There’s nothing you can do to shrink the size of your pores, because they don’t shrink or expand, they do not open and close because your pores aren’t a muscle.
When your aesthetician steams your pores “to open them”, the pores don’t actually expand — what happens is the sebum gets softer and is easier to extract.
The size of your pores depends on your genes, so the best thing you can do for your pores is to start loving them. It’s time to accept your pores and everything they do for you.
All the “pore-minimizing” or “pore-tightening” products out there are preying on your insecurities, meanwhile, your pore size remains the same.
Any product that targets “pore size” is one you should AVOID, avoid, avoid! They usually contain drying and irritating ingredients like witch hazel or alcohol. These ingredients dry up your sebum, and irritate your skin, making it worse in the long run.
Now what?
What Can I Do To Prevent My Pores From Getting Bigger
Never fear! There are a few factors that impact your pores, and can help them from getting any bigger. Here’s what you can do to make your pores look smaller, and prevent them from getting any bigger.
1. Keep Your Skin Clean
Hygiene affects the look of your pores. When your skin is covered with sebum and dead skin cells, your pores can appear larger. So make sure to wash your face properly.
Read about how to wash your face properly here.
2. Keep Your Pores Open
I just said that your pores don’t open and close, which is true. But your pores can get clogged with sebum, dead skin cells, or makeup. If you keep your pores open, that means that your sebum can flow without obstruction and without clogging.
The best way to keep your pores open is through regular exfoliation — both manual and chemical.
Manual exfoliation includes scrubs, konjac sponges, or wash cloths. You should manually exfoliate 1-2 times a week for best results.
Read about how to properly manually exfoliate here.
Chemical exfoliation goes deeper, and can clean out your pores from the inside! Salicylic acid is an example of an acid that can actually unclog your pores and keep your skin smooth and clear while helping your pores look smaller.
Read about the best way to chemically exfoliate your skin for amazing results.
Try my favorite chemical exfoliant:
Paula’s Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Exfoliant With 2% Salicylic Acid
3. Stay Out Of The Sun
Have you seen the skin of a baby? Notice that a baby’s skin is almost poreless — that’s because it hasn’t had years of sun damage! Now, look at your butt! Yes, go look at your butt! Isn’t it like the smoothest part of your body? Why do you think that is?
It’s because your butt doesn’t really see the sun, which means the skin on your butt is awesome!
Sunlight breaks down collagen in your skin, making your skin weak and saggy, which makes pores appear even bigger!
So stay out of the sun, wear protective clothing, and — slather your face with sunscreen 365 days a year whether you leave the house or not. That’s right, UVA rays penetrate windows and start jacking up your collagen as soon as your skin sees the light of day.
Try this sunscreen:
Paula’s Choice CLEAR Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+
4. Make Your Skin Stronger
Collagen and elastin are important proteins making up your skin. You can maintain the structural integrity of your skin, making it strong and resilient to damage by getting enough collagen protein, and eating a well-rounded, healthy, whole food diet.
I actually supplement with collagen protein powder for this reason.
Try this Collagen Protein Powder:
Bulletproof Collagen Protein Powder
What About Oil Cleansing For Clear Skin?
The Oil Cleansing Method is a cleansing method where one applies oils (jojoba, castor etc.), to the face, followed by a hot washcloth to the face to “open” pores and “clear out clogs”. The hot washcloth is repeatedly rinsed and applied until most of the oil is removed from the face.
The Oil Cleansing Method is based on the theory that oil dissolves in oil, and that like attracts like… Proponents of this method say that clogs are drawn out this way because clogs are oil.
But skin clogs are made of sebum (oil) AND dead skin cells AND bacteria, AND white blood cells AND cytokines… An oil can’t penetrate DEEP inside your pore to clear it out.
Just as you don’t wash an oily pan with more oil, you shouldn’t wash your face with oil.
Repeatedly applying a hot washcloth to your face is also out of the question. This is a recipe for dry, damaged skin!!! If you are going to steam your face, you should do it NO MORE than once a week — not once or twice a day as with oil cleansing.
Though I’ve only tried the oil cleansing method a couple of times, just to see what the big deal was… I still managed to break out like crazy afterward! I couldn’t understand why anybody would choose such a cumbersome way to cleanse…It was messy and took forever.
I’ve heard other people’s horror stories after using the oil cleansing method for months. They all end up with crazy breakouts, cystic and comedonal pimples, and usually dry, rough skin. It sounds painful and devastating!
For the love of God, there are gentler and easier ways to remove even WATERPROOF makeup that doesn’t include the totally heinous oil cleansing method.
There’s a Korean take on oil cleansing that’s called the double cleanse method. The presumption is that makeup and sunscreen is so damn strong, that you need to cleanse your face twice — first with an oil-based cleanser that cuts through all the products, and second with a water-soluble cleanser to remove the first cleanser.
To which I say, “WHYYYYYY??????!!!!!!!!!!!”
What kind of products are you people applying to your face????
Somehow I get by with clear skin and I cleanse once, gently, without needing oils…
A water-base cleanser is gentler and cuts through all the nonsense without needing to rub, tug, or steam your face off.
Final Thoughts
I’ve accepted my pores and started loving them. To show them love, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser, I exfoliate regularly, and I moisturize like a pro. I stay out of the sun, and protect my skin with sunscreen and antioxidants! I also eat amazing food and supplement with essential vitamins & minerals & herbs… I exercise to improve circulation, and think happy thoughts to help my body heal and feel amazing!
All this love I’m showing myself resulted in clear, smooth skin… With smallish pores. 😉
Love,
Olena
P.S. If you need help on your skin-clearing journey, sign up to get 28 of my BEST hacks for clear skin here!
