Hiyee!

Unfortunately, there are no products out there to tighten pores (yes, it’s all marketing). But the good news is, you can minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.

Firstly, let me tell you about the pores. Pores do not open and close. Pores appear larger when we oil, so as we grow older, they appear larger and larger because we produce more oil specially in the nose area :( Boooo…

However, you can do the following to minimize the appearance of large pores:

1. Cleanse your face in the morning and at night. Do not use anti-oil products because by using these products, your skin “gets the feeling” that you are lacking oil so you produce more oil (sad but true). Use a gentle cleanser. Cetaphil is very mild and good for the skin, but personally I like bubbles and suds so I use Clearasil.

2. NEVER SLEEP WITHOUT WASHING YOUR FACE. Nakakatamad, but this can clog your pores with oil and dirt so your pores appear larger and can cause build-up. Hence, blackheads! Which can make your pores appear large. So even without any makeup on, cleanse your face thoroughly. Change the “I was mostly indoors lang naman eh!” attitude and wash your face religiously!

3. Use a toner. It’s a myth that toner closes your pores after washing your face. Toners just removes any traces of any remaining oil, dirt, makeup and soap residue on your skin so your skin feels tight afterwards. Use twice a day as well after you cleanse your skin.

4. Exfoliate your skin. DO NOT use facial scrubs like St. Ives Apricot scrubs because these beads can scratch your skin. It may not be visible to the naked eye but microscopically speaking, your skin can be damaged after prolonged use. Exfoliate with a wash cloth (you know, like the ones for the baby?), soak the towel with hot water and put your facial cleanser and rub the cloth so you form bubbles (as hot as you can stand it), gently use circular motions on your face to exfoliate. By doing this, you can keep dead skin cells away from your pores. Do this once a week only, 2 times at the most!

5. Don’t over apply your makeup. Less is best! Using thick cream foundations and cake foundations can clog your pores. I recommend BB creams and just dust loose powder over it with a big brush. You get the coverage that you need and it has moisturizers, SPF, and anti-aging benefits in them as well!

6. Keep your makeup tools clean. Bacteria and oil residue can remain in your brushes after each use, so if you do not keep them clean, you transfer these things on your pores. EEW!

7. Try Garnier’s Pure Self-Heating Sauna Mask once a week. This really deep cleanses your pores and the effect lasts 7 days! I love using these on myself, apply on your T-Zone. Use as directed only, there was a time when I left it longer than what was instructed and my skin got irritated.

8. Pore strips for blackheads work, it’s everywhere so try these too. It can remove some, not all, but some of the bigger blackheads that make your pores look enlarged.

Just by keeping your skin clean, you can minimize the appearance of large pores. Sometimes it’s just dirt. The ice does work but it only constricts the pores that’s why it seems as if they “close”.

Try this for a month and let me know what happens! Never forget to moisturize and put sunblock after you tone in the morning, and moisturize only at night :)

Good luck!

Sabs