Minimising Pores
Large pores are a common annoyance that can affect your skin’s feel and texture. Although you can’t totally get rid of your pores (they play a vital role) there are many things you can do to make them smaller and less visible.
What Causes Large, Visible Pores?
Your pores, play an important role in keeping your skin healthy. Inside each pore is a sebaceous gland that secretes sebum — a natural type of oil that keeps your skin lubricated, moisturised and protected from damage.
While some sebum is vital for your skin’s appearance and function, when your pores secrete too much sebum, it can mix with dead skin cells and cause your pores to clog and expand.
This is what causes acne breakouts, as well as the large, clearly visible pores that can show in certain parts of your face.
You may be more prone to visible pores if you have naturally oily skin, which can contribute to blockages and comedones.
Everyone’s skin, and while you can’t choose your skin type, you can definitely reduce your pore size and give your skin a smoother, more consistent texture.
4 Ways to Minimise the Appearance of Your Pores:
1. Use a Good Quality Facial Cleanser
One of the most effective ways to make your pores less visible is to wash your face with a good quality cleanser.
Cleansing helps to remove excess sebum, skin cells and other substances that can clog pores and cause them to expand.
For best results, pick a gentle cleanser such as Dr Vanita Rattan Micellar Gel Wash, a skin brightening, hydrating and anti-inflammatory gel wash for skin of colour. It strengthens the skin barrier and controls sebum.
Make sure not to scrub your face, as this can contribute to skin inflammation.
2. Switch to Non-Comedogenic Moisturiser
An easy way to get rid of clogged, expanded pores is to prevent them from appearing in the first place.
In addition to cleansing your face, you can do this by avoiding moisturisers that contain pore-clogging oils and other ingredients.
Dr Vanita Rattan Cera Pep Moisturiser meets these criteria, it’s non-comedogenic (doesn’t block pores) and contains ceramides (lost more rapidly in skin of colour) and tyrosinase inhibitors for pigmentation (also more likely in s.o.c). Additionally, niacinamide has been added to strengthen the skin barrier and peptides to help stimulate collagen.
3. Use a Chemical Exfoliator
There are two main culprits behind clogged pores. The first, as we’ve already covered, is sebum — the natural oil that’s secreted by your sebaceous glands.
The second is dead skin cells, which can build up on the outer layer of your skin as the result of a process called epidermal turnover.
Over time, your skin naturally replaces itself by generating new cells. And as these cells build up on the surface of your skin, they can mix with sebum to clog and expand your pores.
To prevent dead skin cells from enlarging your pores, try adding a chemical exfoliator to your skin care routine.
This will improve your skin’s texture and make wrinkles, age spots, signs of aging and will help to prevent your pores from becoming enlarged and visible.
Dr Vanita Rattan Exfoliate To Glow is perfect exfoliator as it gives you a controlled and gentle exfoliation with large Alpha Hydroxy Acid molecules i.e. Mandelic acid and Lactic acid.
4. Apply a SPF50 Sunscreen
Sunscreen is an important preventive habit that should be maintained all year, including the winter months. Dr V Inzincable SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen is perfecting for protecting your skin, it has all the benefits your skin requires:
- Maximum UVB/UVA (PA++++) protection
- Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen, no chemical filters
- No 'white cast' - designed for Skin of Colour
- Contains Melashield TM to help reduce hyperpigmentation
- Blue Light Protection
- Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Aging, Anti-Pigmentation properties
- 'N.A.F.E SAFE'- No Denatured Alcohol, No Fragrance, No Essential Oils