By Jasmine He November 11, 2017 - 6:34pm

What are pores? What makes them bigger? How to shrink pores? Is it possible to make them smaller at home? This article will give you some helpful information.

What are pores and what makes them larger?

Pores are the holes in our surface which is tiny holes help our skin secrete oil and water. In some case, these holes are not small because of many reasons like oily skin, age, genetic or sex.

Our skin always produces the oil to make it waterproof and protect it from drying. People have oily skin tend to have open pores, because the oil mix with dust in our environment will stimulate them open.

Another reason is your age because the senescent skin makes skin loses its elasticity, which makes the pores oversize. Do you know that if your parents both have the large pores, you will tend to have big size pores too? The genetic also decide the size of our pores. Sex is one main reason to affect the size of pores too. Males often have larger pores than females cause by hormone system.

The life and working environment, stress also results in the large pores.

8 useful tips on how to shrink pores

We couldn’t change some things like genetics, sex; but we have many other reasons make our pores larger which we can deal with like:

1. Cleaning your skin

The oil and dirt block the pores make them expand. Therefore, keeping your skin clean is an important thing to reduce the pore size. Wash your face two or three times a day to make skin clear. Use the warm water to open the pores and gently massage by a circular movement to relax and deep clean the hole, then close them by pat cold water to close them. Do not clean it too much because this can irritate the face and cause acne. In addition, you wear makeup to hide the pores, but this action makes it worse. The powder will block the pores and make it bigger. Thus, just wear makeup when you really need.

2. Using ice

As you know the heat causes the expansions and the cold makes the contractions. We can base on that to use ice to smaller our pores. Cover the ice with a cloth and apply on face moving and massage. When you do this way, make sure that your face is clean. If your skin is dirty, this can cause the acne worse. Besides, don’t apply directly to face, you can get a cold burn. Hope this easy way can help you when you wonder “How to shrink pores?”

3. Moisturize your skin

If your skin is dry, it will cause dry, flaky spots. Another one is that clogs your pores and enlarged it. Because when the skin was not enough moisture, the pores will produce too much oil. Thus, it’s so important to keep your moisture skin. You should use the moisturizer in your daily skincare, and non-comedogenic moisturizers are your best choice. Because people prove that it doesn’t cause breakouts (blackheads, whiteheads, papules) and suit many kinds of skin.

4. Exfoliating your face

Clean and moisturize your face helps you on “how to shrink pores?”. On the other hand, don’t forget to exfoliate once or twice a week to remove the large dead cells which also block and larger your pores. Moreover, exfoliating also help to rejuvenate and improve your skin texture. You can use the exfoliation products which have the proven sloughing ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, fruit enzymes, or retinol. Another choice for you is to choose the natural exfoliators such as honey, yogurt, lemon juice, or sugar. After that, you should apply a facial moisturizer to keep your face from drying out. Avoid the over-exfoliating because you can lose the protective barrier of your skin. Remember to protect your skin from the sun by apply sunscreens or face mask before going out.

5. Using a clay mask

The clay masks help to smoother and clean your skin. Besides, it also reduces your pore size for pulling out dirt inside. “How to shrink pores by clay mask?”. There are 5 steps you should do to have the best result. Firstly, start with clean your face as I told you above. If you wear makeup, you need to remove it completely. Secondly, you should apply the mask on a small area. If your skin is irritated, you shouldn’t use this substance. If not, continue to the third step to apply the mask. Cover it over your face and concentrate in where the pores appear large. Leave the mask on your face about 15-20 minutes. Then, gently rinse your face under warm water to wash the cover away.

6. Appling the cucumber

Cucumber has many minerals and vitamins like potassium, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin C which help your skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Additionally, cucumber also has astringent properties which help to minimize open pores. Cut the cucumber be the thin pieces and apply on face and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then clean your face with fresh water. Don’t keep it too long which dry out your skin. Another way is to take cucumber juice and mix with egg whites, milk or avocados to make a face mask. These face masks not only minimize your pores but also smoother and soften your skin.

7. Appling a yogurt and egg white face mask

This remedy just takes about 20 minutes to make and use. Yogurt is rich in skin nutrients such as lactic acid, calcium, zinc and B vitamins. Thus, it can clean, heal, and moisturize your skin. Egg white is a favorite in skincare. Because it is full of amino acids and proteins which dry up pimples and reduce inflammation in your face. It is also known as a mild astringent which help to reduce the size pores. Yogurt and egg white face mask can be your healer if you are suffering from large pores, rough skin, or acne. You just need 2 tablespoons yogurt and 1 egg white and mix them. Then apply on face for 10- 15 minutes and relax. Until the mixture has completely dried, gently clean it with warm water. Using a soft towel to dry it then feel the smooth of your skin.

8. Using apple cider vinegar (ACV)

Apple cider vinegar is a natural pH balancer and an anti-inflammation substance. It also unclogs your pores and makes them smaller. Mix ACV with water in the ratio 1:1. Use a cotton pad to apply this fluid on face and leave it a few minutes. After that, rinse with warm water and then moisturize. Every night before going to sleep you can use this treatment.