If you’re an oily girl like me, you’ll definitely understand my struggle with large pores. Our pores get filled fast and gunk just gets stuck. If we’re not actively and consistently trying to get them out, our pores just become too noticeable for comfort. My large pores seem like a never ending struggle and I don’t think there’s been a time in my skincare journey where I’ve not had to actively deal with them from time to time. By the way, I mostly breakout and experience large pores around my cheek area. They are the oiliest parts of my face.
Large pores are sometimes (well maybe most times) hereditary but there are definitely ways to improve the large pore situation going on with your skin.
- Exfoliate your skin with a very gentle scrub. Anyway, nothing too harsh so that you will not eventually make your skin worse.
- Use products (especially cleansers) that contain AHA like lactic acid and BHA like salicylic acid and glycolic acid e.t.c. They help to cleanse and extract all the gunk from within the pores. Salicylic acid has made a difference in the size of my pores I tell you and it only took stopping it for one week to notice the difference it had made on my skin. (Recently ran out of my Clinique salicylic acid cleansing foam). I’m looking to try out a cleanser with glycolic acid as well to see how it works for my skin. Patricia Bright swears by it!
- Stay away from oil-based products. I mean cleansers, moisturizers, foundations, makeup in general. They can worsen your large pores situation. I advise oily girls stay away from heavy cleansing balms and oils. I have a post on my favorite light weight moisturizers for oily girls.
- Don’t dry out your skin! On the flip side, as much as you want to use cleansers that thoroughly cleanse your pores, find something gentle enough to not strip it out completely. So avoid harsh soaps and products with alcohol.
- Clay masks are really good at reducing excess oil, lifting gunk from beneath the skin and tightening your pores.
- Avoid foods that can increase the oiliness and sebum production in your skin. Food like sugar and junk can accumulate in your system and stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
- If possible, try getting extractions from a spa or from your aesthetician from time to time. I mean whitehead extractions.
Guys, with all that said, the important thing to note when dealing with large pores is to as much as possible reduce the oiliness of your skin.
What are your experiences dealing with large pores?
Looking forward to hearing from you! 💋
I’m quite interested in trying out the Clinique cleansing foam/gel now that you’ve mentioned that salicylic acid makes a difference to your pores… I’ve always had issues around the nose area, and since there’s a tube of it at home I will probably try it out 🤔. I’ve also had a facial once at a spa and it was amazing how my skin felt, but the extraction process I remember being very painful…
I’m telling you. I keep saying extractions are not for the weak! I use the Clinique cleansing foam daily and I don’t regret it at all. Thanks for stopping by Beatrice. xxx
Staying away from oil based products, exfoliating my skin twice a week and drinking lots of water seemed to have really helped me minimize pores! I will also try to make use of products that contains AHA and BHA like you mentioned above, thank you for sharing.
Oh I need to start drinking more water too. Thanks for stopping by dear 💋