Pores are genetically determined, there is no way to change your pore size. But while you can’t shrink large pores, you can make them appear smaller. We often talked about different types of pores according to different shapes. Different shapes of pores are caused by different factors and should be taken care of with skincare ingredients and treatments based on what skin lacks and needs. It’s impossible to clear out enlarged pores. But there‘re some measures you may try in order to keep the health of your pores and minimize their formation. Read the label before choosing a skincare product that fits your skin, combo, dry, oily, normal, sensitive. And you may also observe your pores’ shape and take treatment accordingly. The best way to treat large pores is by targeting their underlying associated causes.

Three Different Types Of Pores

• Pores With O-Shape: If you have oily skin or are acne-prone, then you have enlarged pores in O-shape.
• Pores With U-Shape: This type of pores actually look like an oval shape. It appears in someone who has dry and dehydrated skin. With regular application of moisturizing and sunscreen, these pores can become not obvious.
• Pores With Y-Shape: They are generally defined as relaxed hair follicles and aging.

How To Treat Large Pores

Exfoliates

Retinoids are utilized to counteract skin aging and have a role in maintaining skin cell function. Nowadays, when you buy skincare products, you will see the label that contains AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) or BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acid). They are exfoliating skincare products! AHAs and BHAs are chemical exfoliants. Chemical peels provide deep exfoliation, decrease sebum production, accelerate cellular turnover and force excess sebum out of pores, and keep skin glowing.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) — Dry, Thin, Sensitive Skin

AHA is less painful and irritating during the treatment, so if you have thin skin, the skin reaction can be reduced with AHA. Also, AHA has a concentration adjustment, so you can try it with the lightest one, which is better for people with slightly sensitive skin.

Beta Hydroxy Acid(BHA) — Oily, Dark Complexion, Acne-prone Skin

BHA is oil-soluble, so even if the pores are blocked by oil, BHA can still penetrate into the pores and work. It not only exfoliates the surface of the skin but also cleanses deep inside the pores, making them shrink and minimize. Therefore, it is very effective for acne-prone skin.

It is required that the amount of Retinoids added is below 6% and used in conjunction with sunscreen products to ensure safety. For daily maintenance, it is generally recommended to start with a low concentration. The skin condition becomes sensitive after exfoliation and can easily cause irritation if exposed to direct sunlight. Don’t forget to hydrate after exfoliation. Oily skin can be hydrated the morning after exfoliation.

Skin Care

Moisturizing daily, Use natural, water-based skin care products. When the skin is full of moisture, the sebaceous glands will produce less oil, pores problem, such as acne and blackheads will be relieved, and more importantly, when the cells around the pores swell up, the pores will appear smaller.

• Borage oil: Borage lettuce is a kind of comfrey plant distributed in Europe, the cold-pressed oil refining from the seed part of the plant, containing w-6 essential fatty acids, can increase the softness of the skin, delay aging.
• Evening primrose oil: contains r-linoleic acid, vitamin C, E, B6, for the repair of stratum corneum, anti-allergy, the disadvantage is easy to have oxidation, deterioration and expensive.
• Apricot kernel oil: Rich in vitamin E, A, D, B2, B6, protein, unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and a variety of minerals, with the repair of stratum corneum, soften skin, antioxidant, and anti-aging.
• Avocado oil: Containing vitamins A, E, C, excellent in moisturizing.

Ingredients For Anti-aging

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure. It helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and promotes collagen production.
• AHA helps to remove dead skin but makes way for new skin cell generation. In addition to accelerating the renewal of the stratum corneum and whitening, it also has the effect of stimulating collagen production (of course this requires high content).
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant, making it effective at combating the effects of free radicals, which is beneficial at reducing UV damage to the skin, fights against lipid peroxidation, thus strengthening the skin’s resistance, and is effective at anti-aging.
• Adenosine: In 2020, the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that adenosine was safe in concentrations of up to 1% in leave on skincare products, that are generally used for its anti-aging properties. Adenosine also helps to soothe skin and help support wound healing and the natural functioning of the skin.
• Caffeine has several effects on your skin, it provides skin firming, wrinkle removal and anti-aging effects used with rosemary extracts, horse chestnut bark extracts.
• Collagen improves skin elasticity, reduce visible wrinkles, and increase blood flow to the skin, which can promote skin metabolism and replenish collagen, and also has antioxidant activity, which can play the role of anti-wrinkle and delay aging.
• Argireline improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This lightweight serum can reduce dynamic folds in the skin, as well as helping to prevent wrinkle formation and effectively reorganize collagen elasticity.
• Retinol is a type of vitamin A that makes pores smaller by increasing cell turnover unclogging pores, and effectively prevent aging.
• Coenzyme Q10 is used as an antioxidant, moisturizer and skin conditioner. Coenzyme Q10 as a small molecule can quickly penetrate the skin, to improve the skin repair and regeneration ability, reduce free radical damage and anti-aging effect, for the prevention of photoaging and wrinkles is effective.

Sun Protection

Why do we need sun protection? We live on the earth, there is sunlight, there will be the existence of ultraviolet rays, and ultraviolet rays are the root cause of skin tanning and aging. Sun protection can prevent tanning and anti-aging.

a. UVA: It is the primary element for skin aging and tanning.

b. UVB: It makes the skin red and sunburn, but it can be blocked by glass.

c. UVC: It can be ignored because it has been blocked by the atmospheric ozone layer.

Action For Sun Protection

a. Physical sun protection: Physical sun protection is the application of sunscreen products to block reflected UV rays, usually using titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide. using sun hats, sunscreen clothing, and sunglasses to avoid exposure to the sun.

b. Chemical sunscreen: Sunscreen products that apply chemical sunscreens to protect against UV rays by absorbing UV rays in a chemical reaction.