Hold Up—These 7 Sneaky Skin Mistakes Are Making Your Pores Look Bigger

“I really wish my pores looked bigger,” said no
one ever. If you’re like us, enlarged, dilated pores are one of
those cursedly annoying little skin
woes that are far, far from the end of the world but annoying
and frustrating nonetheless. With the fall
and winter season upon us, we wanted to find out what
specifically we can do to help minimize the look of pores,
especially post-summer when things like sun, sweat, and sand have
only seemed to exacerbate our pore predicament.

After reaching out to two A-list skin experts on the subject, we
sadly found out there isn’t anything that will actually change or
fix the size of our pores, but there are certain things that may
surreptitiously make them appear larger and more noticeable than
they need to be. Intrigued? Keep scrolling! Ahead, we’re uncovering
seven major skin mistakes hindering your efforts where pore
minimization is concerned.

According to
Rowan Hall-Farrise, head of international education and
training for
QMS Medicosmetics, pores are the small openings on the skin
that are in charge of regulating and releasing toxins through our
natural oils and sweat. Therefore, they actually play a pivotal
role in our overall skin health.

As far as pore size, however, that mostly comes down to
genetics, skin type, aging, and environmental factors. Celebrity
esthetician Cynthia
Franco (who has worked with Salma Hayek, Lucy Boynton, Lena
Headey, and more) points out, pores can become packed and dilated
with sebum, makeup, dirt, and other debris, which can ultimately
cause them to stretch, making them appear larger than their natural
size. Generally, the T-zone (aka the forehead and nose) is where
people notice the biggest issues with pore size because the
sebaceous glands in that region tend to be more prominent than
other areas of the face.

“Olive and darker skin tones tend to have larger pores and more
sebum production,” Franco adds. Additionally, UV damage and the
natural aging process can play a major role in how big or small our
pores look. “An important factor to consider is the elasticity of
the skin,” agrees Hall-Farrise. “As we age, we produce less
collagen and the skin’s elastin decreases. Firm skin supports the
pores and makes them appear smaller, so when our skin starts to
lose that bounce or plump feel, pores can appear more dilated.”

Another common denominator is the overproduction of oils and
congestion, but it’s not just oily skin types that are prone to
large pores. “Skin type is another major factor,” says
Hall-Farrise. “If you have an oily skin type, your pores will
expand to release the overproduction of oils from the glands.
Equally, if the skin is dehydrated, your pores can overcompensate
by releasing oils to combat the dehydration.”

“I
notice that a lot of clients with large pores and oily skin types
are using cleansers that are too harsh for daily use,” states
Hall-Farrise. “I would always recommend double cleansing with a
gentle cleanser, like the QMS Medicosmetics Deep Gentle Cleanser to
avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils, which then creates a
cycle of overstimulation and excess oil production—and enlarged
pores.” She also recommends specifically looking for cleansers
with the word “milk” in their name and avoiding foaming formulas at
all costs. (They can be harsh and stripping to the skin.)

Additionally,
Hall-Farrise explains overstimulating the sebaceous gland by using
physical or manual exfoliants (like harsh scrubs) can actually do
the opposite of what we think they’ll do, and in retaliation, our
skin may increase the production of oil, which can lead to
enlarged pores. She recommends using an active chemical exfoliant
to tackle congestion and dull skin and likes the gentle peeling
effect of QMS’s Active Exfoliants formula, which targets
buildup leading to clogged or enlarged pores, without
overstimulating oil production.

“Not
protecting your skin from UV damage with sunscreen is one of the
biggest mistakes I see when it comes to pore size,” shares Franco.
“And I don’t just mean at the beach! You should be wearing SPF
every day and everywhere—there are amazing, clean,
non-comedogenic, reef-safe sunscreens out there, so don’t let that
be an excuse for not slathering it on.” According to Franco, sun
damage can cause the skin to lose the elastin and collagen that
keep the fibers of the pore firm, and when we damage our skin with
UV rays, it breaks down the collagen and elastin, and the casing
around the pore starts to fall, making pores appear larger.

“Products
with either a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) like salicylic acid up to 1%
or an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) like lactic or glycolic acid up to
5% will help with cell turnover and keep pores clean,” says Franco.
I like utilizing them in a lotion form and love Epicuren’s 5%
glycolic lotion as it refines pores while accelerating the release
of dry, dead skin cells. “This concentration of glycolic acid
won’t cause flaking, which makes it a good choice for those with
sensitive skin. Glycolic is the smallest molecule of AHA; the small
molecular size means that it can be absorbed easily by the skin and
enters the ducts, pores, and follicles to clarify the pores with
minimal irritation. I also love Goop’s overnight peel once a
week.”

If
you’re looking to minimize the apperance of your pores, Franco says
to make sure you’re not skipping a toner both morning and night.
She loves formulas with witch hazel (these by Thayer’s and Weleda
in particular) and recommends following the toning process in the
morning with a vitamin C serum, an oil-free moisturizer, and
sunscreen. At night, she suggests following your toner with a
retinol and the same oil-free moisturizer. Obviously, no sunscreen
at this point.

Okay,
maybe this is the obvious, but it’s an important mistake to mention
all the same since it’s still super common. (Hey, we’re guilty
too!) . “Dissolving debris and makeup daily is a must,” warns
Franco. “You need to remove your makeup—I personally love the
Angel Puffs from Croon. They are made by hand, all-natural without
plastics, and absorb impurities with fibers that are made with a
technology that removes impurities without depositing them back
into the skin. Use your gentle cleanser afterward to make sure the
skin is completely clean.” We also love a good old sweep of
micellar water pre-cleanse to excavate debris from every last inch
and pore of our skin.

Although
regular facials are an investment, they can make a big difference
in terms of minimizing the look of your pores. According to both
Hall-Farrise and Franco, shooting for somewhere between every four
to eight weeks is a good goal for optimum skin maintenance. “A
licensed skin therapist can do wonders for your skin,” Franco
confirms. Keeping the skin clean with extractions and treatments
can and will help, and things like peels, micro-channel needling,
radiofrequency skin-tightening, and microdermabrasion will not only
help with exfoliation but also help with helping pores to look
smaller and more refined. Other treatments by a board-certified
dermatologist will greatly help as well, and Franco specifically
lists things like IPL (intense pulsed light), ablative and
non-ablative fractional laser, C02 peels, and photodynamic therapy
as potentially great options for those looking to minimize the look
of pores. She recommends checking in with your dermatologist to
find out how many treatments might be needed and what the
downtime/commitment is like. Up next: 42 Things We Would Buy Right
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