Warning! If you're looking at your pores with a 10X magnifying mirror - STOP! Pores will look distorted with those things.
Enlarged pores are most common in people who have very oily skin - and - who don't cleanse regularly. Come on, fess up. We all have days we're just too tired. But if those days and nights keep adding up, our pores are expanding and that is not pretty.
What makes our pores look larger is the fact they are clogged. When they're clogged oil glands continue to pump out sebum that cannot escape. As a result, the edges of the pore stretches out to reach the surface of the skin to release the oil.
Skin with excess oil acts like a sponge and will soak up makeup, dead skin cells and environmental pollutants (dust, dirt, etc.). All of this contributes to larger looking pores.
When you have blackheads, known as open comedones, a chemical reaction with the sebum occurs under your skin. Melanin is oxidized and turns the clogged pores a black color.
Whiteheads are known as closed comedones. The follicles beneath your skin become filled with bacteria with a very small opening at the top of your skin. Air isn’t able to enter the follicle. This prevents the bacteria inside of it from undergoing a chemical reaction, so it stays white in color.
It is not good practice to force removal of blackheads and whiteheads. Allowing them to come to surface naturally and gently clearing is the safest home extraction method. Please have a licensed esthetician perform extractions to avoid scarring and further inflammation. Avoid blackheads and whiteheads altogether with proper cleansing.
While you cannot change the actual size of your pores, you can remove the debris inside and this reduces the stretching of the edges allowing pores to appear smaller and skin much smoother.
Follow these steps consistently, and your pores will smooth out and your skin will look fresh and renewed.
Want to get support with your skincare journey? Join us at the Christine Byer Beauty Club. We offer a 14-Day FREE Preview with full access to everything in the Club. Ask Christine questions and have access to savings and the opportunity to win a FREE consultation. If you don’t find value in your membership, cancel within the 14 days at no charge.
