Pores…I personally have a love/hate relationship with the whole bunch of them. They are essential for skin health, providing oil for hydration and healthy skin function, which really is great. I just don’t want to see them in action. I prefer to know they are there, hard at work, without them constantly reminding me each time I look in the mirror. Guest blogger Jenny Yergensen is here with tips on minimizing pores and how to keep them from stealing the limelight:
There are a number or reasons pores become enlarged, some we have control over and some we don’t. Genetics play a large role in pore size and as we grow older, our pores tend to grow with us as sun damage and decreased skin elasticity can cause pores to dilate. Pores also appear larger when clogged with oil, dirt and bacteria. So the first important tip is keeping your face clean.
Clean Them Out
De-clog those pores with a proper skin cleanser. If your skin is on the oily side, which it likely is if you’re dealing with enlarged pores, you may want to consider a facial wash with salicylic acid, which will help reduce the oil in your skin and wash away dead skin cells. Left to sit on your face, dead skin cells will really clog those pores.
Cool Them Off
Place ice cubes, or an ice cold rag, on your pores for 15-30 seconds morning and night. This provides a temporary tightening effect and is very beneficial when done consistently over time. If that’s too much effort, try to at least rinse your face with cold water when cleansing morning and night.
Use Retinol Already
If you aren’t already convinced of the importance of retinol, here’s just another reason why it’s good for your skin: A good retinol increases cell turnover, which minimizes the appearance of pores, as well as fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
Exfoliate
This one is huge! By exfoliating on a regular basis, you will keep those suckers clean and clear from dead skin cells, bacteria, oil, makeup, and anything else that tries to linger on your skin. This will keep those pores from continually getting stretched out from all the debris. I personally love my Clarisonic Mia, or you can use a good exfoliating cleanser like SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub.
Hide Them with Primer
Camouflage those pores with a good primer, like POREfessional from Benefit Cosmetics. A good primer stays on the surface of your skin and acts as somewhat of a barrier between your skin and makeup, which is great as you don’t want your foundation to clog your pores.
Step Up Your Game
If you still have problems with enlarged pores after trying all the tips mentioned above, then it’s time to step up your game with a good skin-resurfacing procedure. Luckily, there are many to choose from and a qualified master esthetician can help you determine which method of treatment is right for you. The options include a series of chemical peels, skin rejuvenation treatments, or a CO2 laser resurfacing treatment. These treatments penetrate deeper in the skin than any other at-home product can and resurface the skin to minimize pores and other blemishes, such as fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and acne scarring. They also brighten overall skin tone and provide smoother skin. Most patients are good after their initial treatment (or series of treatments) but may come back once a year or so for a touch-up.
To learn more about exfoliating scrubs or skin-resurfacing treatments, Utah Facial Plastics offers complimentary consultations with our Master Estheticians. Consultations can be made at (801)776-2220 or by visiting www.UtahFacialPlastics.com.
More About Jenny
Jenny Yergensen graduated from the U of U and has been working for several years as a marketing manager at Utah Facial Plastics. Part of her job is to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the plastic surgery world, and she’s a great source of information for The Younger You!
Repost from The Younger You with Troy Thompson at Good4Utah.com.