Skin Care 101: Setting the Record Straight About Your PORES

I started getting passionate about skin care about three years ago when I started dealing with non-stop breakouts in my early twenties, during my last year of college. I was determined to find skin care products that would whip my skin back into shape. Searching for new products led to me start researching and learning about skin in general. All of this research also shed some light on quite a few myths that are floating around in the beauty industry.

There are so many myths out there about pores and it blows my mind. There are reputable skin care companies that are stating myths on their products as a marketing ploy to sell more products. They are banking on the concept that the average consumer doesn’t know any better. We also live in the age of YouTube. A lot of self proclaimed “beauty gurus” are also stating these myths. These YouTubers are not proclaiming the gospel! It’s important to do your research! Please, don’t be an average consumer and stop buying into the myths. Then, you’ll have a more realistic expectation on what to expect from your skin care products.

Oh, the rant is just getting started. So please, grab a cup of coffee or tea and get comfy. It’s time to set the record straight about the pores on your face.

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1.     Myth #1: You’re pores open and close.

a.    No! Just no! You pores DO NOT and CANNOT open and close. Period. They are not doors, thus they cannot swing open and closed. Your pores do not have muscular walls that allow for them to contract. You’re pores just are.

b.    Also, hot water/steaming your face does not open your pores and cold water does not snap them shut. Please see above. Steaming your face may help to loosen up dirt in the pore, allowing it to be removed, thus causing the pore to appear smaller. Caution: be careful if you decide to steam your face. If the water is too hot, you can actually damage your capillaries. Not good.

2.     Myth #2: You can shrink your pores.

a.    Again, they do not contract. You pore size is your pore size and is largely determined by genetics and your skin type. Those with more oily skins tend to have larger pores.

b.    There are products that can minimize the appearance of pores, but if you see anything on a skin care product that guarantees to minimize the appearance of your pores, don’t get your hopes up. It may. It may not. I can’t stress this enough, your pores are your pores. Embrace them. Stop obsessing over them. Let them be.

3.     Myth #3: You can get rid of you pores.

a.    You cannot get rid of your pores. Trust me, you don’t want to get rid of your pores. Your pores contain hair follicles and your pores also produce sebum. This sebum travels up the hair follicle and makes its way to the surface of your skin and naturally moisturizes and protects the surface of your skin. Without sebum having a way to make it to the surface (A.K.A: not having pores) your skin would become dry and begin to crack. Ow.

·      If you have large pores/oily skin:

b.    Cleanse your face twice daily (you should be doing this anyway regardless of that skin type you have, but I digress…for now). Clean pores are happy pores. When your pores become clogged with excess sebum and dirt, it can result in the appearance of larger pores (and cause breakouts).

c.     Incorporate Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) into your skin care routine. AHAs, like glycolic acid help to exfoliate the surface of the skin and helping to prevent your pores from becoming clogged with dead skin cells. If you are prone to acne and have oily skin, BHAs are your best friend. Salicylic acid is a BHA and has the ability to not only exfoliate the surface of the skin but penetrate the pore (AHAs cannot penetrate the pore) and exfoliate the pore from within, thus keeping them clear and happy. Remember, we want happy pores!

·      Please. Stop obsessing over your pores. I assure you, they most likely aren’t as bad as you think they are. They have nothing to do with you being a quality person. Sure, smaller pores are deemed by society as being more aesthetically appealing, but the average person could care less. If a person comes up to you and starts critiquing your pores, they are standing way too close and they are way too judgmental. Not someone worth your time.

4.     Products to consider:

a.     A good AHA/BHA cleanser

                                              i.     Try thebalm White Tea Rose Face Cleanser for Normal to Combination Skin.This is a gentle, barely foaming gel cleanser that contains glycolic acid and fruit acids. This cleanser does a great job at keeping the surface of the skin exfoliated, helping to prevent dead skin cells from making their way into your pores in the first place.

b.     A clay mask

                                              i.     Try thebalm Spearmint Aloe Face Mask I like thebalm skin care, can you tell?). This does a good job of drawing things out of the pore without over drying. My skin always looks visibly clearer and calmer the next day. Another nice clay mask as a fraction of the price is the Freeman’s Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask. Lovely smell, cool bright blue color and just gets the job done without making your wallet weep.

c.     A good toner

                                              i.     Look for a toner containing glycolic or salicylic acid and try to avoid one containing alcohol. Alcohol can be quite irritating and drying to the skin, causing your skin to produce more oil. I’m still on the hunt for a good toner containing salicylic acid sans alcohol, but for a glycolic acid option, the Mario Badescu Gylcolic Toner is nice. It does tingle a little, but nothing painful. It can be a bit strong, so you may not want to use this one both morning and night if your skin is more on the sensitive side.

d.     A good serum

                                              i.     The Watts Beauty Acne/Wrinkle Serum contains kojic acid, glycolic acid AND salicylic acid. It does not contain silicones if that is something that concerns you. It’s lightweight, gentle on the skin and packed full of beautiful ingredients. It helps to keep pores clear, which can mean clearer skin, while helping to lighten hyperpigmentation. A win-win in my book!

e.     Start looking into anti-aging products

                                              i.     As we age, we begin to lose collagen in our skin, causing the skin to loose its elasticity. This can cause pores to appear larger as the skin begins to droop. Incorporating anti-aging products into your routine can help to slow the process of aging. Start with the basics: make sure your drinking enough water, eat well, don’t be afraid to sweat a little, GET ENOUGH SLEEP and apply SPF. Also, find a good product containing retinol. Retinol is PROVEN to aid in anti-aging. A good product to start with is the Watts Beauty 2.5% Retinol Gel Serum. 

f.      Find a nice primer

                                              i.     To superficially tone down the appearance of your pores, try a make up primer that is designed to  “hide “ your pores and even out the texture of your skin. These primers are generally packed full of silicones, which cause some people to be wary; they cause some people to break out and others are fine. I personally don’t have a problem with them. Silicones help to “fill” in pores, giving the appearance of poreless skin, which also makes makeup apply more flawlessly. Benefit’s Porefessional is a cult classic.

I do feel as if I need this disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist, nor am I an esthetician. The above is information I’ve gathered throughout out the past few years. If you have specific skin care concerns please consult a professional.

I hope this post was helpful. I have quite a few posts planned all about skin care: cleansing, toners, acne, hyperpigmentation, facial oils, etc. If there is anything you would specifically like to read on this blog regarding skin, please let me know and I’ll be happy to do a post on it!

- Alana