Unfortunately, in a world of skin smoothing filters and photoshop we have all become very obsessed with glass like 'dolphin' complexions and blemish/texture/pore-free skin.
News flash! Everyone has pores and it’s a good thing. Pores allow your skin to ‘breathe’ and regulate your temperature by releasing oils and sweat (sorry… perpiration/glow – whatever you feel comfortable with).
So, while you can’t technically get rid of your pores, you can minimise the size and visibility of them.
The aim of the game is to keep your pores clean to prevent them getting clogged. A clogged pore is a stretched pore, and a more visible pore, and is also the leading cause for breakouts and pimples.
Top Tips for Keeping Your Pores Clean
Cleanse thoroughly. Day and night. By regularly removing the debris that naturally gets stuck in pores—the dead skin cells, pollution, oil, dirt, makeup and sunscreen—and revealing the fresh, unclogged skin beneath can make an enormous difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Prevention really is a lot easier than a cure. Also, never sleep with makeup on. That is just an absolute no brainer and a cardinal sin in the beauty industry.
We recommend a double cleanse, starting with an oil based cleanser like SEEH Skincare’s CLEANSE Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, to dissolve all the debris on the skins surface. This uses the proven technique of ‘like dissolves like’, letting the oil in the cleanser to do the hard work of breaking down all the oil based muck on your skin.
Another way to minimise the size of your pores is to control oil production. The larger the oil production, the larger the pore. You probably notice pores more in the areas of your face that are typically oilier (e.g. nose and forehead perhaps?). You could try spot treating with a clay mask. Or you could introduce a serum rich in Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide).
Niacinamide is a powerful, multi-tasking ingredient that addresses a number of skin concerns that contribute to the size of your pores. It truely is the most underrated ingredient in skincare. Among other things, Niacinamide has been shown to regulate oil production and improve skin barrier function, in turn minimising breakouts and pore size. It is a powerhouse ingredient found in the SEEH Skincare REFRESH Balancing Hydration Mist.
SEEH Skincare REFRESH Balancing Hydration Mist
Lastly, avoid comedogenic ingredients. Comedones are blocked pores so it makes sense that comedogenic ingredients cause the blockages. Please (please!) don’t every apply coconut oil on your face. It may seem like a cheaper alternative to an oil cleanser, and while it is great oil substitute in cooking and can do wonders for your hair when used as a hair mask, please avoid your scalp and face if you are trying to minimise the size of your pores. Also avoid soya bean oil while you are at it...
But what if your pores are already clogged?
Great question!
Regular exfoliation is key to keeping those pores in pristine condition. We recommend to mix it up with both physical and chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliation works on the surface of the skin, while chemical exfoliation works at a deeper level so we always recommend a combination of both. For a customisable physical exfoliation check out the SEEH Skincare CLEANSE SMOOTH Duo. Or for a creamy clay mask that is packed full of gentle AHA exfoliating fruit acids, try our SEEH Skincare CLARIFY Matcha Clay Mask. While exfoliating is key, don’t overdo it. Twice per week is perfect.
SEEH Skincare CLEANSE SMOOTH Duo
SEEH Skincare CLARIFY Matcha Clay Mask
As always, leave us a comment or email us if you have any questions
Kim @ SEEH Skincare xx
