Having large and clogged pores is annoying. Although it is not possible to restrict them permanently, the problem can be kept under control temporarily. If you are tired of having dilated pores, the most effective way to intervene is to keep them clean and adopt skin care habits that allow you to always have it hydrated and compact.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Free Clogged Pores
Step 1. Take a steam bath
This treatment helps to open the pores and facilitate the removal of dirt. The heat emanating from the steam will soften the hardened sebum inside the pores, allowing it to be extracted.
- After washing your face, pour boiling water into a heat-resistant bowl. If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oil. Wrap your head with a towel and fold over the bowl. Let the steam work for 5-10 minutes.
- After the steam bath, use a nose patch or apply a face mask.
- If you use essential oils, add only 2-3 drops. Choose one that suits your skin's needs. Tea tree, ylang ylang, rosemary and geranium oils are all great for fighting sebum production and killing bacteria. Geranium oil is also effective in firming the skin, helping to visibly minimize pores.
- The steam bath can be done up to 2 times a week.
Step 2. Use nose patches
After the steam treatment, remove the dirt with a plaster. Follow the instructions on the package to apply and remove it correctly. Once it is dry, you should tear it to extract the residues of sebum and dirt (gray, black and white) from the pores.
- Then, rinse your nose.
- You can use the patches every 3 days maximum: overusing them can make the skin dry.
Step 3. Treat your nose in a targeted manner with a clay mask
Although it can be applied all over the face, overdoing it tends to dry out the skin. The nose and T-zone are generally greasier than the rest of the face, so regularly using a clay mask only on these parts can help eliminate at least some excess sebum and visibly shrink pores.
- Apply a thin layer of the mask on your face, let it dry for a few minutes and proceed with rinsing.
- Do this treatment 3-4 times a week. If you start to experience dryness in the nose area, reduce the frequency of use.
- In case of combination skin, you can apply the clay mask all over the face 1 or 2 times a week, but always follow the instructions on the packaging of the product used.
Step 4. Try an egg white mask
It is able to firm the skin, visibly reducing pores. How to prepare it? Mix one egg white, one teaspoon (15 ml) of lemon juice and ½ teaspoon of honey. Apply it to your face and let it dry for 10-15 minutes, then gently wipe it off with warm water.
- Only one egg white should be used. To separate it from the yolk, break the egg in half, then pour the egg white into a bowl. Then, gently pour the yolk into the empty half of the shell, letting the remaining egg white flow into the bowl.
- To avoid drying out the skin, do not apply this mask more than once a week.
Step 5. Use sebum-absorbing tissues
While not shrinking the pores, they help remove excess sebum. This has 2 purposes: in addition to slightly reducing the pores, they will decrease the greasy matter on the face, preventing it from accumulating inside the follicular ostia.
Method 2 of 5: Keep Pores Clean
Step 1. Wash your face every day
In the pores of the nose, sebum and dirt will continue to collect, especially in the case of oily or combination skin. The only way to prevent them from appearing dilated is to remove the fat. Keeping your pores clean will also prevent them from swelling, accumulating less dirt, greasy matter and dead cells.
- Use a gentle cleanser every day.
- Wash your face, or at least your nose, twice a day. If washing it twice a day should start to dry out in some areas, you can always wipe your nose with a cleansing wipe.
Step 2. Use a toner or astringent product
By temporarily firming the skin, it makes pores visibly smaller. Since it dries out the skin, it can cause it to produce more sebum if you overdo it. Dampen a cotton ball and pat it on clean skin.
- If you have combination skin, you may want to tap it on your nose or T-zone only to avoid drying out the rest of your face.
- Cucumber juice is a natural astringent.
- Depending on the degree of dryness of the skin, the tonic can be applied 1 or 2 times a day after washing. You can also try using a moisturizer to avoid having problems with dryness.
Step 3. Use a moisturizer
Hydrated skin is not only smoother and more compact, it also allows you to keep the production of sebum under control. In fact, a dry skin generates more in order to relieve dryness. This can cause pores to clog and dilate, especially on the nose, which tends to be naturally oily.
Apply it morning and evening. Usually the application must be done after washing
Step 4. Use sunscreen
Sun damage can weaken the skin, preventing it from remaining firm. If it is not firm, then the pores will appear even more dilated.
- You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Look for a moisturizer with sun protection factor (SPF). If you wear makeup, use cosmetics containing SPF.
- Choose a high-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and water resistant.
Step 5. Exfoliate your face 2 or 3 times a week
The scrub allows you to remove dead cells and dirt, preventing them from clogging the pores. This helps to make them smaller and prevent them from swelling, accumulating less dirt.
- There are physical exfoliants, such as sugar or salt scrubs, which mechanically remove dead skin cells.
- There are also chemical exfoliants that dissolve dead skin cells.
- In case of combination skin, a few days it is possible to exfoliate only the nose, avoiding irritating the rest of the face.
Step 6. Firm the skin and close the pores with an ice cube
Massage it into your clean nose to temporarily firm the skin and visibly close pores.
Let the ice sit for a few seconds. Waiting longer may cause a painful sensation and damage to the skin
Method 3 of 5: Look for Pore Shrinking Products
Step 1. Choose non-comedogenic products which do not clog pores
All the products you use for your face, i.e. cleansers, cosmetics and moisturizers, should be.
Step 2. Look for products containing salicylic acid, which exfoliates the skin and frees pores accordingly
It is found in cleansers and acne or moisturizing creams.
Don't overuse it. Start with just one salicylic acid product to see if it works on your skin
Step 3. Use a retinol-based product, which frees pores and visibly shrinks them
This active ingredient is found in various moisturizers.
When using retinol products, be sure to always apply sunscreen, as they cause photosensitivity
Step 4. Look for zinc or magnesium products, which help balance sebum production and keep pores clean by preventing dirt from accumulating and freeing them
Zinc and magnesium can be taken with multivitamins or applied topically with beauty products such as lotions or foundation. Zinc is often found in sunscreens and cosmetics or moisturizers containing sun protection factor. Magnesium is sometimes included in the ingredient list of moisturizers
Method 4 of 5: Undergo Professional Treatment
Step 1. To clear the pores, consider manual extraction
A beautician can manually remove dirt, sebum, and dead skin cells that clog and cause the pores of the nose to dilate. This outpatient procedure is the safest method there is to extract the contents of the follicular ostia without further damaging the skin.
- In case of particularly clogged pores, manual extraction can be done on a monthly basis.
- Manual extraction is the least expensive and easiest professional treatment ever, plus it doesn't require any recovery time.
- This procedure might be for you if you have clogged and enlarged pores only on your nose.
Step 2. Try microdermabrasion to remove dirt residue from the skin and smooth it out
The professional who will take care of it will apply microcrystals on the skin to remove dead cells, dirt and sebum. Clean pores will appear visibly reduced. To maintain its effects, regular treatments must be done.
- Microdermabrasion is a particularly intensive facial treatment.
- At the end of the treatment, you can immediately return to the normal course of your daily life.
- Giving temporary results, it is necessary to undergo a treatment every 2-4 weeks to maintain its effect.
Step 3. Remove dead skin cells and sebum clogging pores with a chemical peel
In addition to smoothing the skin, it visibly shrinks pores. It is possible to undergo treatment by a dermatologist.
- In the case of a superficial or medium chemical peel, it will be like making yourself a particularly powerful face mask. A deep peel is a more challenging treatment, similar to a minor surgical operation.
- If you undergo a superficial chemical peel, you will need to repeat the procedure regularly (every few months) to maintain its effects.
- If you have a medium chemical peel, you will likely need to repeat it after 3-6 months.
- If you undergo a deep chemical peel, you will hardly be able to do another one. It is usually done only once and is recommended for those who have suffered major skin damage.
- Generally, skin should be left to rest for at least 48 hours following a chemical peel, so avoid wearing makeup or sun exposure. In the case of a deep peeling, healing is longer.
Step 4. Shrink pores with the laser
It is the only treatment that can actually reduce the size of the follicular ostia. The laser will remove the epidermis and stimulate the production of collagen, essential for having a more elastic skin. To do this, you need to contact a dermatologist.
- If desired, it is possible to do the laser treatment only on the nose.
- Laser is the most expensive treatment ever to shrink pores.
- Some types of lasers, such as the Fraxel, offer long-term results, while others that are less intensive, such as the Laser Genesis, often require a little more treatment, as determined by your dermatologist.
Method 5 of 5: Acquire Good Habits
Step 1. Avoid teasing or squeezing blackheads and pimples
This can damage pores, causing them to dilate. At that point it will be impossible to back down and you will have to undergo professional treatment, which among other things does not necessarily work.
Step 2. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
The water does not directly reduce the pores, but it keeps the skin hydrated and elastic, making the follicular ostia less visible. It can also help prevent the formation of impurities, another important element in preventing pores from dilating.
Step 3. Do not go to sleep wearing makeup, otherwise the pores will become clogged, becoming visibly larger and darker
Obstructions caused by cosmetics will cause them to enlarge over time, making them more and more noticeable.
- Remove your make-up every day before going to bed.
- If you have a hard time remembering to remove your make-up, keep some make-up remover wipes on your bedside table to easily clean your face.
Step 4. Wash before training and after
Working out is a good habit to keep fit, but in case of poor hygiene it can negatively affect the skin. Putting on makeup or cream before exercising can clog pores. If you don't wash at the end of your workout, sweat and bacteria can seep into your pores. To prevent this, wash your face quickly.
Cleansing wipes are very practical for quickly cleaning the skin
Step 5. Avoid foods high in unhealthy fats and oils
They can inflame the skin, causing pores to dilate. Minimize consumption for beautiful skin.
Healthy oils include monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-3s, while unhealthy oils include saturated and trans fats
Step 6. Wash the brushes you use for make-up
They are breeding ground for grease and bacteria. If you don't keep them clean, the greasy matter built up on the bristles can cause impurities, clog and dilate pores. Use a brush cleaner to remove dirt and keep your skin clean.
Brushes should be washed once a month, while those for eyes 2
Step 7. Avoid smoking
Smoking can damage the skin and follicular ostia. By decreasing the elasticity of the epidermis, it will be difficult to keep the pores closed. Break the habit to visibly reduce them.
