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Here we show you how what you can do to make those pores as clean and small as humanly possible:
1. Make sure you rid your face of all make-up before going to bed
This may go without saying, but you know what it is like at the end of a long day. All you want to do is kick off your shoes and crawl straight into bed – especially in winter when your bed is the best place to be.
Although we use make-up to cover up skin imperfections, according to Truth in Ageing it can actually make your pores look enlarged and are a magnet for oil and dirt – the main cause of large pores.
No matter how tired you are, take 5 minutes to wash your make-up off.
We are simply in love with the new Eucerin Dermato Cleansing Gel (R119.99). It's a mild and refreshing wash that will remove all impurities, without burning the eyes.
Also try the delicious smelling NEUTROGENA® Visibly Clear Pore & Shine Daily Wash (R89.95). Not only does it reduce pore size, it also unclogs and tightens pores - leaving the skin looking beautifully matte.
2. Do weekly steam sessions
Steaming your face is the perfect way to unclog pores. Rather than doing this once in a while, try doing it once a week. This will help cleanse your skin after all the stress it experiences during the week. It is also an all-natural and inexpensive beauty trick that really works.
Organic Natural Beauty Directory recommends that a steam should be 10 minutes long, and that you should drape a towel over your head to do a proper job. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the water. When you are done steaming, rub an ice cube on your face to close your freshly cleanses pores.
3. Use a good face mask
A face mask is basically your skin’s happy place. These little gems can do so much for your skin from cleansing and hydrating to giving your skin a radiant glow. When it comes to minimising pores, there are many different kinds of face masks you can try, both homemade or store bought.
Bustle posted three all natural, easy to make face masks that will help minimise your pores. Organic Natural Beauty Directory says clay masks are the ultimate for combating large pores. Clay detoxifies the skin and draws out oil and water. For best results always put a face mask on clean, make-up free skin.
4. Exfoliate regularly
Let’s face it, exfoliating your skin feels amazing. You can feel all the dead skin cells peel away, making you feel all shiny and new. Regular exfoliating is a great way to reduce large pores.
On her blog, Dr Cynthia Bailey says that physical methods to exfoliation can be as simple as the amount of pressure you use when applying products. It can also be done through various products or beauty treatments. The trick to good exfoliation is to know how much exfoliation your skin can handle. Depending on your method of exfoliation, if you have more sensitive skin, twice a week should suffice. Stronger skin could handle daily gentle exfoliation.
5. Pick your products wisely
As you know, everything from make-up to sun screen can contribute to large pores. These products can clog your pores, making them appear bigger and also result in breakouts. Now, it’s just ridiculous to swear off all products, and we need sun screen in our lives because cancer is real, but what we can do is be more selective when buying your skin care products – they are the first step in big pore defence.
Web Med recommends you look out for the following when picking your products:
- Products with zinc and magnesium clear pores and restore your skins oil balance.
- Soothing ingredients like rosemary and lavender prevent your pores from stretching out.
- Look out for the word “noncomedogenic” on the label, this will help unclog pores.
These tips will work best with a proper and consistent skin care regime. Do this and you wont be looking in the mirror saying:
Image: Tumblr
Need some more skin care advice in your life? Check out these articles:
6 simple winter skin care tips
Have you been removing your makeup wrong?
