Large pores are one of the most common skincare complaints. Unfortunately, shrinking them takes a lot of work. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, pores are a natural part of the skin structure, so you cannot remove them under any circumstance. The great news, though, is that while pore size is determined genetically, you can diminish their appearance and make them appear smaller with proper treatment.

1. Unclog Your Pores with Clay Masks

Pores that are clean will naturally look smaller than pores with a gunk buildup. Applying a clay mask for 10 to 15 minutes once or twice a week will effectively unclog your pores. Think of clay as a magnet that draws out impurities, oil, and bacteria from your pores.

Consider skincare products such as Erda Pigmentation Correction Green Apple Clay Mask by Origani Philippines. These clay masks are naturally enriched with certified organic ingredients for correcting discoloration and purifying and brightening the skin for a radiant and clear complexion.

Organic apple extract is a natural exfoliator that sloughs dead skin cells, tones, and refreshes the skin while rebalancing oil. Organic green tea and pomegranate extracts, on the other hand, offer excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant performance to calm and safeguard your skin.

2. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate

A buildup of dead skin cells and gunk could creep into your already large pores and make them look even more pronounced and bigger. To avoid this, you need to exfoliate your skin twice or thrice a week. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, opt for an exfoliant with beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid to address bacteria and sebum buildups.

If you have skin that is dry, normal, or both, opt for an exfoliant with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that effectively exfoliates the skin by dissolving the glue that keeps dead skin cells together.

3. Incorporate Retinol into Your Skincare Routine

Retinol is hailed as a miracle skincare ingredient for various reasons. Regarding large pores, however, it’s a favorite of dermatologists for two primary reasons. One, it’s clinically proven to boost cell turnover. Skin cells shed naturally around every 90 days. However, with consistent use of retinol, this process will be much faster. Two, retinol boosts the production of collagen.

Collagen is what makes your skin plumped up and youthful looking, but it breaks down over time. This is an issue since collagen strengthens your pores’ walls and makes them look smaller. When starting out with retinol, use once a week to start and work your way up slowly to nightly applications.

4. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Being exposed to UVB and UVA rays results in free radical damage that slows down the production of healthy cells. In turn, this will make your skin work overtime and lead to the thickening of your skin’s outermost layer and making your pores look dirty and bigger.

In the event that you’re too impatient to see results, don’t hesitate to take up your concerns with your dermatologist. He or she might recommend chemical peels or laser treatment to help reduce the look of your pores. Then, use the pore-shrinking strategies mentioned above to maintain your results.