Minimizing the Appearance of Pores

Take a good look at a child’s skin and you’ll undoubtedly notice how smooth it is and how their pores are virtually invisible.  As we age, our pores appear to dilate.  Although generally determined by genetics, our pore size may appear larger due to a number of reasons:

• Build-up of oils and skin cells which causes them to expand and appear larger
• Sun damage
• Loss of elasticity and collagen

While it is not possible to open and close pores like doors (how many of us have heard that theory before!), the best way to make pores look smaller is to keep them clean and free of debris and excess oil.  We can’t actually shrink our pores but there are a few tricks that we can use to make them appear smaller and give us that smooth and flawless look:

1. Keep your skin clean.  Use a cleanser that can cut through the oil and remove the excess sebum trapped in the pores, like Neostrata Oil Free Foaming Cleanser or La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Gel Cleanser. 
2. Exfoliate gently on a regular basis.  Removing the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin prevents them from collecting in the pores and trapping excess oil and bacteria.  Chemical exfoliants like the original MaMa Lotion containing Malic and Mandelic acid or Neostrata Toning Solution Level 2 with 10% glycolic acid are both effective ways to exfoliate and unclog pores.
3. Add a retinoid to your skin care routine.  Retinoids are the stars of anti-aging treatments.  Regular use helps pores appear smaller, eliminates blemishes and boosts collagen production for firmer skin.  Apothekari A is for Anti-Aging containing retinaldehyde, the least irritating yet extremely effective form of Vitamin A, is a gentle way to introduce retinoids to your skin.
4. Keep using a stable, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention? Protecting your skin from sun damage (which destroys collagen and elastin) will help maintain the skin’s natural support system. 
5. Look for matte, non-comedogenic foundations or primers that will minimize the appearance of pores and give you a finished look.

Of course, after you treat your skin right, you may decide you don’t need that makeup after all.