Can you make the pores on your nose and face smaller?

Enlarged pores are a pretty common skin complaint. And we totally get it – their appearance can be a little frustrating to deal with. Usually found on the nose, cheeks and chin, unfortunately they’re generally caused by factors we can’t control, like age, gender, genetics and oily skin. But while enlarged pores can’t be made physically smaller, you’ll be happy to hear you can minimise their appearance with a bit of patience and some of our fave ingredients. Clearer skin, here we come!

Here’s what they had to say…

Ingredients often found in products to minimise pores

If you take a look at the labels on your skincare products, you might just spot a few clever little ingredients designed to minimise pores. Over time, using products containing these can help reduce the appearance of pores and prevent them from becoming blocked. Nice one!

Lactic acid

Regular exfoliation is a great way to remove build-up sitting in the top layers of your skin (we’re talking things like dead skin cells, oil and dirt). Lactic Acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid that acts as an exfoliant. It can help clear away the pesky build-up that accumulates inside your pores and causes them to become blocked. Lactic Acid is actually found naturally in the skin, so a pore-minimising product that contains this nifty ingredient can help support your skin’s own biology.

Glycerin

It might sound a little counterintuitive to add a layer of moisture when you’re trying to get rid of oil, but trust us – moisturisation is absolutely key when it comes to reducing the appearance of pores. Meet Glycerin, your skin’s new best friend. When used as an ingredient in moisturiser, Glycerin acts as a humectant, meaning it draws water from the atmosphere and from the deeper layers of your skin to keep your face smooth and hydrated. Now that sounds great!

What does ‘non-comedogenic’ mean?

To stop your skincare routine from clogging your pores any further, non-comedogenic products are your best bet. In a nutshell, a ‘non-comedogenic’ product contains ingredients that won’t block your pores. In turn, these products can reduce the chances of acne and pimples developing (hooray!). While not a complete cure-all for acne, non-comedogenic products are especially beneficial if you have acne-prone, impure or combination skin, as they can help clean out the excess sebum and bacteria that block your pores.