lystn

I often get this question from people who read contradictory information online…What can I do to close my pores? The beauty and the curse of the internet - you can read about everything, but you’re never sure what’s true. And some of the advice out there can hurt your skin and overall health. So let’s go ahead and answer these questions.Welcome to another episode of Skincare Secrets… It’s been super hectic week for us at Open Formula - did two days of video shooting for our upcoming launch. My team has asked me not to talk about what the videos are about… but I’ve been putting some stuff on my Instagram stories..So back to pores… it’s such a big topic because these small things are a big beauty attribute when they are small.. Pores are often described as openings at the skin’s surface. Pores basically allow oil or sebum to come to the top of the skin to moisturize it. Pores actually do not have muscle contraction meaning they cannot go from being tight to relaxed like if you were to flex your arm muscles for example. You also can’t steam your pores open...your pores are always open. However, steaming your skin can loosen dirt and oil and help you clean them out easier. Oil, dirt, and bacteria can stick to dead skin cells inside the pore and clog it making the pore look bigger by stretching it. But before you go digging into your face, know that you risk permanently stretching out your pores by trying to force out oil and picking at the skin.According to a medical study on pores, there are 3 main causes of having larger pores. They are i) excess oil production, ii) loss of elasticity around pores, and iii) acne. Unclogging your pores can help make them look less noticeable, but you physically can’t shrink your pores. Claims of cold water or baking soda cannot close or shrink your pores either. Cool water can help soothe irritated skin but pure baking soda is typically too harsh for most people… it can dry out the skin causing flaking that can clog your pores even more...making pores look larger. There are different things you can try to help clean out your pores and make them not as noticable. If you have an oiler skin type, using clay masks can help soak up excess oil. If you are struggling with whiteheads, blackheads, and acne...please don’t try to squeeze them out and risk making your pores bigger. Try loosening them with a hot towel or stand in a steamy bathroom for about 10 minutes. Our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells but sometimes they can stick and clog pores. Any skin type can benefit from weekly exfoliation with acids, scrubs, or enzymes. It’s also not a good idea to skip moisturizer or sunscreen because you’re afraid it will clog your pores. The lack of moisture will cause your skin to produce even more oil, making the pores look bigger. Sunscreen helps protect your skin against aging to reduce the loss of elasticity that also makes the pores look larger as we get older. And there you have it. It turns out basic hygiene is the best thing you can do to keep your pores small. All the mumbo jumbo about expensive products “minimizing your pores” is just that - mumbo jumbo.That’s all for today. Stay tuned for the next one!