5 Ways To Effectively Minimize Large Pores

Aside from acne, we also have a love-hate relationship with another skin problem which is our pores – whether large or small. Newsflash? We cannot get rid of our pores no matter how we want them to disappear just like that. Big pores can be a constant battle as pore size is determined by genetics. Usually people who are genetically predisposed for oily skin will have larger pores

People with large pores have an advantage when it comes to ageing, believe it or not. Although it can be annoying when the mirror reminds you of your imperfections, I swear, you wouldn't wanna trade those off for smaller pores.

But where do we get our pores from anyways? Or why do we get them? Lastly, how do we minimize the large pores effectively?

Pores are usually genetically determined but you know that you can unclog, shrink or make them retreat back to the point where you see them as little as possible.

WHY DO WE GET PORES?

Our skin is the largest organ in the body and it contains millions of pores, which most of them are invisible to the human eye. These open pores allow our skin to breathe. Each pore in our body contains a hair follicle as well as sebaceous oil glands which produce sebum.

Pores are the small openings on your face that many of us wish to shrink for that porcelain skin look. Smaller pores can result in flawless makeup application, smoother-looking skin, or a more even skin tone. But pores aren't the enemy: the reality is that they exist to help your skin breathe, and since their size is determined by DNA, there are no permanent solutions to physically minimize pores.

Here are a few fast facts you need to learn about pores: It's where oil and sweat glands secrete excess bodily fluid to keep a healthy flow and balance in your system. It serves as the pathway for dirt and other unwanted and unnecessary substances to exit the body. However, it can also serve as an entrance for foreign molecules to enter sensitive areas of the skin which lead to pimples, acne, blackheads, and all those nasty stuff we don't want on our face.

Age is also another factor, as your skin starts to wrinkle up and all the elasticity of the skin starts to pull back, the size of the pores start to appear obvious. Yes, I know it sucks but, fear not! this is not a hopeless case.

There are several causes of large looking open pores and they are the following:

• High levels of oil production
• Reduced elasticity around pores
• Thick hair follicles
• Genetics or heredity
• Reduction of collagen production in skin caused by aging
• Sun damage or overexposure

HOW DO WE EFFECTIVELY MINIMIZE THE PORES?

If large pores are bothering you, here's 5 effective ways to reduce the appearance of them.

• Use the Banisher
• Apply Vitamin C
• Wash and tone your skin daily
• Moisturize
• Mask at least twice a week

1) Banisher – The Banisher tool can be used weekly to apply a Vitamin C Serum to increase the effectiveness in making the pores look smaller and tighter. Be sure to set up a routine. This tool provides a natural way on how to improve your skin’s appearance. The Banisher has titanium bristles in an optimal size in order to create micro channels to your skin, hence revitalizing and regenerating the skin’s appearance with little to no recovery time.

Use this tool alone or with your favorite skin care products.

2) Vitamin C – Using products containing Vitamin C daily helps in improving the appearance of pores. Pores can enlarge when the cell walls around them break down due to factors like sun damage and aging. As we get older, we lose collagen and elasticity in our skin and this can exacerbate the appearance of pores.

The Banish Oil or  Banish Vitamin C Serum is formulated without silicones, artificial fragrances, dyes or even preservatives and it is made with the most potent form of Vitamin C which is the L-ascorbic acid.

Apply 2 to 4 drops of the Banish Oil/Vitamin C Serum daily and pat into clean skin. Apply after using the Banisher and is best used in the evening. Store the Banish Vitamin C in a cool, dark area.

3) Wash and Tone Skin Daily ­– Don’t forget to wash and tone your skin at least twice a day as doing so helps tighten the pores and remove any excess debris.

The  Banish Vitamin C Beauty Elixir Spray is helpful for reducing redness and adding a burst of hydration to your skin. Moreover, it doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue. This makes a great companion when you’re traveling.

You can wash and tone your face using the Banish Vitamin C Beauty Elixir Spray either on a cotton pad and wipe it on your face or you can directly spritz it for extra cleansing.

4) Moisturize – If there’s one thing you should not forget aside from washing and toning your skin, it is moisturizing. Failing to moisturize your skin is a no-no. You may use the  Vitamin C Creme or the BANISH Oil to help in this aspect. You may also use carrot seed oil or grapeseed oil since these help rejuvenate the skin and grapeseed oil has astringent properties that help shrink pores.

5) Mask At Least Twice A Week - Use a masque 1-2 times a week. Pores are always going to be there because it's a part of your skin, but when they become dirty or clogged with oil, pores end up stretching out and appearing even larger.

You can help minimize the pores with the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque as this helps loosen the dead skin and dirt in pores as well as dry out the stuff in pores, making them shrink to their regular size.

The  Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque is a 15 minute exfoliating mask inspired by nature to reveal your best skin. Formulated with natural pumpkin enzymes, AHAs and glycolic acid, the Banish Pumpkin Enzyme Masque improves your skin’s clarity. It is helpful for reducing congested skin to clear the pores.

There are other ways in which you can effectively minimize the pores aside from the ones mentioned above. Why spend so much money on expensive operations when you can exfoliate at home by yourself using top of the line products that are sure to work?

• Microdermabrasion
• Steaming
• Use black head peel off mask
• Wear sunscreen to protect your face
• Be gentle with your skin

Are There Any Ingredients To Avoid When Minimizing Pores?

Much of the information on what acne causing ingredients are otherwise popularly labeled as “comedogenic”. It would be nice if we could just get an acne vaccination , but in reality, taking care of our skin means paying a little extra attention to checking if there are acne causing ingredients in our products.

While not everyone’s skin will respond the same to every ingredient, and not all types of acne are related to pore-clogging ingredients, there are some general rules to follow when looking for skincare products for acne-prone skin types!

Here are just some of the lists of the  ingredients to avoid when minimizing pores:

• Cocoa butter
• Coconut butter
• Acetylated lanolin alcohol
• Laureth
• Myristyl myristate
• Isopropyl isostearate
• Isopropyl linoleate
• Cetyl acetate 
• Cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth-20
• Lauric acid
• Oleth

Much can be said about these acne or pore clogging ingredients but there are more than that. Fragrances, silicones, petrochemicals and some natural ingredients are also best avoided if you want your pores minimized or shrunk.

1) Fragrances - Fragrance is a popular ingredient in a lot of cosmetic and skincare products. Its purpose is to make the product smell “clean” and more appealing. However, perfumes are famous for irritating sensitive skin. This is because an individual fragrance can contain hundreds of chemical ingredients. Some names to watch out for on ingredient lists include fragrance, perfume, or parfum.

2) Silicones – These ingredients are mostly found in the majority of face products and their purpose is to create a smoothing effect across the skin by filling in pores and fine lines.

While silicones may accomplish this on acne-prone skin, they achieve this effect by smothering the skin and preventing it from breathing throughout the day. This can cause breakouts as well as skin irritation (such as redness and darkening of acne scars). Ingredients that are forms of silicone include dimethicone, methicone, trimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and cyclotetrasiloxane. These are definitely acne pore clogging ingredients that you want to avoid.

3) Petrochemicals – Hmmm. Sounds new? Petrochemicals are chemically based substances that are derived from petroleum. They are meant to lock moisture into the skin so a product will be hydrating. These petrochemicals can pose detrimental effects to your skin’s health as they are known to contain a certain carcinogen known as 1,4-dioxane.

These chemicals penetrate deep into your skin by taking the dirt and other substances down with it and cause skin inflammation. Some petrochemicals include benzene, PEG, butyl, methyl, paraffin wax, butylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, and mineral oil.

4) Natural Ingredients – Sounds crazy, but it’s true. While certain natural ingredients can help heal skin, some of them are too potent for those with sensitive skin, and some are highly comedogenic. For example, lemon juice is extremely acidic and can irritate skin easily by causing burns, as it has a pH of two. On the other side of the pH scale, there is baking soda, which can cause unseen damage to the skin by excessively drying it out. Coconut oil, although known for its healing properties, clogs pores easily and can cause severe breakouts. Lastly, sugar should not be used on the face (except on the lips), as it is too abrasive and will only serve to rub your skin raw.

SHOULD I BE USING PORE STRIPS FOR MINIMIZING MY PORES?

Something that you're probably wondering if you've never tried a pore strip to clear up the brown & black specks that cluster on your nose is - do they actually work? Generally speaking, yes, they do. You simply apply it on your nose, press down, remove it, and you get to see the forest of plugs staring back at you from the strip. So, they do actually deliver on their promise in a superficial way.

One of the first issues that comes to mind when I think of pore strips is the fact that the adhesive products that they put on the  pore strips could actually become stuck in the pores even after removal, leading to breakouts and irritation. There's always that potential, but if you're willing to trade up a nose full of black spots for a pimple or two, maybe this isn't that big of a concern for you.

One of the precautions of using pore strips in minimizing your pores is that it could possibly make your pores larger when used in the long run. Disgusting, right? Pore strips' very adhesive substance's purpose is to stick to the plugs of debris in your pores and pull them out when removed. However, when you rip the strip off, you're actually stretching your pores, and over time this could lead to a noticeable enlargement of the pore. This is commonly why people complain of large pores around their nose. Larger pores equal more room for debris and dead skin to collect equals the potential for larger, recurring blackheads/sebaceous filaments. What?!

Minimizing your pores effectively is all about balance and establishing a good skin care routine with good skin care products. You can’t get rid of pores forever, but you can shrink or minimize them.