How To Get Rid Of Open Pores

How to get rid of open pores: a question as old as that really comfily worn-in pair of PJ bottoms that you've been refusing to bin since 2012.

But, while solutions have ranged from the potentially skin-aggravating (pore strips) to the super drying (baking soda solutions), there are some more sophisticated techniques out there, to help you to minimise their appearance.

(To note: you can never 'get rid' of pores – they all contain a hair follicle and help your skin to release sweat and oils. You can, however, make them look smaller.)

'If you have large, open pores, it probably comes down to a number of reasons rather than one,' Jennifer Rock, creator of The Skin Nerd online skin consultancy and the author of The Skin Nerd: Your straight-talking guide to feeding, protecting and respecting your skin (£17.99, Headline) tells WH.

The Skin Nerd: Your straight-talking guide to feeding, protecting & respecting your skin

'Those prone to congestion and oiliness may have larger pores as they are clogged – and thus visually appear as if they are more open. As we age, our skin begins to lose its collagen and elastin, the structural proteins of the skin, so our pores won't be as tiny.'

If yours are messing with your flow, here's Rock's guide to tightening them up.

How to get rid of open pores: the expert guide

WH: What causes large, open pores?

JR: As well as everything described above, large pores can also be genetic. If you're built to have larger pores, you may simply have them and in this circumstance, you'd be looking at short-term solutions more than anything else.

WH: How do we need to approach the open pores? Is it anything to do with what we eat, our lifestyles, or is this a skincare issue?

JR: I see our lifestyle as an inextricable part of skincare. The skin is an organ, after all, so we have to respect it as that.

When it comes to open pores, you need to take a 360 degree approach and give your skin everything it needs to look after itself from within – and on the outside, too. The pores themselves aren't the issue, it's more to do with the general health of the skin.

'You need to take a 360 degree approach and give your skin everything it needs to look after itself'

WH: When it comes to skincare, what should we use to decrease the appearance of pores?

JR: If the large pores may be caused by congestion (ie. if you are prone to oiliness, blackheads and lumps and bumps), then introducing salicylic acid into your routine will help, as will a vitamin A serum and wearing an SPF on the daily.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Comfort Cream SPF50+ 50ml

La Roche-Posay feelunique.com

£18.00

Salicylic acid is an exfoliating acid that can burrow into the pore and dissolve any debris and sebum. This allows the pores to snap back into shape, so to speak.

Hair, Lip, Hairstyle, Mouth, Blond, Brown hair, Food, Jaw, Long hair, Eating,

WH: Are there any other products worth trying?

JR: So, your pores are like an elastic band.

If they've been consistently stretched for some time, they may struggle to snap back as easily.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118ml)

Paula's Choice lookfantastic.com

£23.60

That's where your vitamin A (in the form of retinyl palmitate) serum comes in to help to repair your skin, boost its production of collagen and elastin, and restore it to its former glory.

Retinol 3TR™

retinol medik8.com

£29.00

WH: And any final thoughts on how to get rid of open pores?

JR: Wearing SPF everyday is key, if you're looking to keep your pores tighter and smaller for longer, as cumulative damage from UV rays is what causes our skin's collagen and elastin to degrade faster.

Claudia Canavan As digital Beauty and Health Editor, with an MA in Magazine Journalism, Claudia is a devotee of natural, organic and cruelty-free skincare and of nurturing a banging mind-body connection.

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