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To have healthy looking skin with smaller pores has always been my goal! Some people just seem to do nothing and they look like they don’t even have pores, they are soooo…. lucky! But even if you are not one of those people who genetically lucked out on the lotto of perfect skin, you can do some great natural remedies to improve your pore size and the look of your skin! The 9 solutions below for how to shrink pores naturally, really do work!
Can you change your pore size?
You can change the appearance of your pores. I’ve been trying several methods to help shrink my pores and have seen a definite improvement!
Many say that the pore size you’re born with is just due to genetics; however, there are many proven factors that cause our pores to become larger including aging, clogged pores, acne, sun damage etc. When I compare my pore size to how it was about 10 years ago, my pores are larger now than they used to be. So, I’ve been researching and experimenting with some methods for how to shrink pores naturally at home without chemicals or going to a dermatologist and getting any invasive procedures like a chemical peel.
What causes large pores?
Your pores may become larger and appear more visible due to a variety of reasons.
Most often, the cause is due to extra sebum, oil, and bacteria on your skin which can cause pores to become clogged. When your pores become clogged, this causes inflammation and pore canals to expand, which leads to the appearance of larger pores. Because of this, one of the most important ways to prevent large pores and help shrink your pores, is to keep your pores unclogged.
Sun exposure and aging can also cause pores to become larger as both lead to a decrease in collagen. When you don’t have as much collagen, the pore canal walls are not as elastic and aren’t able to remain tight. So, another important factor to helping shrink pores is boosting your collagen production in your skin.
Additional causes of larger pores are stress, makeup, and hormonal changes.
How to Shrink Pores Naturally – 9 Ways!
1. Massage You Face
Massaging your face in circular motions brings circulation to the skin, increases collagen and tightens skin all of which help minimize pores. When your collagen is damaged or it’s production decreases (as it naturally does with age), the pore canal walls become less elastic and cannot retain their shape as well.
The best way to massage your skin is to use a simple handheld massager. I found this fantastic one for only 12 dollars. It’s super gentle, yet massages the skin very well. It’s handheld and takes batteries. You could use your fingers to massage in circular motions too. I was doing this for a while, but my fingers would get so tired after just a few minutes. So I think the inexpensive massager is the best choice. I use it 2 times a day for about 10 minutes at a time. You just hold it and move it around your face as it massages in circular motions.
2. Wash Your Face 2 Times a Day
It’s important to wash your face twice a day to remove the buildup of oil, dirt, and bacteria in your pores. According to Dermatologist Chasin, when all of the dirt and oil sits in your pores for a longer time, pore walls begin to expand to hold the extra buildup of all of it. Washing your skin regularly keeps all of that junk from making your pores expand.
I’ve been using the oil cleansing method to wash my skin in the morning and at night. It has been working great!
3. Use Lavender and/or Rosemary Essential Oil
According to WebMD, essential oils that are soothing and reduce inflammation in the skin such as lavender and rosemary essential oil can help prevent pores from stretching and becoming larger. You can make a soothing mixture with these essential oils by adding a few drops to a tablespoon of jojoba oil and then massage it in to your skin.
4. Apply a Mixture with Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is great for your skin, not only will it help prevent and treat breakouts but it can also help minimize and shrink your pores. ACV is often used as a toner for skin. When you apply it, you’ll notice your skin feels immediately tighter. ACV helps reduce inflammation and prevent clogged pores. I use this raw unfiltered kind of apple cider vinegar.
To apply an ACV mixture, I mix about ¼ cup of water with ¼ cup ACV, stir it and use a cotton ball to apply it to my skin.
5. Apply Vitamin C to Your Skin
Putting fresh vitamin C on your skin will increase collagen production in your skin, reduce inflammation, kill the bacteria, and prevent a buildup of dirt in pores, all which help decrease pore size.
To get the most benefit from topically applying vitamin C to your skin, you’ll want to use liquid vitamin C. However, liquid vitamin C does not remain potent or effective very long. So the best option is to take powdered vitamin C called l-ascorbic acid, which has been shown to be the most effective and add a little water to it, then apply it to your skin. I try to apply it at least once a day.
6. Egg White Face Mask
This is one of my favorite methods for how to shrink pores naturally because I always see a difference after using it just once! Using an egg white face mask can help minimize your pores. Applying egg white to your skin helps remove excess oil and tighten your pores. Just apply egg white to your skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse it off. As it begins to dry on your skin, your skin will feel tighter.
7. Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating your skin is very important for shrinking your pores. It helps remove dead skin cells and dirt from your pores that can block pores and cause them to become inflamed and enlarged. Keeping your skin free from any buildup of dirt and dead skin cells will help minimize the appearance of your pores. One of the best natural and effective ways to exfoliate your skin is baking soda. Just mix baking soda with water to create a paste and massage your face with it in circular motion. Then just rinse with water.
8. Use a Red light for Your Face
Using a red light can be really helpful for reducing pore size. After reading all the benefits about using a red light for skin, I bought this one and have been really happy with it. It helps reduce pore size by increasing collagen production, killing bacteria, reducing acne, dirt and bacteria on the skin. All you do is turn the red light on and hold it over your skin for 3 minutes a day.
This red light has also been proven to treat acne scars (by increasing collagen production), treat and prevent acne and reduce wrinkles.
I wish I had found out about using a red light when I initially was searching for how to shrink pores naturally because it has been helping so much! It not only has helped shrink my pores, but it has also reduced acne breakouts, blackheads and is even helping my acne scars.
9. Apply a Clay Mask
A clay mask can help shrink your pores by reducing inflammation and drawing out not only dirt and bacteria, but also toxins. One of my favorite clay masks is the bentonite clay mask. I just take the bentonite clay powder and mix it with water, apply it to my skin and leave it on for 30 minutes then rinse off.
All of these methods are excellent for shrinking pores! It is best to use a combination of several of these methods for how to shrink pores naturally. That way you get the most benefits and will see a great reduction in pore size.
Have you tried any of these methods to help shrink your pores?
How often should I do each of these treatments?
I use most of them daily.
Really its very helpfull specially Vitamin C powder and egg white mask is very very good. Also ACV is good to shrink the enlarge pores…. Thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful 🙂
I want to try the egg white one .
& also the fuller’s earth(multani mitti) bt scared coz of sensitive skin . Should i try or not ?
Multani mitti is very good. I have sensitive skin too.. u should try it.
So many great ideas! At age 50, I still have oily skin and deal with large pores. I’ve heard of oil cleansing and but have not tried it. Can I use coconut oil to cleanse? Then would I do the ACV after? I am going to check out that massager and red light too.
Oil cleansing is fantastic! My skin has been so much better since using it. I use jojoba oil to do oil cleansing. Coconut oil is great, but it can clog pores on the face.
Do you have any helpful tips for psoriasis
Avoid skin contact with wheat and yeast. Betnovate cream is the solution. Apply thickly and frequently and stop when psoriasis leaves the site. Hope it benefits.
My pore routine is I, used calamansi for vitamin c to kill bacteria with in th
e pores… And I use egg white mask for the face for pore tightening…Remember that when your pores is clean, your pores are smaller!!!