What causes enlarged pores?
A deeper dive into our 20,000 pores
It’s true, we have around 20,000 pores across our face, and these tiny holes in our skin are crucial for our skin’s health. If you haven’t read our new pore products launch blog, be sure to give that a read to learn a bit more about our pores.
Because our pores are where our skin excretes waste, sweat, and dirt, they are definitely an integral part of our skin health and largely influence the state of our skin. For example, our pores are what allows the produced sebum in the skin to release onto the surface of our skin. Sebum is the naturally produced oil of our skin and is an important part of our skin’s health to keep the skin moisturized and supple while preventing it from drying out.
Skin issues such as acne breakouts and irritation are often caused by the blockage of pores. When there is a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, or sebum in the pores, this means the pores are unable to function properly and blockages lead to inflamed bumps in the skin, also known as acne or breakouts. Sometimes in less severe cases, clogged pores can lead to blackheads. Blackheads appear when the opening of the pore widens due to a clog. Acne and blackheads are generally issues that people hope to avoid, and consistently caring for your pores and ensuring that they are regularly cleared to prevent clogging.
Clogged pores are more likely to appear when the skin is either producing too much natural oil (sebum) or if the pores are not regularly cleared with proper cleansing products. Because clogged pores are typically only noticeable after the resulting visible issue arises (such as blackheads/acne), it is important to clean your pores consistently and prevent the issue before it arises, rather than doing damage control once the issue has already happened.
The goal when it comes to pore care is not to shrink them out of existence (which would not be possible), but rather to keep them clean and functioning properly without any issues. So what can be done to prevent clogged pores as much as possible?
How to keep your pores healthy
- Remove all makeup before going to bed to let your pores breathe
- Cleanse day and night to keep your skin clear of dirt and excess sebum
- Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells around two times a week
- Incorporate pore-treating products into your skincare routine
What we recommend:
CALAMINE Pore Control Capsule Serum
A pore tightening serum which helps to improve the appearance of enlarged pores caused by excess sebum production, through key ingredient CALAMINE and two plant-derived complexes which include pore tightening ingredients. This serum also features “Moisture Capsules” which have a skin-conditioning effect to help improve oil-water balance in the skin.
LHA Peel & Fill Pore Balancing Cream
A pore balancing cream featuring LHA, a mildly acidic skincare ingredient which gently removes dead skin cells, the main culprit for clogged pores, without irritating the skin or damaging the skin barrier. This daily cream keeps your skin rejuvenated and smooth by promoting the skin turnover cycle.