How can I tighten my pores?

What are pores? A pore is the opening of a hair follicle. Each has a sebaceous gland that produces oil. Usually invisible to the naked eye, enlarged pores can occur when excess sebum is produced. Although the size of your pores is decided by genetics, it is sometimes possible to visibly shrink pores back to their normal state using the best pore minimizer products.

1. The secret life of a pore

What are pores? Quite simply, pores are tiny holes in the skin. Each pore has a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland that produces your skin's oils. This oil keeps your skin soft and moist and helps the skin act as a barrier – preventing water from being lost from the body while also blocking dirt, bacteria, and pollutants from entering. Your pores have other functions – they carry toxins and dead skin cells from the body and help you to cool down as sweat evaporates from the skin’s surface. They may be small but they’re incredibly hardworking.

There is an average number of 300,000 pores on the face, with the average surface area of each pore measuring 0.06mm². Generally invisible to the naked eye, they can sometimes dilate and become visible. The number one reason for enlarged pores is sebum, which is why you may notice large pores on the nose or forehead where sebaceous glands are bigger. As your body produces sebum, it travels to the surface of the skin, collecting cells that are shed inside the hair follicle. When a follicle is full, the sebum flows onto the surface of the skin and is joined by lipids from skin cells, sweat, and environmental matter. When trapped or allowed to pile up on the skin’s surface, clogged pores soon become large pores.

Other factors also affect pore size. Trauma to the skin – like picking or squeezing a pimple – can enlarge pores. Also, fair-skinned people tend to have smaller pores, while individuals with darker skin tones have larger pores.

Your pore size is genetically determined at birth, so if you’re wondering how to close pores, there is little you can do to alter their natural size. But, fortunately, there are pore minimizing skin care products that can help minimize the appearance of your pores.

2. How to minimize the appearance of pores with targeted skin care

When learning how to make your pores appear smaller, your first step is to cleanse your skin, morning and night, to wash away excess sebum and dead skin cells before treating skin to a pore minimizing serum like Clarins Pore Control Serum.

After cleansing, purify skin with an alcohol-free face toner. Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion is the best toner for oily skin that helps balance, soothe and visibly tighten pores. Purifying Witch Hazel and Organic Meadowsweet extracts help to remove every last trace of cleanser and oil buildup, leaving skin radiant-looking, balanced and refreshed. Considered the best toner for the face, using it is the perfect way to prep skin for your serum and moisturizer.

Follow your toner with Clarins Pore Control Serum formulated to mattify skin. Firming Vine Flower cells and mattifying Organic Strawberry Tree fruit extracts visibly tighten and help purify enlarged pores, so they appear smaller. Tamarind pulp acid naturally exfoliates pore-clogging debris to help smooth and refine the skin's texture for a boost of visible radiance. The serum’s "blur effect" texture contains mattifying powders and light-enhancing pigments that visibly minimize the appearance of pores for skin that's smooth, radiant, shine-free, and more refined-looking.

Twice a week, use a pore minimizer clay face mask to help unclog pores deep down. Clarins SOS Pure Rebalancing Clay Mask for combination or oily skin takes just 10 minutes to minimize shine and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. Viewed as the best clay mask, it contains Organic Alpine Willow Herb extract to help visibly shrink pores’ appearance while White Clay and Green Clay help absorb impurities, give the skin a smooth appearance and promote a healthy-looking glow. The clay mask’s powdery cream-paste texture leaves skin clean, refreshed and visibly glowing.

3. Pore reducer makeup tips and tricks

In conjunction with products that can minimize the appearance of pores, makeup is a good way to smooth out your skin and blur any imperfections. Apply a smoothing primer before perfecting the appearance of skin with Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch for flawless-looking, shine-free skin. This pore minimizing makeup primer has a gentle melting texture that blends seamlessly, blurring the look of fine lines and enlarged pores. Pure plant extracts leave skin looking visibly hydrated, protected and radiant. This primer visibly smooths the skin and is ideal for all skin types.

You may not be able to change what Mother Nature gave you, but Clarins and plant-science give you all the tools you need to reveal your very best skin, no matter what your age or skin concerns might be.