What pores are

Pores are so small that as many as 65 can be found in one square inch of skin. In healthy, normal skin, pores are generally invisible, neither clogged with dead skin cells nor plugged with sebum. Pores are like miniature gateways, letting materials in and out of our skin.

• Allow sweat and oil out. Technically, pores are the openings to hair follicles and sweat glands, through which sebum and sweat are expelled.
• Allow other substances in. Although skin prevents many harmful substances from penetrating the body, scientists are discovering that some substances — in particular, retinoids, fat-soluble vitamins, nanoparticles and certain hydrating agents — can penetrate the skin via pores to a certain degree.

Pores fill with oil, dirt and dead skin. If a pore’s contents become greater than the size of the pore, it will stretch. An enlarged pore may become a whitehead (closed comedone) or blackhead (open comedone). Most often seen in very oily or acneic skin, these pores are typically found along the nose, chin, forehead or back.

Unfortunately, once a pore is stretched, it won’t shrink or disappear — even with rigorous cleansing. Instead, with proper skincare, you can maintain pore clarity, causing pores to appear smaller.

A quick way to minimize the look of pores? Splash your face with cool or cold water, which will cause the small surrounding muscles to tighten, making pores seem less visible.

Care for clear pores

• Wash. Keeping skin clear of excess oil minimizes the risk of pores becoming clogged with sebum, dead skin and dirt. Look for cleansers containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) — like glycolic or lactic acid — or BHAs — like salicylic acid.

  Murad Clarifying Cleanser deep cleans with salicylic acid and triclosan to kill acne-causing bacteria. Cellex-C Betaplex Gentle Foaming Cleanser lathers up, featuring AHAs and BHAs to remove oil and dead skin.

• Extract. Another method to keep pores clear is by manually extracting blackheads and comedones from skin. However, proceed with caution — improper removal “can spread bacteria to other pores, leading to new breakouts,” warns Erica Metzger in Ladies’ Home Journal.

  Instead of expelling the blackheads yourself, schedule an appointment for a facial with a dermatologist or licensed esthetician, who can safely and effectively perform the extractions.

• Scrub. Consider using a scrub to exfoliate the dead skin that clogs pores. Scrubs often have ingredients like fruit peel extracts or ground nut shells for this purpose. But if you use scrubs too frequently, they can be drying and irritating. As a result, your skin “produces more oil in an attempt to replace it,” cautions Deborah Grayson for iVillage.

  And that’s exactly what you don’t want, because too much oil can clog pores. Two or three times a week, apply a scrub, such as Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub, to slough off rough, dead skin.

• Deep-cleanse. Deep-cleansing masks are another option to keep pores clear. Loaded with purifying clay, herbs and mud, they draw out impurities and lightly exfoliate, leaving skin smooth and clear.

  Although they won’t technically remove blackheads, clarifying masks will keep them from becoming larger or more noticeable, especially if used weekly.

  Try SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque, which features an exfoliating hydroxy acid blend as well as kaolin clay. It clears pores of excess sebum and keeps their size to a minimum.

Makeup to minimize pores

Sure, your instinct might be to slather on thick makeup to camouflage enlarged pores, but doing so can actually add to the problem! Here are some better makeup options.

• Pass on foundation. “Even mattifying foundations seem to call more attention to pores,” Grayson writes.
• Opt for pore-minimizing treatments or primers. They’re lightweight and create the look of smooth skin. Check out Dermelect Pore Revolution and T Zone Mattifier.
• Apply oil-absorbing powder. This provides a soft, smooth finish to skin and banishes any oily shine.

Learn everything you need to know about acne-fighting skincare in our Complete Acne Handbook.