Pores Get Bigger with Age – Here’s How You Can Shrink Them

Pores are a vital part of your skin’s anatomy, providing a route for oil and sweat when they leave your skin. Whilst they’re incredibly useful for this reason, they can also pose a problem, especially as they get bigger with age.

Give Niacinamide a try

Niacinamide has long been hailed a true all-rounder in the skincare world, tackling all sorts of problems ranging from dryness, redness, wrinkles and lines, and yep, you guessed it, large pores.

Also known as vitamin B3, Niacinamide is water-soluble and has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. Niacinamide encourages ceramide production which strengthens your skin barrier, and tightens skin, bringing about smoother skin and therefore, smaller pores.

A Niacinamide serum such as La Roche Posay Pure Niacinamide10 Serum is the perfect product for encouraging skin to retain the vital moisture needed for smooth textured skin with a reduction in pore size.

La Roche Posay Pure Niacinamide 10 Serum

• Contains Hyaluronic Acid.
• Contains Niacinamide.
• Evens your skin tone.

Protect yourself from sun damage

Whilst the sun is great for our mental wellbeing and general happiness, it doesn’t do any favours for our skin, and that includes how it affects pore size.

According to a study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, sun exposure dramatically increases pores. UV damage thickens the skin and extracts collagen and moisture from your skin, leading to larger pores and causing them to sag (giving the illusion of larger pores).

Using a strong SPF product every day is the best preventive way to fight sun damage, and if you can, choose a time-released formula that ensures all-day protection, such as
ZO Skin Health Sheer Fluid Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF50.

ZO Skin Health Sheer Fluid Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF50

• Time-released antioxidant complex.
• 22% zinc oxide – blends on all skin tones.
• Contains vitamins A, C and E.

Use Retinol

Another powerful vitamin to add into your skincare routine is Retinol, which is a amplifies your skin’s natural moisturisting abilities. It also accelerates your skin’s cell turnover, which starts to become sluggish with age. In doing so, this helps your skin retain its thickness, and remove comedones that clog up your pores and make them appear enlarged.

Remember though, retinol requires patience; at least 12 weeks are needed to see the effects start to enhance your skin. Once you’re 3 months down, your only regret will be not starting on the retinol sooner!

Obagi Retinol 0.5%

• Low concentration Retinol – ideal for new Retinol users.
• Plumps skin and promotes elasticity.
• Firms the skin (reducing pore size).

Cleanse everyday

Cleansing removes impurities and excess oil from your skin’s surface, which will stop such substances clogging your pores. Use warm water (not hot) to cleanse, as hot water can cause skin irritation, making pores appear larger. Gently scrub your skin to prevent irritation (which can accentuate the appearance of pores).