I have noticed lately that the pores on my face are enlarged, especailly in the cheek area. What I usually do when I get time is steam my face over a bowl of heated water to open them and let all the crap out then I put on a peel of masque right away to pull the yucks out. Then I splash with cold water and wipe with a little astringent. I am looking for other ways that may help as this is the only thing I could ever think of. Anyone else know what I can do to make them smaller or appear smaller. It makes me look old and my skin saggy. Yuck! I am too young for that yet.
Alpha and Beta hydroxy acid products are great for this.
Alpha is good for dissolving surface.
Beta (aka salicylic acid or aspirin) is good for getting into the pore and dissolving the oil and waxy plugs.
Personally I like the very unnatural Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic acid lotion, it's strong but not at all harsh on your skin. Zia makes a great Citrus Night Reversal cream that's really good for dry skin or their Ultimate Exfoliant for oily skin. But there are numerous products on the market with AHA or BHA, sometimes it just trial and error to find one that agrees with your skin.
Also apply 2-3 drops of grapefruit seed extract to a wet face with wet hands and massage. Carefully avoid eyes it will sting. Rinse well. This does a great job at dissolving dead surface cells and killing bacteria too.
Ask around to find a good facialist. It can do wonders to clean out your pores, and you can pick up techniques so that you can do home facials. I found that a good facialist was much more effective than even a dermatologist. Call to make sure that you get someone who is adept at dealing with enlarged pores. The facial may initially make you look a little red and puffy, but it clears up quickly and your skin looks better. But don't get a facial right before an evening out or during lunch hour at work.
Also, I would not apply any acid-based treatment to your face until you have a professional clear out your pores. The problem is that if the surface gets dried out, it can trap the dirt that is deeper within your pores and cause problems.
I also have had good results with Mario Badescu products, esp the enzyme cleansing gel for daily cleansing.
If you wear makeup or sunscreen, the best way to prevent clogged pores after you have cleaned them is to never fall asleep without thoroughly cleaning your face. It sounds obvious, but even one night will start a cycle that leads to enlarged pores. If I'm konked out and nursing the baby, sometimes I'll ask dh to bring me the cleansing gel and a warm washcloth rather than risk falling asleep with makeup on my face.
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