PORE NIGHTMARES?
If you’re like me, you have probably battled enlarged pores and acne for most of your life. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t wait for my twenties, because my dermatologist told me repeatedly that all my skin problems were going to disappear by then. And yes, she was right. My twenties were great for my skin… But then my thirties started approaching and my skin problems have returned. I used to think that by now I should have been rid of acne and such. Unfortunately, with all the air pollution nowadays an increasing number of women in their thirties and even forties have skin issues. Acne being a teenage problem has become a myth. So here I am, in my thirties, and back to battling with pores and pimples.
So what works?—you ask… Well, most likely very good hygiene, for one, which means washing off your make up and sunscreen every night (no matter how drunk you may be…). Here are some things that can be done to prevent enlarged pores and possibly minimize the ones that have already stretched:
• Use products that increase levels of collagen and elastin which will prevent the pores from stretching (look for ingredients such as Vitamin C or retinol).
• Keep skin clear of oil and dead skin cells. Use products with alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid and phytic acid) and chestnut extract which will exfoliate your skin, thus improving its texture.
• If you’re acne prone, use products with salicylic acid, which can penetrate the fats in sebum much better than glycolic acid, which makes it an ideal treatment to improve the appearance of pores.
• Use products with retinol. They will decrease oil production, increase collagen and elastin production, and accelerate your skin’s cell-turnover while strengthening pore walls.
• Minimize the appearance of pores by causing the skin around them to swell slightly. You can achieve the effect by applying topical vitamin C to your skin (you can find it in a variety of facial serums) or trying a professional light procedure like IPL (Intense pulsed Light), which provides an immediate benefit and is worth every penny!
And there you go… My personal advice though (especially for people with oily skin, like me) is stay away from products with alcohol. These will only dry up your skin, making it produce even more sebum, which creates a vicious circle. We are, after all, trying to minimize the shine effect, right?