If you’re into skincare, you probably hear a lot of conversations centered around pores. Just what are they and how do they affect your skin’s appearance and health? A closer look at this tiny yet important structure can help you practice skincare more effectively while maintaining a beautiful complexion.
What Are Pores?
Your skin is covered with tiny openings all along the surface, much like the holes in a sponge. These openings, your pores, are an essential component in your skin’s structure and serve a very important purpose. First, they provide a pathway of transportation for sweat and oil. This allows your body to maintain proper temperatures, release toxins, and stay moisturized. Pores also house follicles, the structures from which all body hair grows.
How Do You Care for Your Pores?
It’s important to consider your pores when developing a skincare routine. These practices help support pore health so you can maintain your beautiful skin.
Stick to a Daily Wash Routine
Because pores are essentially tiny holes in the skin, they’re perfect for trapping dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells, often leading to blackheads and pimples. Keep your pores clean and open by cleansing them often. Wash your face every morning and night, as well as any time you work up a sweat.
Apply a Nourishing Face Serum
Certain topical products help support pore health by maintaining the overall structures of the skin and ensuring an appropriate moisture balance. Look for a face serum that’s full of skin-supporting ingredients and apply it on a daily basis. This type of beauty treatment keeps skin hydrated, smooth, and strong.
Avoid Irritating Products
Some products can cause harm to your skin, especially if the ingredients are harsh, drying, or settle into your pores. Avoid skincare and makeup items that contain alcohol, sulfates, or other dehydrating ingredients that can stress your skin and your pores.
When it comes to pore health, perhaps one of the most important steps you can take is to choose makeup and skincare products that are non-comedogenic. If you don’t see this term on the label, a product is likely made with ingredients that settle into pores and clog them, resulting in inflammation, irritation, and pimples.
Take Care of Your Pores
Enlarged pores can be unsightly and give your skin a rough texture. Your makeup can also settle into these oversized openings and make the issue more pronounced. For this reason, many people look for products and beauty treatments that claim to “eliminate pores.”
Because pores are permanent structures on your face, there is no way to get rid of them completely. However, you can take steps to support skin and pore health, which may help you look and feel confident in the appearance of your skin.
Exfoliation
To help clear out your pores and get rid of excess buildup, routine exfoliation is a must. This skincare process helps slough away dead skin, debris, and bacteria for fresher, cleaner skin. How often you exfoliate depends on your skin type, needs, and goals; every two to three days tends to be the standard for most people.
Sun Protection
Over time, your body slows its production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help give your skin structure and firmness. While this is a natural process, sun exposure can speed it up exponentially, leaving you with sagging skin and gaping pores. Daily sunscreen use is an easy and effective way to combat skin damage from the sun while protecting yourself from skin cancer in the process.
Dermatologists recommend that everyone applies a minimum SPF of 30 on a daily basis to their faces, necks, and hands, as these areas often see the most sunlight. On sunny days or when you’re spending more time outdoors, increase the SPF and reapply often according to your product’s recommendations.
Supporting healthy skin starts with helping you to have healthy pores. You can maintain these essential structures with routine care that focuses on cleansing and hydration. Don’t forget to make a habit of minimizing irritation and unnecessary damage so you can enjoy beautiful, comfortable skin.