Let’s start by getting the bad news out of the way; you can’t physically shrink pores since their size is primarily determined by genetics. 

However, this doesn’t mean that you have to live with large and dark pores forever. Instead, there are plenty of steps that you can take to make your pores look smaller and lighter, so that they aren’t quite so noticeable. 

Read on as Vivo Per Lei explains how!

Cleanse Twice a Day

One of the reasons why pores can sometimes look larger than they really are is because it’s so easy for dirt, sebum, and other impurities to settle in them. This stretches them out, making them look wider and more noticeable.

The first stage of tackling this problem is to stop those impurities from entering into your pores. This is where cleansing comes in. It will clear away any dirt and sebum that’s sitting on the surface of your skin, saving it from diving deeper down into your pores. 

Ideally, cleansing should be done twice a day. Don’t be tempted to cleanse more often than this as over-cleansing will only irritate and damage your skin. In the long run, this will make your pores look even bigger.

Choosing the right cleanser is also key. Anything too harsh will cause irritation while formulas that are too gentle will fail to remove enough surface impurities. The Vivo Per Lei Collagen Foaming Cleanser is the perfect middle ground. Unlike the majority of foaming cleansers out there, this one doesn’t contain any sulfates yet still manages to form a rich lather that efficiently cleans the skin.

Exfoliate a Couple of Times a Week

While cleansing twice a day will tackle impurities on the surface of your skin, you’ll also need to make sure that you’re regularly clearing out any impurities that have already made their way into your pores. This is what exfoliation does. It gives the skin a deeper cleanse and, although it’s not going to shrink pores, it will immediately have your pores looking much smaller.

When choosing how to exfoliate, you have two main options. The first is physical, or mechanical, exfoliation. This makes use of an abrasive substance, such as a scrub or a loofah, to physically dislodge dead skin cells and other impurities from within the pores. The second option is chemical exfoliation. This uses acids to dissolve impurities and clear out the pores.

Which is best when dealing with enlarged pores? Chemical exfoliation tends to be more effective. Although it involves acids, it’s actually much gentler on the skin than physical exfoliation. It doesn’t require any rubbing or scrubbing, both of which can end up stretching pores out even more!

Use Water-Based Skincare and Makeup Products

If you’ve been looking for ways to shrink pores, then there’s a good chance that you have oily skin. Although people with dry skin sometimes end up dealing with large pores, it’s more common among oily skin types. This is down to the extra sebum that your skin is producing. In order to release it all onto the skin’s surface, pore openings need to be wider. This, therefore, makes them look bigger.

It goes without saying that you don’t want to be adding even more oil to your skin. While not all oils will add to this burden, the majority of them will only make your skin even greasier. Your pores will then be more likely to develop clogs, causing them to stretch even further.

To avoid this, make sure that all of your skincare and makeup products are water-based rather than oil-based. You’ll find plenty of options from Vivo Per Lei, with several of our products featuring water-based formulas.

The Aloe Soothing Facial Serum is one, with this silky, water-based Vivo Per Lei serum perfect for hydrating the skin without weighing it down. Once you’ve applied that, you could then follow up with the Vivo Per Lei Marine Aqua Facial Cream. It’s an oil-free moisturizer that will keep your skin feeling soft and protected while giving it a smooth, matte finish. 

Make the Most of Retinol

If you’ve been struggling with enlarged pores, retinol is an ingredient that you definitely need to start using. While it’s not going to physically shrink pores, it’s a superstar at minimizing their appearance to make them look pretty much invisible.

It works on a few different levels. Firstly, it helps to unclog pores. You’ll then be able to cleanse or exfoliate those blockages away much more efficiently, leaving your pores looking smaller.

Retinol is also a superstar at firming the complexion. As the skin ages, it starts to sag and droop. This pulls pore openings downward, making them look longer and more attention-grabbing. Retinol is able to give the skin a tighter and tauter finish, making pores look smaller.

The best way to treat your skin to the wonders of retinol is with a serum. Look for one that lists retinol somewhere near the top of its ingredient list, just like the Vivo Per Lei 24K Gold Caviar Serum. In addition to retinol, it also contains several other ingredients that will help to tighten up the look of loose skin, such as amino acids, mushroom extract, fig extract, and caviar extract. These ingredients will enhance the visible effects provided by the retinol, bringing improvements to your complexion even sooner!

Work on Tackling the Appearance of Skin Aging

We’ve just spoken about how firming and tightening your complexion can go a long way in shrinking the look of pores. The serum above will help you to do that but the other aspects of your skincare routine also need to be geared toward the same target.

This means using products that are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Retinol is a form of vitamin A, so you’ve got that covered with the serum above. However, vitamin C is an ingredient worth having around too. Incorporate it into the cleansing stage of your routine with the IntroLift Vitamin C Facial Wipes, or boost your complexion on a weekly basis with the vitamin C-infused Fresh Eucalyptus Facial Mask. 

In addition to vitamins, look for skincare products containing antioxidants. Plant extracts and oils are great sources of these compounds, which work to reverse and prevent the appearance of skin aging. If you don’t already have any antioxidant-rich skincare products, you’ll find plenty of them in the Vivo Per Lei Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Day Cream!

Add a Charcoal Mask to Your Skincare Routine

People who are trying to shrink pores often turn to clay masks. After all, clay is loved for how it absorbs excess sebum, making it a great way to clear out any gunk from within the pores.

However, charcoal is another ingredient that has similar effects. Just like clay, it’s great for drawing out oil and detoxifying the complexion. However, activated charcoal also has a slightly gritty texture. This means that it provides the added benefit of lightly exfoliating the skin too.

If you’d like to give charcoal a try, check out the Vivo Per Lei Activated Charcoal Facial Mask. In addition to bestowing the skin with the properties of charcoal, it also hydrates the complexion while offering a vast selection of potent antioxidants.

Give Your Skin Some Extra Hydration

We’ve already talked about how aging can cause the skin, as well as the pores, to droop and look larger. Well, dehydration can do this too. 

If your skin is dehydrated, then this means that it’s lacking water. It will look dull and lackluster while feeling uncomfortable and tight. If you have oily skin, dehydration can sometimes make things worse. It causes the skin to ramp up oil production in an attempt to make up for the lack of moisture. This then means that not only will your pores look larger because of the dehydration, but the excess oil that’s being produced will stretch them out even further.

The solution to all of this is to keep your skin hydrated. Give it the moisture that it desperately needs and it will start to look fuller and plumper again. This means that your pores will no longer be quite so noticeable.

You’ll find several hydrating skincare products from Vivo Per Lei, with the Marine Revitalize Leave-on Hydrating Mask being one of our most popular. It’s brimming with hydrating compounds and the fact that it doesn’t need to be rinsed off makes it so convenient to use!

Protect Your Skin From UV Rays

Following all of the above tips will only help you to reduce the visibility of your pores if you’re also protecting your skin from the sun. If not, UV rays will wreak havoc, causing your skin to wrinkle and sag much faster. This will only make your pores look larger while casting deeper shadows. The discoloration caused by UV rays can also make pores appear bigger.

To adequately protect your skin from the sun, you’ll need to keep it covered with a minimum of SPF 30. Many people happily do this in the spring and summer, but you’ll need to keep the habit going throughout the winter months too. UV rays damage the skin year-round, meaning that year-round protection is essential.

It would also be wise to take a few additional sun protection measures, at least until you’ve gained some control over the appearance of your pores. Keep your face shielded with a wide-brimmed hat and find a pair of oversized sunglasses to give your eye area some extra coverage. If possible, avoid being out in the sun during its hottest hours, usually between 11am and 3pm. Stay in the shade as much as you can and your pores will thank you!

Summary

While many people are disheartened when they learn that they can’t literally shrink pores, there are still plenty of other options out there if you’re trying to make your pores look smaller. From developing a good cleansing and exfoliating regimen to knowing which skincare ingredients you should and shouldn’t be using, keep all of our tips in mind and your pores should soon look tighter and less visible than they have in years!

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