1. A clay mask
Clay masks have a great reputation for soaking up excess oil from skin, but they’re also excellent at refining and tightening pores. The clay works to deeply clean pores to remove all the gunk that may be stretching them and causing them to appear bigger. Start by using a clay mask twice a week to improve the look of your pores, then drop to once a week as a preventative measure. We like Swisse Cranberry Pore Perfecting Clay Mask.
2. A pore-minimising toner
Acids are your friend for speeding up the exfoliation process and removing hard-to-reach dirt and oil from deep within pores. If you have enlarged pores, you should be using a pore-minimising toner after cleansing. Look for an alcohol-free one that cleans well, but doesn’t dry out your skin in the process. Try Cosrx AHA Whitehead Power Liquid.
3. A retinol cream
Retinol is considered the gold-standard ingredient for fighting the signs of ageing, and it works a treat on minimising pores, too. By boosting cell turnover, increasing collagen production, and decreasing oil production, it helps tighten pores and leaves skin smoother. We recommend Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream.
4. A primer
If you’re after an instant fix for your enlarged pore woes, a primer can hook you up. They work by filling the pores (choose a non-comedogenic formula that won’t clog your pores and make the problem worse) to create a smooth, even surface for your foundation to glide over for that airbrushed finish. Try Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Oil-Free.
