Although silicone based primers mask the appearance of large pores, regular use may actually increase pore size. As impurities fail to escape pores, buildup increases in pores causing them to stretch out in size.
All you can do is minimize their appearance, and filling pores with a product that promises to blur, erase, or make them disappear altogether is the exact opposite of what should be done to help make them look smaller! “Fillers” only add more dirt, debris, and oil to your skin, making your pore problem worse.
It might clog the pores
If you have sensitive skin and use makeup primer too often, it can clog your pores which leads to a breakout.
Good news is the right primer can help minimize the appearance of pores, making your skin texture look smoother while helping your makeup last longer. Worn alone, and these primers can give your skin a smooth surface.
Pore filling primers are usually silicone based (using dimethicone) and work to minimize pores and smooth the surface of the skin. Mattifying makeup primers are designed to control oil and shine on oily skin types.
NYX Pore Filler is a new silicone based primer from the brand that offers the ability to fill pores and give the appearance of smoother skin. The mattifying formula is the ideal pick to keep oily skin at bay. Take a peek! First off, I hate silicone primers.
Full or high coverage foundations are saturated with colour pigments. If not used correctly, these foundations can feel heavy on your skin and make your foundation look cakey and patchy. Instead, look for light or medium coverage foundations that you can layer to increase coverage if required.
When used properly, a great primer can be the difference between a lasts-all-day face and creased, faded makeup. Conversely, a primer not suited to your skin's individual needs — particularly for the acne-prone — can clog pores, triggering a wave of irritation and breakouts.
Makeup has a way of leaching the moisture from the skin, accentuating pores, and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles. So if your skin looks worse with foundation, this could be a major culprit. “Most skin types get dehydrated regardless of the oil they produce,” says Dorman.
Celebrity esthetician Cynthia Franco (who has worked with Salma Hayek, Lucy Boynton, Lena Headey, and more) points out pores can become packed and dilated with sebum, makeup, dirt, and other debris, which can ultimately cause them to stretch, making them appear larger than their natural size.
In general, silicone isn't pore-clogging in and of itself but can create a barrier that traps other comedogenic substances, thereby increasing the chance of an acne flare.
Silicones Can Cause Acne and Congestion
Makeup primers with silicones are a culprit behind congested skin. Prolonged exposure to oil, dead skin and bacteria underneath the semi-occlusive seal of silicones can lead to increased breakouts.
Pockmarks, which are also called pick marks or acne scars, are blemishes with a concave shape that can look like holes or indentations in the skin. They occur when the deeper layers of the skin become damaged. As these deeper layers heal, extra collagen is produced.
If you suddenly see the pores getting bigger on, for example, your nose, it's the sebum glands in the pores on your nose which have been working overdrive 24-hour shifts. With all this extra sebum to bag up, your pore will eventually begin to lose elasticity aka your pore size will stretch.
Laser Treatments
Several treatments are available at Dermatology and Laser Centre. Fractional ablative laser skin resurfacing decreases the appearance of pores and acne scars. For enlarged pores, Dr. Gallacher uses the Vbeam laser as well as fractionated CO2 lasers.
How does it help to shrink large pores? Niacinamide has been found to help balance sebum (oil) excretion rate and also improve elasticity to tighten up the skin around pores, making them look smaller. And it's gentle so even extra-sensitive skin types can reap its benefits without the risk of irritation!
Retinol promotes skin cell turnover and unclogs pores.
Studies show that applying retinol cream reduces pore size and keeps them cleaner, emptying the impurities that otherwise give an oversized appearance. Retinol is most effective when used as night cream.
It is a non-comedogenic product. It can be used on acne-prone skin and not cause skin breakouts. Elf Poreless Putty Primer is an exact dupe of Tatcha's Silk Canvas. It does an excellent job for a flawless, even look and provides a poreless effect.