The bad news is that pore size is genetically determined, so you can't actually shrink pores. However, some products and treatments can minimize the appearance of pores, but none of them are permanent solutions. Pore-minimizing products work by stimulating and plumping the collagen that surrounds pores.
Usually, genetics determine larger pores. But, oily skin, sun damage and aging can be other factors that make your pores look bigger. While you can't change the size of your pores, you can minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.
Apple cider vinegar has many antibacterial properties. It unclogs pores, ridding them of bacteria, excess oil, and other debris. It also balances the pH level of the skin. This natural ingredient contains alpha-hydroxy acids that improve cell turnover, reduce wrinkles, and shrinks and tighten pores.
But does ice really help in closing open skin pores? According to dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad, ice cannot affect the opening or closing of skin pores.
"Your pore size is largely determined by genetics, but pores don't usually become visible until adolescence, as it's often hormones that drive the skin to produce more oil and in turn, clog the pores," confirmed Dr Hextall. "Dead skin and oil build-up can make the pores far more apparent by stretching them somewhat."
Pores can become clogged with excess oil, dead skin, or dirt, or they can appear more prominent as a result of too much sun exposure. Other factors that can influence pores becoming clogged include genetics and hormones.
Your pores can become clogged for a number of reasons – excess oil resulting from hormonal changes, dry skin, a buildup of dead skin cells, or dirt and oil becoming stuck beneath the surface.
Baking soda can help minimise this issue by closing your skin's pores and also shrinking them slightly in appearance. This ingredient has astringent-like properties that help close the pores and prevent them from clogging with dirt that gives rise to blackheads and acne.
The humble cucumber is the best way to bid goodbye to enlarged pores because the high silica content in the vegetable not only imparts a youthful look to the skin but also helps in tightening the large pores. Use lemon for better results as the astringent in lemon will reduce the appearance of the ugly pores.
Rose Water acts a great cleanser and a toner. How to use: For shrinking large open pores naturally, take one cup of rose water, add half cup of fresh cucumber juice and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply the mixture on the face and regularly before bed time.
Pores are just glorified hair follicles
Each follicle/pore contains or has the ability to grow one shaft of hair, whether that hair is visible or not.
The more water you drink, the better balance of oil and water on the surface of your skin. This can help reduce your pore size, decrease acne breakouts, and reduce blemishes.
A good Vitamin C serum can help fade discolorations, even out skin tone, shrink pores, and make dull skin more bouncy and radiant.
Eating foods rich in vitamin A (sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squashes, dried apricots, bell peppers, cantaloupe and tropical fruits) help reduce oil gland activity, thus reducing the appearance of large pores.
extreme stress. poor skin care habits (such as not washing your face twice a day, or wearing oil-based makeup) dry skin (ironically, having dry skin can make pores more noticeable due to an increase in sebum production and accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin)
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.
"Pore strips can help (very) temporarily to improve the appearance of pores, but there is no permanent change or improvements to the skin achieved with such a strip," she says. Logistics aside, there's something about nose strips that simply makes them highly gratifying to use.
Popping a blackhead that's really just oil buildup won't solve anything, as the oil will typically come right back. When you try to force a blockage out of a pore, you're risking skin damage and infection. But unlike popping other kinds of pimples, blackheads are open pores, which makes them less risky to pop.
Pore strips are unlikely to cause any real damage. However, they may cause redness and skin irritation, especially for those with skin disorders like rosacea or psoriasis, or for patients using prescription acne medications.