They’re big, round, and all over your face. No, not pimples. But they’re the place pimples start. That’s right, your pores. When pores become clogged with dirt, sweat, or even makeup, they can turn into the acne we all love to hate. But even on their own, large pores can look almost as unsightly as those nasty blackheads. But what ARE pores and can you get rid of them at all? Before you go about shrinking those pores, it’s best to understand what pores do, what they can’t do, and why they can look so large.

What Are Pores For?

Although we might not like to hear it, pores have a purpose just like every other part of your body.

Pores house a hair follicle and sebaceous gland and serve as a gateway for sebum, our skin’s natural oil. They’re basically a tunnel that allows all these things to get to the surface…whether we like it or not.

However, it IS important for your face to get some daily sebum, otherwise it will become dried out and flaky. So, in a way, we have something to thank our pores for!

Why Do Pores Look Larger Sometimes?

Maybe one week, the pores on your nose are big, black holes that you can’t even look at – but the next week, it’s like they were never there. Pores can grow and reduce in size, they’re not stuck at one set size forever.

If your pores are enlarged, that most likely means they are clogged. If dirt, sweat, or makeup gets into the pore and clogs it up, the pore will stretch, giving it that larger appearance.

However, aging and sun damage also contribute to pore size. Age and sun can result in less-than-firm facial tissue, which makes pores appear larger. Toning and firming facial creams can help with these problems and sunscreen is a MUST to keep healthy skin.

How Can I Get Rid of Pores?

You can’t. Pores are a part of your genetic makeup (in fact, genetics play a huge part in how large or small your pores are) and they cannot be removed. As we mentioned earlier, your skin needs that sebum, so you shouldn’t want to remove them, either.

But even if you can’t get RID of your pores, there is a way to reduce pore size!

A lot of people steam their face regularly to “open” their pores, cleaning them out and therefore reducing their size…but, sadly, pores don’t “open” the way people think they do. Steaming your face is still great to loosen and get rid of any gunk in your pores, but this is not the most effective way to reduce pore size.

Instead, we’re in love with this amazing face mask, which shrinks your pores, gives your face a soft, youthful glow, and helps get rid of dark spots. To see how it’s done, watch the beauty tutorial below.

That yogurt shrinks pore size and makes your skin super smooth and wrinkle-free, while lemon kills bacteria that could bring on facial acne. Add some rosewater for a spa-worthy treatment!

YOU’LL NEED
– 1 organic lemon
– Yogurt or curds
– Rosewater

STEP 1: Put 1 tbsp. on yogurt into a bowl.
STEP 2: Grate the lemon peel into the yogurt.
STEP 3: Add rosewater for a soothing affect.
STEP 4: Mix all the ingredients together to form a paste.
STEP 5: Apply mask with fingers or makeup brush. Let sit for 15-20 minutes before washing off.

Looking for a quicker fix to reduce pore size? Let’s face it, as you’re running out the door to meet a date, you might not have time to whip up this awesome mask.

To hide pores in a snap, try this fantastic makeup tutorial which will help reduce the look of your pores in minutes.

Do you have a trick to help minimize the size of your pores? Share your tricks in the comments section below.