I always looked at cleansing my face as a chore, washing my face of an evening with a cleanser was somewhat daunting. Until I realised it was not so bad, it was just like brushing your teeth if you wanted to avoid a dentist trip then you need to floss and brush, just like skincare, if you wish to delay signs of premature aging then you need to cleanse. All I had to do was simple, to ensure my products were ready on hand and stored in my bathroom vanity and, that is how my cleansing routine started. So, this is where I tell you why this step is a crucial part of your skincare routine.
Pores, what are they? Can you shrink them, and how do we treat them? So many questions, right?
“Pores, are the opening on the top layer of your skin and they connect to the hair follicle underneath, we have a genetic imprint for pores and, you cannot change them, or you cannot shrink them and, essentially it looks clogged either with a white head or a blackhead. It’s the same substance, so there is still a bit of debris, sweat, oil, but when it looks like a blackhead it’s oxidised with the atmosphere, so the oxygen oxidises the top layer of dirt and it looks black, whereas if you have skin over it, it looks like a little white head.” Says Dermatologist Shyamalar Guthaneesan.
It is also where the sebum (our bodies natural oils) is released to the surface to help our skin be naturally moisturised. Though their appearance can be frustrating when all aspects of our anatomy work in perfect harmony, pores help maintain healthy skin.
Understanding a few details about pores can help you healthily deal with them and help you avoid potentially harming your skin with unnecessary products.
Here are five key things to remember about pores:
- They are hair follicles.
- Their appearance is, mostly determined by genetics. e.g; people with large pores often have family members with large pores.
- Environmental factors, aging, dry skin, oil, and acne can all make your pores look bigger. Sun damage is also a key factor in largened pores. Prolonged sun exposure can remove collagen, elastin, and water from your skin, which causes the tissue beneath your skin to shrink and pull at the edges of your pores, making them sag and appear larger.
- A daily cleanse can minimise the appearance of pores.
- Too much cleansing can cause your pores to produce more oil.
Can you shrink the size of your pores?
There is no way to permanently shrink pores, in saying this while you may not be able to shrink your pores, you can minimise the appearance of them.
Throughout the day, bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells pile up on your face, which could lead to clogged pores. Regularly cleansing your face is the best way to remove dirt, oil, and unwanted debris. Dermatologists recommend anywhere between 1 to 2 times a day. Realistically, you only need to wash your face once a day. Most of us when we sleep, we go to bed with a clean face, by removing the day’s grime or makeup off, so you will not need a thorough face washing in the morning. If you experience specific issues that require attention in the morning, then it is okay to cleanse twice a day.
Before I go ahead and recommend a cleanser, I would suggest double cleansing of an evening. Starting with an oil-based cleanser like the Tatcha, ‘Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil’. Without stripping it of its natural moisture, this oil cleanser breaks down dirt, debris and makeup, and the best part yet, it’s ideal for all skin types. Not within your budget, that’s ok, the ‘Precleanse’ by Dermalogica, which is what I use in my salon and highly recommend, a cleanser that thoroughly melts away layers of excess sebum (oil), makeup, environmental pollutants and residual products that build-up throughout the day. A 30ml bottle will last you quite some time, as a couple of pumps is plenty, a little goes a long way! You have gotten this far and, we’re almost to the end of this blog post. So all that is left is your second cleanse. Dermatologists have recommended a handful of products that you can safely use daily.
Here is a list of a few I have put together;
- Cetpahil Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types –
Priceline $16.99 - Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser –
Chemist Warehouse $10.49 - Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser –
Chemist Warehouse $11.99 - QV Gentle Cleanser –
Priceline $13.49
Tip: Warm water is always best, as hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils, and cold does not allow the pores to open to remove dirt.
Enough said, let’s get cleansing!
Have a question? Feel free to contact me or check out my current beauty services.
Until the next blog post… xx