How To Shrink Pores And Why They Get Bigger With Age
If you feel like your pores are getting larger as you’re getting older - you’re not alone! In fact, figuring out how to minimize pores while also tackling the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is a common concern. But why is this? And what’s the best skin care routine to treat both of these issues at the same time? Find the answers to these questions below and share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
Aging Skin
It’s no secret that as we age, our skin changes - but why is this? Two major factors are a loss in elasticity and a decrease in oil production. As you age, production of collagen and elastin decreases (both of which are crucial to keeping skin firm and flexible), leading to less “bounce back” in your skin. This is due to hormonal changes and changes in the connective tissues, and it’s the reason why fine lines deepen into wrinkles and skin often begins to sag. Sebaceous glands also produce less oil as you get older, leading to the skin looking and feeling more dry, itchy and tight than in your youth. The outer layer of your skin (the epidermis) will become thinner and more delicate as well, so this dry, itchy skin will also become more easily irritated by environmental stressors.
Why Do My Pores Look Bigger?
So, how exactly does a decrease in elasticity and oil production make your pores larger? Pores are also elastic, and as collagen levels decrease, pores lose this elasticity. As you age, the skin’s natural exfoliation process, known as desquamation, slows down - all while your skin is becoming more dry. The result is more dead skin cells, sitting on the skin’s surface for longer and filling pores that are likely to stay stretched out.
Not helping this process? Sun damage and exposure, which we often see as symptoms of aging skin. As Livestrong points out, “Sun damage creates a rim of cells around individual pores. Although this accumulation takes place on a microscopic level, the end result is noticeable … While genetics are 20 percent responsible for pore size, exposure to sun accounts for a whopping 80 percent.”
How Do I Shrink Pores And Smooth The Look Of Wrinkles?
So what are the key treatments and techniques to minimize pores while also reducing the look of wrinkles and sagging skin? Exfoliation, sun protection and professional treatments with an esthetician are your best bet. To help mitigate a slower desquamation process, incorporate gentle exfoliation into your daily skin care routine, along with professional peels that clear away build up of dead skin cells.
Inquire with your esthetician whether you can book a treatment with our Mangosteen Lactic Pro Peel 10%, which is safe for even the most sensitive skin types, minimizes pore size and leaves the skin feeling deeply conditioned and supple. Additionally, consider booking a skin assessment with a licensed esthetician who can create a custom skin care routine with you and address your main concerns. To get you started, we’ve put together the following at-home skin care routine featuring some fan favorite Eminence Organics products.
Skin Care Routine
As we’ve mentioned, exfoliation is key to minimizing pores and fighting the visible signs of aging, but so is hydration to nourish the skin and keep it feeling healthy. The following six step routine focuses on these two principles to leave skin looking smooth and plump.
1. Cleanse
Our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser is a beautiful milky gel containing our Lactic Acid Complex to leave the skin glowing. But our main reason to suggest this cleanser? In an #AskNatalie video, Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar was asked: “What are the best products to help with … large pores but also help with fine lines, wrinkles and aging skin?” Natalie recommended our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser because it lifts impurities and preps the skin for exfoliation. Watch her response in the video below for some more great tips on shrinking pores and helping diminish the visible signs of aging.
2. Exfoliate
Also recommended by Natalie? Eminence Organics Firm Skin Acai Exfoliating Peel. Use this firming peel solution up to three times a week to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as to slough off dead skin. If you prefer more of a physical exfoliation, our Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant will leave skin feeling smooth, with rhubarb and BioComplex to improve the signs of aging. Gentle enough to use daily, our Dermafoliant can either be mixed with a few drops of water, or with a cleanser like Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser.
3. Tone
To balance the skin’s pH level and prep it to absorb further treatment, toning is a crucial step in your skin care routine. We recommend our Stone Crop Hydrating Mist to soothe dry skin and leave your complexion looking bright and youthful. This award winning toner is deeply moisturizing thanks to ingredients like stone crop and aloe juice. Spritz this mist directly onto the skin or, if preferred, onto a cotton round first, then gently sweep it over the face.
4. Treat
To treat the skin, our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate and Bamboo Firming Fluid work seamlessly together. First apply Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate to refine pores and clear buildup. Once absorbed, massage in a layer of our best selling Bamboo Firming Fluid to hydrate the skin and improve the look of firmness and wrinkles.
5. Moisturize And Protect
Moisturization and sun protection are key to fighting the look of fine lines and shrinking pores. We recommend applying our Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer morning and night to hydrate the skin without clogging pores.
6. Treat Overnight
Lastly, to give your skin some extra love, incorporate our Marine Flower Peptide Night Cream into your routine. This luxurious creamy night cream works while you sleep, to repair dry skin and hydrate your complexion. Apply a layer to the face and neck area before bed, massaging deeply into the skin. You will wake up with skin that looks rejuvenated and restored.
With this routine, we feel confident that you can tackle the visible signs of aging. Do you have any additional products you would include? What other pore size concerns do you have? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on social media.
This article was originally written in September 2018.
