Our facial pores are an important element that help to secrete sweat and sebum but in our hot and humid climate, they can work in overdrive, causing clogged or sagging pores which is a big no-no. Overworked pores pave the way for undesirable skin issues like clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, acne and dark spot to name a few. If like us, you are constantly on the lookout for pore tightening tips that actually work, read on.
Having smooth and flawless skin is a goal that many of us strive for – who doesn’t want to feel good confident about their appearance? However, achieving this can be a challenge when you have a pore problem. If attention is not paid to it in good time, our pores will enlarge, resulting in acne development. This is especially so when we live in the tropics, where summer and heat is experienced all year long.
While we can’t change the climate, we can minimise the appearance of our pores with these handy pore tightening tips to apply in our daily skincare routine. The Pamper team is here to dish out our highly recommended skincare products to add to your pore care routine for you to effectively bid large, clogged pores, goodbye!
#1 – BRING ON THE CLEANSE
Pores dilate in heat and from sweating, making it easier to trap dirt and other impurities over the course of a day. When a pore is clogged, it inevitably looks larger than usual as the trapped dirt expands the area of the pore.
Attention to skin hygiene is a basic first step to tightening pores. Washing away dirt and grime such as dead skin cells, oil, and makeup can make a stark difference in the way your skin looks.
A gentle cleanse twice daily will do the trick and also open up the pore for deeper delivery of any moisturisers and serums later on. The best cleansers to use are oil-free and gentle on the skin like these ones.
We recommend:
SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser
Infused with PITERA™ and White Willow Extract, this SK-II’s Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser gently washes away impurities and stubborn makeup, leaving your skin refreshed and hydrated. Just a pea-sized amount of this cleanser creates a luxurious, rich lather that leaves the skin feeling clean without the feeling of tightness. After use, you’ll notice your skin looking brighter and clearer!
Formulated with its signature blend of four aromatic plant oils, this cleansing balm deep cleanses without stripping the skin and removes even the most stubborn of waterproof make-up. It helps to soften and condition the skin as it cleans and detoxifies.
A gel cleanser that combats blemishes, washing away pore-clogging grime, oil and irritants, which helps treat and prevent blemish breakouts. Maximum strength for acne-prone skin only or for severe blemishes and extreme oil.
Step #2 – EXFOLIATE WITH GENTLE ACIDS
Fear not – these acids won’t do damage to your skin when used correctly.
The legwork of a pore tightening skincare routine is to rid the pores of gunk before it settles and forms a plug. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are chemical exfoliants that dissolve said gunk and impurities, working to remove it from the skin surface deep down to your pores.
AHAs work on the skin’s outer layer sweeping away excess oil while BHAs penetrate deeper to remove dead skin cells. Together, they exfoliate on a cellular level.
The best way to incorporate these acids into your routine is to look for toners or serums with these ingredients for daily exfoliation. Pamper top tip: Check the ingredient list. Common AHAs include glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids while BHAs include salicylic acid.
We recommend:
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion
The ingredients list of SK-II’s Facial Treatment Clear Lotion includes AHAs (citric, lactic and malic acids) to gently exfoliate the skin daily while moisturising it – the perfect all-in-one toner to prep your skin for the rest of your routine. This product leaves your skin feeling clear and fresh, without overly stripping it.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner
This paraben-free, sulphate-free facial toner possesses the gentle formula infused with real rose petals, cleanses the skin of debris, pollution particles, and residual impurities, while leaving it feeling refreshed.
Estee Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae Pore Minimizing Hydra Lotion
Supercharged with a triple blend of chlorella, spirulina, and laminaria saccharina, this lightweight fluid lotion promotes a natural detox to your skin, improves radiance while helping to minimise pores and control shine.
Step #3 – PORE TIGHTENING PRODUCTS TO PROTECT AND MINIMISE THOSE PORES
All the hard work you’ve done in clearing those pores is for naught if there’s no aftercare to keep things sustained. A serum or essence brings the g-l-o-w back to your face, nourishing the skin and giving it the fighting means to preserve pore health in the long run.
Invest in a serum/essence that will enhance the skin’s barrier functions, ideally one that contains both antioxidant and moisturising properties. Together, these ensure the skin’s natural barrier is at optimal function, keeping moisture in and dirt out and lessening the chances of clogged pores and dehydrated skin. You see, when skin is dry it loses its elasticity, it stretches the pores and makes it appear larger than they actually are.
Other ingredients to look out for is Niacinamide, a vitamin that improves the skin barrier and elasticity for a pore-minimising effect.
We recommend:
Formulated with over 90% PITERA™, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is packed with minerals, amino acids, vitamins and organic acids to transform your skin to crystal clear. Just pour a few drops of the essence into your palms and gently pat onto your face and neck after cleansing and toning. It smooths rough textures while brightening your complexion and is ideal even if you have oily skin that is prone to breakouts. What’s more, the water-like texture of the essence allows it to be easily absorbed into your skin – great for our hot and humid climate.
Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence
This highly concentrated Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence is rich in vitamins and organic acids to increase moisture and luminosity for a lustrous complexion. It’s a versatile, weightless essence that smoothens and softens the look of fine lines and refines the look of pores while boosting resilience and vitality.
Lancome Clarifique Double Essence Refining Enzymatic Dual Essence
Enriched with wild French beech bud extract, this refining dual essence helps to improve the skin texture and tighten the large pores, as well as ensures skin is smoother and more toned.
To boost results, you can use a serum at night together with your moisturiser to further refine the skin.
We recommend:
This multi-tasking anti-aging serum is enriched with over 20 plant extracts to stimulate the five vital functions of the skin – hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, regeneration and protection – to visibly treat the signs of ageing.
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
This moisturising serum is formulated with Imugeneration Technology that uses potent natural extracts to prevent skin from friction damage and boost smoothness, radiance and resilience for skin.
Sisley Global Perfect Pore Minimiser
A powerful beautifying concentrate that’s formulated with Ratanhia extract, Java Tea and Lentil extract to diminish the appearance of pores while visibly improving the skin texture.
Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum
This fragrance-free, ultra-concentrated serum is rich in 100% natural-origin active ingredients that help to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, and refine the skin texture. Its lightweight gel-like texture easily glides onto the skin leaving it refreshed and balanced.
Step #4 – KEEP THE SKIN WELL-MOISTURISED
It doesn’t mean you should skip the moisturizer just because you want to tighten pores, in fact, dry skin is exactly what we want to avoid. Our skin needs the right type of moisturiser to keep hydration levels balanced and healthy. Hydrating your skin with an oil-free moisturiser will leave your complexion feeling smooth without clogging pores or causing congestion.
We recommend:
Shiseido WASO Color Smart Day Oil Free Moisturiser
This oil-free version of WASO Day Moisturiser contains an anti-pollution powder with SPF 30 that prevents shine throughout the day while preventing pollutants from sticking to your skin. Its Color Change Powder provides an oil-balancing, mattifying emulsion that enhances the natural tint of your skin.
Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle & Pore Reducing Cream
This skin fortifying anti-wrinkle cream is formulated with a powerful combination of micronutrients, Copper PCA and Calcium PCA, which works to significantly reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, as well as smooth skin texture and and minimises pores.
Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb
An oil-free moisturiser that refines skin texture with a mattified finish that boosts hydration and radiance. Formulated with natural extracts and a sweet blend of essential oils, this moisturiser helps refine the skin texture and minimises the appearance of pores, while giving a refreshing aroma for a calming experience.
It’s impossible to completely rid your skin of pores but by investing in the right products and tips to tighten pores, achieving flawless and smooth complexion is definitely possible! We hope these recommendations have been helpful to you!
This article was written in partnership with SK-II. All opinions belong to the author.
Read also: Review: Is SK-II Worth Adding To Your Skincare Regime?
