Can you shrink your pores?

Looking through a women's magazine I came across an ad for a "pore-shrinking" skin perfecting lotion. Over the years I have seen dozens of products promising to shrink the pores.

Shrinking pores is big business but is it possible? 

Can you shrink your pores?

Smaller, nearly invisible pores are the ideal for perfect, flawless skin. Unfortunately you cant change the size of your pores. Why? Because pore size is directly related to the amount of sebum/oil that your skin produces. Is it hopeless? Is there is there nothing we can do?

NO! ...  and YES!

NO, you cant change the actual size of your pores.  But YES, we can make them appear smaller. And since it's all about how it looks, you pores only looking smaller is still good.

What is the simple trick to making pores look smaller?

Regular skin exfoliation!

Scrubs don't work to "shrink pores". 

Sadly a scrub will not work to reduce appearance of pore size. They make skin feel smoother, remove rougher surface layer. This helps makeup sit on the skin better.

Just don't overuse a scrub. Too much can make the skin irritated and leave it rougher. Use gentle to moderate pressure when scrubbing your skin. Use scrubs at most twice a week.

What works to "shrink pores" -  AHA's or BHA's

Using an Alpha or Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHA or BHA) to exfoliate  your skin creates a more flawles appearance.  The reason AHA or BHA exfoliation are effective "pore-shrinkers "is due to how AHA and BHA work on the skin.

Do you know how AHA's and BHA's work to "shrink pores" and exfoliate your skin?

How Hydroxy Acid actually work

• An Alpha or Beta Hydroxy, AHA or BHA, work by removing the excess layers of dead skin cells that line the pore. 

• AHA's (fruit and milk sugars - eg: glycolic from sugarcane) unbind dead skin cells. AHA is water soluble so it's effective for dry skin, sundamaged skin.

• BHA's (salicylic acid from white willow bark/aspirin) pull dead cells off the surface.  BHA is oil soluble so is used for oilier skin.

• The debris and dead cells that line the follicle wall  makes your pores appear bigger and darker. Since AHA breaks down the "glue" holding together the dead cells and BHA pulls dead cells off the surface they clear out the pores. This makes your pores appear smaller.

• Imagine your pore as a deep V, if you remove the edges of the V you get shallower v, therefore the pore looks smaller. When you exfoliate your skin your remove the outer edges off which gives the appearance of smaller pores.

Now that you've uncovered the "pore-shrinking secret...

Get your own "pore shrinking" skincare

•  The BHA that is used for this is Salicylic Acid (from the white willow bark or aspirin family) and it is great for acne prone skin since it also reduces inflammation but it can be too strong on a non-oily skin. 

Pelasante GlySal Acne wash is good for every other day use for combination and oily skin, and daily use for moderate to severe Acneic skin. It contains BHA - Salicylic Acid as well as Glycolic acid.

• Glycolic Acid (originally from sugar cane) works well for oily to dry skin. It removes the glue that holds excess dead cells to your skin. It also helps deeper tissues of your skin hold on to more water.

Glycolic Foaming Face Wash - use daily on combination/normal to oily/acne skin. Use as an exfoliating cleanser 2 to 4 times a week for drier skin. 

Glycolic 10% Face Cream by Pelasante is one of our best sellers. It smoothes texture, reduces appearance of pores, cleanse out the pore debris and brightens the skin color.

Gly 10%  Face Cream contains hydrators and anti-oxidants so it's an effective night time moisturizer plus anti-aging cream. At $35 it's a "triple-threat" against appearance of large pores, uneven skin tone and premature aging.

Now you can buy your Pelansante Skincare Online at TuscanySkinSpa.com

• A final note for my more sensitive skin clients. Since our Glycolic Acid is potent you only need a thin layer and it is effective even if you only use it 3 to 4 times a week. A more sensitive skin still gets all the benefits using it every other night. Alternate with a hydrating, soothing cream like Power Hydrator, or an Anti-aging, nourishing cream like BioTherapy Night Cream. 

Which Pore-shrinking products have you tried? Have you used a Glycolic or Salicylic product to "shrink your pores"? How often and what was the result? .

Have a great week, 

Michelle G. Lathe