Everyone has skin pores—millions of them, in fact. Our pores play an essential role in keeping the body cool and excreting fluids (such as oil) to the surface of the skin.
Although pores have a purpose, they can also make many guys self-conscious about their skin. Men have a larger pore size and produce more oil than women, which also makes us more likely to experience breakouts.
Is there anything you can do to minimize pores? Here are three of the things you should know:
- The appearance of larger pores can be due to multiple factors, including age, excess oil production, genetics and improper skin care.
- A regular skin care regimen can go a long way in helping reduce the size of pores.
- Skin-firming products can tighten the skin and minimize pores for a youthful, vibrant complexion.
Genetics and Skin Type
One of the main causes of enlarged pores is excessive oil production. When your sebaceous glands produce an abundance of oil, your skin’s pores will expand to accommodate it.
Although many factors can contribute to overactive oil glands, it’s mostly considered to be genetic. In other words, you can probably thank your parents for large pores.
If your parents have oily skin, you are more likely to have oily skin as well. But before you get too mad at them, just remember that many other underlying factors could be making your sebaceous glands work overtime.
Environment
Where you live can also play a huge role in the size of your pores. For example, living in a hot and humid climate can increase oil production and make you sweat, causing clogged pores and acne.
Cold and dry climates are often no better for your skin. The cold, dry air can suck moisture from the skin, causing your oil glands to work harder to make up for it.
Without further ado, here are four ways to shrink your pores and keep acne breakouts at bay.
Use a Daily Facial Cleanser for Men
When dirt, oil and grime clog your pores, they become stretched and enlarged. Washing your face twice a day will remove the buildup inside your pores and keep them small.
If you’re still using bar soap or a generic facial cleanser to clean your face, it’s time to swap it for a daily facial cleanser made specifically for your skin. Many facial cleansers on the market aren’t formulated for a man’s skin and won’t effectively penetrate the surface layer to remove buildup. Similarly, bar soap isn’t made for your face and may contain harsh ingredients that dry out the skin.
Using a men’s face wash that is free of harmful dyes and fragrances is key to getting the best results. We recommend washing your face twice a day to help minimize pores and reduce the chance of breakouts.
Try Men's Skin Care
Exfoliate Regularly
Gentlemen, exfoliation isn’t just for women! Exfoliation is arguably more important for men, given that we produce more oil and have larger pores than women.
Exfoliation removes the buildup of dead skin cells that can clog your pores and cause them to enlarge. If you really want to minimize pores, use a men’s face scrub that contains Vitamin B3. This powerful ingredient significantly reduces sebum (oil), which contributes to larger pores.
Even if you have oily skin, it’s important that you don’t overdo it with the face scrub. Exfoliating no more than twice a week will do the job without drying out your skin.
Firming Serum
In addition to excess oil, one of the primary causes of enlarged pores is decreased elasticity around the pores. As we age, we gradually lose the elasticity that keeps our skin looking youthful and vibrant.
Firming serums are packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for your skin. With a men’s firming serum, you can avoid premature aging while also significantly decreasing the size of your pores.
Tiege Hanley’s firming serum for men is loaded with powerful ingredients such as Retinyl Palmitate, which promotes new skin cell growth and improves facial texture. By tightening up the skin, you can hold wrinkles and enlarged pores at bay.
Acne Cream Containing Salicylic Acid
When your pores are clogged, they can appear to be larger. Clogged pores can also mean breakouts, which looks even worse than enlarged pores.
When it comes to preventing breakouts and decreasing the size of your pores, Salicylic Acid is an acne-fighting superstar. This powerful ingredient has a mild exfoliating effect on the skin and can reduce the appearance of both facial blemishes and pore size.
Salicylic Acid is also considered safer and easier on the skin compared to benzoyl peroxide. This is good news for men with sensitive skin who are looking for ways to combat their acne.
Be sure to find a men’s acne cream with Salicylic Acid—not a facial cleanser! We see men make this mistake all the time. It simply doesn’t make sense to wash off the active ingredient that is designed to help you battle your acne.
Minimize Your Pores, Maximize Your Handsome
Keep in mind that you don’t want to go overboard and shrink your pores too much. After all, they do play an important role in the body.
However, we also understand that larger pores can make any man feel self-conscious about his skin. If you want to make taking care of your skin simple, follow these tips and check out our Skin Care Systems. Together, they'll help you reduce the size of your pores and achieve a clear, vibrant complexion.
