This is how you make your pores less visible

Your pores are preferably small, fine and invisible, but unfortunately that is not the case for everyone. Do you have large pores? In part it is your genetic predisposition, but with the right care you can make your pores less visible.

What is the function of pores? Your pores have an important function:they spread sebum over your skin to keep it healthy and supple. Sebum is a type of skin oil that ensures that moisture is retained in the skin. Sebum keeps your natural skin barrier healthy, so your skin is protected against external influences.

If all goes well, the right amount of sebum is secreted through the pores and thus spread evenly over the skin. If this process gets out of balance, for example due to hormones or dead skin cells, the pores can clog. This blockage causes them to stretch slightly, making the pores larger and more visible. If this lasts longer, it could be permanent. Predisposition can also play a role:some have naturally larger pores than others. As you age, the amount of collagen in the skin decreases. As a result, you not only get wrinkles and a less elastic skin, but pore walls also lose their firmness. Too much sebum, makeup and other pollution left in it stretches the pores, making them bigger and more visible. The pores are often more visible even with oily skin.

How do you cleanse your skin?
You can't shrink your pores, but you do have some influence on their visibility. Cleaning your skin is important here.

1. Cleanse your skin morning and evening with a mild water-soluble facial cleanser.
2. Then use a toner to remove the last traces of make-up. Avoid strongly perfumed and alcohol-based toners, which can dry out the skin. In response, your skin will actually produce more sebum.
3. Exfoliate once or twice a week. Dead skin cells clog the pores, making the sebum flow less effective and you can suffer from oily skin, large pores or other skin problems. You can use a mechanical scrub (with granules) or a chemical scrub. An acid-based peel (such as glycolic acid, vitamin A acid, alpha or beta hydroxy acids) loosens the cells. Read more:What's the difference between exfoliating and scrubbing?
4. Don't go overboard:excessive or aggressive cleaning can actually cause the skin to produce more sebum, which has a negative impact on the pores.
5. Warm water opens the pores so that dirt and grease can be released more easily and can be removed better. Do you want to go one step further? Then put a wet cloth in the microwave (30 seconds) before cleaning and place it briefly on your face.

How do you take care of your skin? Although there are no products that can reduce pores, you can use non-greasy and detox-like serums and creams to ensure that the skin remains clean and balanced so that the pores continue to function optimally. Note the term 'non-comedogenic', which means that it does not clog the skin. Choose especially light, liquid, mattifying products. Large pores often go hand in hand with oily skin. If you have dry skin, don't be afraid of a moisturizer. You need it to balance the skin. Choose a moisturizer that is not too greasy. Don't forget to use spf before applying your make-up.

What makeup do you use to disguise visible pores?
You can achieve a lot with make-up. Use thin, liquid products that allow the skin to breathe, do not clog and are not greasy. Mattifying primers targeting the pores, mattifying foundation and oil-free blurring products that make wrinkles, but also pores less visible. Do you want a little extra shine? Use a powder with shimmer particles.