5 Ways To Get Rid Of Large Pores And Blemishes | Beauty Care articles | Well Being center

Ever take a good look at your face in the mirror and just thought "Ugh"? You're not alone.

Large pores and blemishes can really knock your self-confidence but luckily, they're totally normal.

Sometimes, pores are more prominent than at other times and if you've been eating poorly and not taking care of your skin, you might notice that you're developing more blemishes than usual. Pores and blemishes tend to be dealt with in totally different ways, so we'll go through a few methods of minimizing and shrinking large pores, as well as a few methods of getting rid of blemishes.

Oil Slick

Those with oily skin tend to have larger pores than those who don't, and that's because more oil (sebum) is produced and so the pores tend to be a little larger to allow for that extra oil.

Larger pores can also sometimes be caused by dirt and bacteria becoming trapped in the pores and when things like whiteheads and blackheads aren't removed properly, stretching the pores even further.

Keep your skin clean and banish excess oil by using products specifically designed to mattify excess shine. When you wash skin too often, it produces more oil to compensate, so wash skin with a mattifying cleanser just once or twice a day.

Don't use an abrasive washcloth - just use your fingertips, if you can, and follow up with a gentle exfoliating scrub once a week.

Prevention Is The Cure

Pores are really difficult to get rid of once they appear and in all honesty, all you can do is minimize their appearance and try to prevent them from becoming any larger.

Pore-minimizing creams that boost the skin's production of glycoaminoglycans, which helps to firm the skin, will reduce the appearance of pores - but they won't get rid of them altogether. You can prevent pores from getting any bigger, too, by regularly applying a topical retinoid solution.

This will reduce the appearance of large pores but will also help to dissolve bacteria that can make pores appear larger, whilst also treating sun damage. Regularly using SPF creams, using topical retinoids and cleaning skin thoroughly with the appropriate cleansers for your skin should definitely help to minimize the appearance of pores.

Make Under Vs. Make Over

You might be tempted to cover up your large pores with blemishes but in general, this is one of the worst things you can do.

Makeup will get stuck in your pores, making them look even larger and the bacteria from the makeup could even cause flare-ups of spots and blemishes.

Choose light, translucent formulas that coat the skin rather than caking it and make sure you always, always remove your makeup at the end of the day!

Banish The Blemishes

Unsightly blemishes, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and spots can really knock your self-confidence. You'll often spot them on your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose, although you'll more commonlysee them on your T-zone - the "T" of your forehead, nose and chin.

Regularly using heavy-duty facial cleansers and moisturizers could clog your pores and if you use too much makeup, your skin will definitely suffer.

A poor diet, hormonal changes and too much sun exposure can also lead to blemishes - so how can you banish them for good?

Eat The Right Foods

Nourish your skin from the inside out and take care of your entire body and your skin will soon start to improve - we promise.

Throw out the junk food, throw out the processed stuff and commit to eating food that you've cooked from scratch.

Steer clear of vending machines, full-sugar soda and fast food restaurants and eat a huge range of fruits and vegetables instead. The more colors you choose in terms of fruits and veggies, the more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you'll get. It's also a good idea to choose healthful foods like yogurt that contains lots of probiotics, foods with omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and nuts and foods with plenty of vitamin A and vitamin C, like cucumber and strawberries.

Banish Dead Skin Cells

Clear dead skin cells and remove outer layers of dry, dull skin by exfoliating regularly.

Gentle exfoliating scrubs are an important step in any clear skin regime. Begin by cleaning skin with a gentle, non-drying cleanser. Apply in circular motions then rinse and pat skin dry. Gently rub the exfoliator into the skin (choose something with small beads rather than large beads to reduce the risk of tears), again in a circular motion. Rinse and pat dry. Generally, you only need to exfoliate once a week, but it's really important for getting rid of dull and dry skin, allowing the skin underneath to respond better to things like cleansers, moisturizers and serums.

One thing to keep in mind when using exfoliators: if you use them before going out in the sun, it's really important (although you should do this anyway!) that you apply an SPF cream before you leave the house.

Newly exfoliated skin is more vulnerable to sunburn, so you need to protect it.

Smooth and Soothe Skin

Once you've cleansed or exfoliated, it's important to nourish skin using moisturizer, serum or a face oil - whichever works well for your skin. Serums and face oils are good for those with sensitive skin as they're really light, while moisturizers are usually best for those with oily skin as serums and oils are often just too oily.

When applying moisturizer, rub it into skin using upwards circular motions and let it completely sink in before applying any type of makeup or primer. People are often scared of moisturizer if they have bad skin but this is the worst thing you can do - if you deplete moisture, the skin's condition will get even worse. Add moisture and you restore balance.

Looking after your skin means that your pores will be smaller and blemishes will appear less frequently - so a little bit of work will reward you with a lot of benefits!