Treatment for Enlarged Pores

Large pores can seem difficult to manage, but with a few added steps to your skincare routine, you can treat the issue of large, clogged pores.

The average complexion has approximately 20,000 pores, every single one of which plays an essential role in cooling down the body and keeping the skin from drying out.

It’s a common thought to wonder how to minimise pores on the face. Despite their essential purpose, many people feel concerned about their pores being overly visible. The good news is that through a few changes to your skincare routine encompassing targeted, scientifically proven formulas, enlarged pores can be made much less visible.

Read on to learn how and why pores can sometimes become visibly enlarged, as well as how to remedy the issue. We’ll also walk through our recommended pore minimising skincare regime from the Rare Earth collection and the wider Kiehl’s skincare suite.

What are pores?

Although they look like nothing more than tiny dots on the surface of the skin, it’s more accurate to think of pores as the outer opening of the long channels that are our hair follicles.

Most of us likely only think about our pores when they’re bothering us, but the pores play an essential role in our overall health. Without pores, our bodies wouldn’t be able to regulate our temperature by producing sweat during times of heat stress. Likewise, our skin would quickly become extremely uncomfortable and dry without the oil (also known as sebum) constantly excreted from our pores.

What causes large pores?

Enlarged pores can be traced back to several different causal factors, one of which is unfortunately genetics. However, pores that have become blocked often appear overly open and therefore enlarged – an issue that is entirely fixable.

Pores become blocked when dead skin cells, dirt and debris combine with the skin’s natural oils to form a plug. It follows that oily or combination skin types prone to excess sebum production are more likely to experience enlarged pores. The main culprits for oily skin like this are hormones, over-cleansing, over-exfoliating or using comedogenic skincare ingredients.

Alternatively, enlarged pores can also be seen in visibly aged or sun damaged skin. These skin types often experience collagen degradation, meaning the skin no longer has the structural integrity to hold the pores tight.

How to reduce pores?

It’s important to note that you can’t completely get rid of pores, as they remain a structural layer of the skin. However, when it comes to how to reduce pore size, there are a number of measures that can be taken within your skincare routine. Since enlarged pores are often due to congestion, it’s useful to integrate skincare products with clarifying ingredients into your routine each day. For example, products containing clay are widely agreed to be very effective in unclogging and refining pores on the face.

Open pores treatment at home

When well-targeted ingredients and a consistent skincare regime combine, it’s simple to reduce the appearance of pores at home. Follow our naturally derived, scientifically formulated daily skincare routine to help clarify and minimise enlarged pores.

Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

When it comes to your daily skincare regime, the first step must be to remove all traces of pollution, excess oils and dirt from the skin’s surface with an intensely clarifying facial cleanser. After all, if the skin is completely clean, there will be very little debris from which a pore plug can be formed.

Our Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser is a purifying and detoxifying cleanser formulated with powerful ingredients sourced from the Amazon river. This formula draws on the knowledge of centuries of traditional and herbal medicine by including nourishing Aloe Barbadensis. This botanical ingredient hydrates while cleansing and pairs perfectly with the oil-removing properties of Amazonian White Clay.  Apply a generous amount with clean fingertips for best results, before rinsing with warm water.

Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic

A well-formulated toner will provide an extra boost to refine the pores after cleansing and before the rest of your skincare regime.

Our Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic is also formulated with Amazonian White Clay to compliment the clarifying benefits of your cleanser and further clarify the pores. This natural formula also contains Allantoin, a compound derived from the root of the Eurasian medicinal herb known as Comfrey to comfort the skin. To use, spread a generous amount into your palms and lightly pat over the face and neck, avoiding the immediate area around the eyes.

Precision Lifting and Pore-Tightening Concentrate

After properly cleansing and refining your pores with a specially targeted cleanser and toner, it’s time to seek out an effective serum to reinforce the pore-minimising journey.

Our Precision Lifting and Pore-Tightening Concentrate is a scientifically formulated serum which restores elasticity to help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and redefine visible facial contours. This powerful serum embraces the power of Micro-Filtered Yeast Extract to lift skin and tighten pores, while Geranium Essential Oil provides antioxidant protection as it firms the skin. We recommend applying this serum over the entire face twice daily, being careful to avoid the eye area.

Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque

We recommend sliding on a facial mask for those with very oily or acne-prone skin in need of an even deeper clarifying effect for the pores.

Our Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque contains the same fairly traded Amazonian White Clay as our cleanser and toner, but in a more intense formulation. This powerful mask can help reduce oil production on the skin’s surface by 46.7% after two hours compared to untreated skin. Use this mask once or twice a week as needed by applying a thin layer to freshly cleansed skin. Leave on for approximately ten minutes before removing with a warm, wet towel. 

Follow up with moisturiser and an SPF for maximum benefits

It’s incredibly important to follow up any pore minimising skincare routine by using a hydrating moisturiser and broad spectrum sun protection to protect against collagen damage. Clarifying ingredients are incredibly effective for reducing enlarged pores, however they can also leave the skin more vulnerable to dryness. This is easily counteracted by using an intensely hydrating moisturiser such as our cult classic Ultra Facial Cream alongside your sunscreen.

You’re now fully equipped with all the knowledge you need to be able to minimise pore’s appearance and future clogged pores. Explore our range of nature-inspired, scientifically-proven skincare formulas for combination and oily skin types.