📌 What you’ll learn
- Why pores look bigger
- 4 methods with limited effect, like ice packs and astringent toner
- More practical ways to care for pores
- Why you shouldn’t squeeze blackheads and whiteheads yourself
Hi, I’m Derrick. It’s hot here all year round. One walk outside and you’re all sweaty, your face is oily and shiny, and in the mirror your pores seem to get bigger and bigger.
So some people start using ice packs, applying lots of astringent toner, washing their face many times a day… but many of these methods actually have limited effect.
To care for your pores, first understand why they look bigger.
Why do pores look bigger?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), how big your pores look is related to these reasons:
- Genes and skin type: Pore size is largely something you are born with. Oily skin usually has more visible pores.
- Oil: When sebum production is high, pore openings look more visible. Our weather makes us oilier, so naturally our pores stand out more.
- Age and sun: As we age and with long-term sun exposure, the skin loses support and becomes looser, so pores also look bigger.
- Clogged pores: When dead skin cells and oil clog the pores, the pores look more obvious.
4 common methods with limited effect
1. Ice packs, washing with ice water
Cold things make the skin contract temporarily, so it looks finer for the moment. But it’s only temporary — once you walk out of the aircond room and return to normal temperature, it goes back to how it was.
2. Applying lots of astringent toner
Astringent toner feels cool and fresh, and the skin may feel tight for a while, but it doesn’t change oil production, and its effect on pores is also temporary.
Using too much of an alcohol-based product may actually make the skin drier and more sensitive.
3. Washing your face many times a day
In hot weather, many people want to wash their face as soon as they sweat. But washing too often strips away the oils and protective layer your skin needs, leaving it dry and uncomfortable. The AAD advises washing twice a day is enough.
If you sweat in the day, just gently pat dry with a tissue. No need to wash with a cleanser every time.
4. Only using moisturising products
Moisturising is important, but moisturising products by themselves don’t change oil production, nor do they make pores smaller. They are the foundation, not the main player in pore care.
Methods that help more
- Cleanse gently, twice a day: Morning and night, use a gentle cleanser with lukewarm water to wash away excess oil and dirt and avoid clogged pores. Don’t scrub hard.
- Choose products that don’t clog pores easily: Oily skin can go for light skincare labelled non-comedogenic (less likely to cause blackheads and whiteheads).
- Know the helpful ingredients: The AAD mentions that cleansers with salicylic acid can help unclog pores; retinol may also make pores look less visible (best used at night; if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, don’t use it for now). How to start retinol — see “What is Morning C, Night A?”.
- Daily sun protection: Sun exposure makes skin lose support, and pores become more visible. Sun protection is one of the keys to long-term pore care. The sun here is strong all year, so apply it every day.
FAQ: Can I squeeze blackheads and whiteheads myself?
Not recommended. Squeezing hard with your fingers or tools may make inflammation worse, and may leave acne scars or pigmentation, so your pores and skin end up looking worse.
If you have many stubborn blackheads and whiteheads, the safer way is to have a dermatologist handle them.
Many of the little black dots on your nose are actually not blackheads. See “Those black dots on your nose aren’t blackheads? Meet sebaceous filaments”.
Realistic expectations
Pore size is largely something you are born with. Skincare cannot make pores “disappear”.
A more practical goal is: keep pores clean and unclogged so they look less visible. If pores really bother you and you want to know about further treatments, you can ask a dermatologist.
- No.1 Gentle Complete Cleanser: Soap-free. Washing once in the morning and once at night is enough — it cleans without over-washing. A lot of oily skin is actually washed too clean, and then the skin produces even more oil.
- No.5 Crystal Clear Conditioning Cream: Used at night. It has glycolic acid to help shed dead skin cells, so pores look finer. Mix it with No.9 when applying, and you can apply extra on the T-zone; during the period you use it, always use sunscreen in the day.
- No.7 Revitalizing Firming Cream: Contains retinol to help skin renewal, so skin looks finer. At night, mix it with No.8 and 9A; while using it, use sunscreen in the day. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask your doctor first.
- 6B Whitening Repair Sun Cream: A light SPF25 with a tint, suitable for oily-prone skin for everyday going out. For long hours outdoors, Singapore’s Ministry of Health and dermatologists generally recommend SPF30 or above, plus a hat and umbrella.
Products aren’t a must. Choose based on your own skin; if you’re not sure, ask me first.
FAQ
Q: The weather is so hot and my face keeps getting oily. Can I keep using oil-blotting paper?
Yes, gently press with oil-blotting paper; don’t rub back and forth. Just press off the extra oil — no need to make your face completely dry.
Q: Can pores shrink until they can’t be seen?
No. Pore size is largely something you are born with. What skincare can do is keep them clean and make them look less visible.
Q: I’m in an aircond room all day. Do I still need a moisturiser?
Yes. Aircond rooms are drier, and when skin lacks water it may actually produce more oil. Just choose a light moisturiser.
Final words
Caring for your pores doesn’t need big money, and you don’t need to wash your face five times a day. Gentle cleansing, the right products and daily sun protection mean more than ice packs and slapping on astringent toner.
Want to know how to care for your skin type? Feel free to WhatsApp me for a chat.
Want to know how to care for your skin?
Tell me about your situation, no pressure 😊
※ This website is run by Derrick, an independent IT’S BEATTIYA distributor, and is not the official website of the IT’S BEATTIYA company. This article shares general skincare knowledge. Cosmetic results vary from person to person and cannot replace medical advice; if your skin reacts abnormally, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist.
