Skincare for Visible Pores

Pore size is mostly genetic. Pores look bigger when they fill with oil and dead skin, and as skin loses firmness with age. Sun damage and oily skin make them more noticeable.

No product can shrink a pore for good. What you can do is keep pores clear, so they look smaller and smoother.

• Morning: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturiser such as Medicube Zero Pore One Day Cream 50ml, then SPF
• Night: remove SPF and makeup with an oil cleanser like Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200ml, follow with a gel cleanser, then use a salicylic acid product three or four nights a week

A clay mask once a week, such as Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask 140ml, helps on top of that, but it is not essential.

• Help: salicylic acid to clear pores from the inside, niacinamide to balance oil, retinoids to firm skin over time and clay to soak up excess oil
• Make it worse: heavy creams and oils that sit on the skin, scrubbing hard, pore strips and skipping SPF

A clay mask or salicylic acid makes pores look clearer within a week or two. A steady routine shows its best results after six to eight weeks. Retinoids take three months or more to firm the skin around pores.

Yes, but go slowly. Use salicylic acid and retinol on different nights to start with, and only stack them if your skin stays calm.

Wear SPF every day. Sun damage weakens the skin around pores and makes them look larger.

If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, skip retinoids and check with your doctor.

• Under €30: Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 70 pads, or Medicube Zero Pore Pad Mild 70 pads if your skin is sensitive
• €30 to €40: Medik8 Pore Cleanse Gel Intense 150ml, a salicylic acid cleanser for oily skin
• Over €60: Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy 148ml, a salicylic acid toner for oily, congested skin

Get in touch and tell us whether your pores are mainly on your nose or across your cheeks too, and we will help you choose.