1. Exfoliate Regularly

One of the best things to do when it comes to knowing how to shrink pores is to exfoliate on a regular basis. Regular exfoliation helps to remove dry skin cells that may be clogging up the surface of your pores, and it will also work to make the openings of the pores look a little shallower in comparison to ones that have a layer of dead skin across them. Chemical and natural exfoliants can also be really beneficial in terms of helping to clean out your pores.

2. Use Sunscreen

One of the worst things that you can do for your pores is expose them to a lot of UVA and UVB rays, as this exposure will serve to slow down the production of new cells and give you a more worn look. When your face is exposed to too much radiation, the top layers of the skin can thicken and this will certainly make your pores look much bigger than they really are.

3. Keep a Clean Face

This might sound obvious, but keeping a nice clean face is the optimum environment for your pores to look smaller and healthier. This can be achieved by cleansing twice every day with a cleanser that has a balanced pH level. Using extra products like a facial brush can also be really beneficial to the health and look of your pores.

4. Use Steam

Applying steam to your face will open up your pores for a short duration to allow all of the dirt, debris and oil to be removed. Once you have completed a steam, you should hopefully find that your face feels fresher and your newly cleaned out pores will look much smaller now that they are free of all the impurities. The ideal duration of a face steam should be somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes. Remember to rinse with cold water afterward to close the pores back up quickly.

5. Use Retinol Based Products

Retinol based products are great help because they work to decrease the cohesiveness of your facial skin cells, meaning that debris and oils will find it harder to rest in the pores and can much more easily be removed. Even if you aren’t worried about wrinkles, using something like an anti-wrinkle cream can work great for pore problems.

6. Have a Spa Day

It’s nice to treat yourself once in a while, and though you can do many of these facial procedures at home, it is always nice to have them done for you by a trained professional. Also, spa treatments are not just limited to simple steams, as you could always go for something like a chemical peel if you were interested.

7. Post Workout Wipe down

It’s really important that you remember to fully wipe down after a workout, because if there is any sweat lingering on your face afterwards you can be almost certain that your pores are going to be clogged before you make it home from the gym! Keep your face as sweat free as possible to stand the best chance of smaller pores.

Is this something you have to deal with?