Skin Science
Everything you should know about your skin’s texture
Smooth, flawless skin is one of the hallmarks of beauty, but large pores can make your skin texture rough and bumpy instead. Thankfully, there are many ways to help pores appear minuscule and near-invisible for beautiful, healthy-looking skin.
What large pores really are
Your body naturally releases sebum through your pores to keep your skin protected and hydrated. But trouble arises when your sebaceous glands, triggered by factors such as extreme dry conditions, hormonal imbalances, diet, or even the wrong products, gets knocked out of balance to produce more oil than your skin actually needs. This causes pores to expand with trapped dead skin and excess oil, appearing large and unsightly.
But first, do a quick skin check
Pores on your T-zone are usually more noticeable and produce more oil than the ones on the rest of your face.
Try looking closely in the mirror. Zoom in on your T-zone, where most of your sebaceous glands are — you may able to spot stretched pores as well as blackheads and whiteheads.
Wash your hands, then gently feel your skin. If you feel a coarse or uneven texture, your pores are likely enlarged and congested.
In comparison, try running your fingers along the inside of your forearms — does the skin feel soft, smooth and bouncy? That’s likely because the skin there is shielded from sun exposure and has intact collagen and elastin support.
Quick tip
To protect your skin from UVA rays, make sure your sunscreen says ‘broad spectrum’ or has a ‘PA++’ rating on top of being at least SPF30.
