Why Everyone’s Talking About Pore Care

It’s time to ‘pores’ for thought. According to Google Trends, searches for 'enlarged pores' are sharply on the rise, increasing by more than 500% year on year.

What is Pore Care?

Put simply, it’s bumping your pores up from their usual, fairly lowly place among your skincare priorities, to something a bit more top-of-mind. So why the renewed focus on pores? In our search for complexions that are clean, clear and glassy-smooth, focusing on pores is key. “At Beauty Pie, we kind of invented ‘pore care,” says founder Marcia Kilgore. With a formidable career creating hundreds of exceptional skincare products, as well as a former life as an expert facialist, it’s something Kilgore has always focussed on, and Beauty Pie has a raft of products dedicated to the cleaning, minimising and concealing of pores. 

Why Pores Matter

Pore care is partly another new preoccupation to form part of our relentless pursuit of perfect skin: these days, we want our skin to be as perfectly clear and smooth as possible, at all times. But the state of your pores can also be seen as a measure of healthy skin itself: enlarged pores are caused by when collagen and elastin proteins break down, so the stronger and more resilient your skin, the better shape your pores are likely to be in. 

As many blackhead sufferers know, there’s a ‘pore cycle’ that’s all too easy to fall into. When pores are congested, blackheads can form, and rubbing or scrubbing your skin too vigorously can enlarge pores further, meaning they’re more at risk to trapping dirt and becoming congested. Focusing on pore care can help avoid all this: by choosing your products carefully and adapting your routine thoughtfully, you can help ensure your pores are as small, neat and clean as possible.

The Right Cleanser

Clogged pores or an oily complexion can make pores look larger - so the right cleanser is key to pore care, to unclog pores, prevent clogged pores, and reduce oiliness. Dr Glycolic Deep Purifying Foamy Clay Cleanser is a great choice for anyone noticing congestion in their skin; it contains oil-absorbing Kaolin and Montmorillonite Clays, microbe-fighting Lauric Acid and smoothing Lactic and Glycolic Acids. Use daily, and rinse with warm (not hot) water. Those with oily and problem-prone complexions may leave on for 2-3 extra minutes as a mask.

If you’re prone to congestion or blemishes, studies show using a cleanser with AHAs may help. (Studies show salicylic acid can unclog pores), so you may also like to introduce AcidEnzyme Cleanser two or three times a week. Formulated for use on both face and body, it’s perfectly balanced with 2% Salicylic Acid and 3% C-X-Papaya Enzyme Complex to purify pores, Smooth KP and help prevent blackheads and blemishes. 

Oil Control

Niacinamide is a secret weapon for controlling sebaceous secretions in the skin. It can help regulate oil production and therefore help prevent pores from getting clogged. Follow your cleanser with a dropperful of Superdrops Brightening Niacinamide which has the added advantage of helping to calm any irritation and sensitivity, too. Don’t be tempted to apply astringent toners at this stage either - stripping your skin can actually encourage more oil production, which will only exacerbate clogged pores. 

The Pore Detox

At Beauty Pie, we believe so vehemently in the power of pore cleansing that we created a product - the Super Pore Detox - to deep-clean pores once or twice a week. The Purifying Black Clay Face Mask is formulated with Glycolic, Salicylic and Lactic Acids, Kaolin Clay, micro-buffing Bamboo and natural Liquorice and Eucalyptus, it's a pore-declogging tour-de-force for an oily (or partly-oily) face. Try it, and witness your own T-zone doing a ten-minute turnaround.

Strengthen Your Skin

This is all about large pore prevention, by getting your skin to be as firm and resilient as possible. (When skin starts to lose its firmness, pores look more noticeable). Using daily high factor (SPF30 or higher, broad-spectrum) sun protection is the most powerful way to protect skin from collagen degradation and losing its firmness.

Apply it every day, come rain or shine, and use a non-comodegnic sun cream which won’t clog pores. Retinol is also excellent for strengthening the skin. Apply it at night, and again, make sure you use SPF in the morning. 

Camouflage

And finally, you can always minimise the look of enlarged pores with specially-formulated makeup. Try a dab of Wonderfilter Velvety Matte Primer beneath makeup, or dust large pores with the amazing Wonderfilter Magic Blurring Powder which gives a soft, diffuse finish, so that pores simply seem to fade away.