What are the Best Cleansers for Large Pores?

Close shot of a gel-based, non-foaming gentle cleanser that is effective for large pores.


Large pores are a common skin concern. One of the main questions I get asked on a regular basis is, “How do I get rid of my big pores?” Large pores can give the skin an appearance of having pits or “micro-holes.” 

Let’s take a look at what large pores are, how they form and how they can be successfully treated with the right cleanser.


What are Pores?

Pores are channels that exist in all types of skin. Pores allow particles and liquids to come out of the skin. There are two types of pores: pores that relate to oil-producing sebaceous glands, and pores that relate to sweat glands. The pores are the channels in the skin that allow oils and sweat out.


How Do Pores Appear to Get Bigger?

Unfortunately, the channels, usually those that are connected to the oil-producing sebaceous glands can get blocked. Think about them as pipes that lead from the center of the gland to the surface of the skin. If they get clogged at the top, the substance inside causes the opening to dilate and get broader. This is how the pores look larger. 

Aging skin that is becoming lax can also cause the pores to look larger. As the structure around the channel weakens, this can cause it to become blocked, resulting in dilated, large pores.

Other factors that can clog the channels and cause larger, dilated pores are external:

  • Dirt and debris
  • Makeup
  • Dead skin cells
  • Sunscreen


What Can You Do About Large Pores?

As a first step, think about prevention. Keeping your skin healthy and clean in general is important. Follow a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and use a good sunscreen.

Follow a good skincare routine to keep your skin healthy and vibrant that you can consistently do every day.

Especially if you have oily skin, ensure your products are water-based. The term you want to look for is “non-comeogenic.” This means the product has less oil in it and is mostly water-based.

The most important point when it comes to reducing the size of your pores is cleansing your skin. It is vital to use a cleanser every morning to rebalance your skin and open your pores, and in the evening to remove makeup, oil, and any debris. However, before you go get a new cleanser, there are some common things many cleansers include that can actually make large pores worse. 


What to Avoid When Looking for a Cleanser for Large Pores

When you’re choosing your cleanser, there are some very important factors that you should look for and avoid:

  • Cleansers that have alcohol in them
  • Cleansers that include abrasives, such as bamboo or other exfoliators
  • Highly-foaming cleansers

Each of these factors can overdry or irritate the skin, leading to more oily skin and inflammation. And that equals further pore blockage.

The right cleansers don’t have any of these factors, and help minimize the pores, achieving fresh, more youthful-looking skin.  


What is the Best Cleanser to Reduce the Size of the Pores?

So what are the things to look for in a good cleanser? You really only need to look for two key things. Find a cleanser that is:

  • Gel-based
  • Mildly foaming

Use the right cleanser every day, morning and night. Be gentle with your skin and use lukewarm water, then softly pat your skin dry to avoid irritation and skin inflammation.

 

Rinse Daily Cleanser: The Perfect Start to Trifecta

I created the Trifecta, a simple, three-product skincare line that includes the right cleanser to reduce the size of large pores, a Vitamin C serum, and an anti-aging all-in-one.

After trying for over a decade to find the highly effective, easy-to-use skincare products my patients needed, I realized something was missing. That’s how I started down the path of formulating my own skincare line.

My products contain all the vital ingredients your skin needs to be healthy and youthful, and it starts with Rinse, an effective, gentle cleanser. 

Rinse Daily Cleanser is a gel-based, mildly foaming cleanser that removes oils, toxins, and build-up. Rinse boosts cell regeneration and deeply hydrates and softens the skin without causing irritation, inflammation, overly-dry skin, or other concerns. Instead, the skin is effectively cleansed to reduce pore size and refresh the appearance. 


What else is included in Trifecta?

The second two steps of the Trifecta are Quench Vitamin C Serum and Illuminate Anti-Aging Cream. 


Quench Vitamin C Serum

Quench an advanced Vitamin C serum that serum that helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Quench tones and brightens the skin to achieve a more luminous, glowing appearance. The active ingredients of Quench have powerful, yet protective benefits, preventing the breakdown of collagen and helping to neutralize free radicals.


Illuminate Anti-Aging Cream

Illuminate Anti-Aging Cream is an all-in-one formula that deeply hydrates the skin. Illuminate helps to firm and renew the skin, enhances skin elasticity, stimulates cell turnover, and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. Illuminate is also effective as a stand-alone, all-in-one product.



If you’d like to find out more about large pores and skincare, I explain all the details about what causes large pores and how to combat this common skin concern in my YouTube video about reducing large pores on the face.

Amir Karam MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Founder / Creator of KaramMD Skin

Dr. Amir Karam is a renowned facial cosmetic surgeon and an authority in his field. With over two decades of experience helping patients achieve a younger, refreshed appearance. In addition to surgical procedures that sculpt a youthfully-defined facial shape, Dr. Karam takes the quality of the skin into account.

3 comments

constance

At 70+ my skin ages differently than a 20-030 yr old and this all depends on the care I have given my skin over the years and protected it from the sun as much as possible (playing golf, tennis etc.). How can these products work effectively for me with the appeal to all age groups? I don’t have oily skin anymore; breaks out in T Zone during humidity and wearing of sunscreen. Have some larger T zone pores from old teenage acne and needle treatments
I realize that laser treatments can help this area.

Customer Support Team

Hi Traci,

Our advice is the same as what Dr.Karam outlined in this post. Find an effect skincare routine like the Trifecta and STICK WITH IT! Consistency is key. If you use the right products on a consistent basis you will see improvement in your skin.

Traci

How do you deal with pores so large they look like icepick scars?

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