There is a common misconception that pores shrink as we age. While the size of your pores does not change drastically over time, there are some things you can do to minimize their appearance and keep them healthy. Here's what you need to know about pore size and how to keep pores healthy at any age!

Why are Pores Important?

Pores are important for your skin. Pores are the openings of your skin that allow liquids to come through your pores. Skin has more than one kind of pore. The most common type of pore is the open pore which you can see on the surface of your skin.

Closed pores are under your skin and not visible on the surface. Closed pores are also called sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that helps protect the skin from water loss. Sebum carries dead skin cells out of the hair follicles and onto the surface of your skin were it is discarded.

The Myth of Pore Shrinkage

People think that as they get older their pores will shrink and therefore their skin will look smoother. This is a myth, and here’s why: pore size has nothing to do with age. Pores are formed when the sebaceous glands are formed in early childhood, which happens pre-birth. There are no studies that show that pores change in size with age.

What Causes Pores to Appear Bigger?

Scientists believe that pores naturally enlarge over time as the body metabolizes the oil and cells in the epidermis. This process causes dead cells to build up inside of the pore, which is what causes it to expand. Another theory is that our pores get bigger as we age because we lose collagen and elastin, which are crucial for keeping skin tight and firm. As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and we see wrinkles form; we also see larger pores, particularly on the face.

How to Make Pores Appear Smaller

Exfoliate - Exfoliate to make skin pores smaller. Exfoliation can help get rid of excess oil, dry skin cells, and dead skin build up that can contribute to bigger pores. You can exfoliate with a scrub or a chemical peel, but the easiest way is to use Fra Fra's Naturals 1lb Raw African Black Soap bar or Fra Fra's Naturals African Black Soap Plops which have due to its natural ingredients are a natural exfoliant.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is a very important vitamin and an antioxidant. It helps prevent and slow some of the effects of aging. It also protects the skin from environmental damage and some types of cancer. It is also good for hair growth and protecting the scalp against sun damage.

Vitamin E oil can be used to make pores smaller by applying it directly to the skin with a cotton swab. The oil will help smooth out the texture of your skin and make it look more even, creating a less noticeable pore. This oil also contains antioxidants which will reduce swelling and redness in your pores, leaving them looking

Face Mask - 

Using a clay mask on your face is one of the best things you can do to improve the health of your skin. These masks are designed to draw toxins out of your pores, leaving your skin feeling smoother. Some people think that clay masks are only for oily skin, but that’s not true. If you have normal or dry skin, you can still use a clay mask.

The best thing about using these types of masks is that they are completely natural. There are no harsh chemicals in them. If you have sensitive skin, this is the perfect way to clean your pores without worrying about damaging your skin.

DIY Clay Mask

If you are anything like us you love a good DIY recipe. Here is an all natural DIY recipe to help reduce the appearance of your pores.

What you will need

• 1 1/2 teaspoons raw shea butter 
• 1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal
• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 2 drops tea tree oil
• 3 drops manuka oil

How to Apply the Mask