Essential Tips For Minimizing Enlarged Pores

What Are Enlarged Pores?

Pores are small openings on the surface of the skin that release sweat and sebum—your skin’s natural oil. They play a crucial role in keeping your skin healthy and functioning properly. However, when these pores become clogged or stretched, they can appear larger and more noticeable. These are commonly referred to as enlarged pores or large pores.

Visible open pores are most commonly found on the face, particularly in oil-prone areas like the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin (also known as the T-zone). While having pores is completely natural, certain skin types especially oily or combination skin are more prone to developing enlarged, visible pores due to excess sebum production.

In most cases, large pores are more of a cosmetic concern than a medical issue. Still, they can affect the overall texture and appearance of your skin, often making it look rough or uneven. Understanding what causes pores to enlarge is the first step toward managing and minimizing their appearance.

Understanding the Causes of Enlarged and Visible Open Pores

The second most asked question we get from customers right after “How do I get glowing skin?” .....is “How do I get rid of enlarged pores?” While the ideal answer would be, “Apply this, and your pores will shrink overnight,” the truth is, minimizing visible open pores is a gradual process that requires consistency and the right skincare habits.

Enlarged pores, also referred to as large pores, are one of the most stubborn and persistent skin concerns. They affect both men and women, regardless of age, ethnicity, or skin type. While it’s completely normal to have pores (we all do!), some people struggle with overly visible open pores especially across the nose, cheeks, and T-zone—where oil production tends to be higher.

The primary cause of large pores is the buildup of sebum and dead skin cells. When oil hardens inside the pores and becomes clogged with debris or blackheads, it stretches the pore walls and makes them appear even more prominent. Other contributing factors include:

• Aging: As skin loses elasticity over time, pores can become more visible.
  

• Genetics: If your parents have naturally large pores, you’re more likely to experience the same.
  

• Sun Damage: UV exposure can break down collagen and weaken pore support.
  

• Poor Skincare Habits: Skipping cleansing or using comedogenic products can worsen congestion and make visible open pores stand out even more.
  

Although it’s not possible to completely eliminate large pores, the good news is that there are effective ways to reduce their appearance and improve overall skin texture.

At LAMAV, we believe every skin concern has a solution and that includes enlarged pores. That’s why we’re sharing three essential tips to help you refine your skin, reduce visible open pores, and get closer to that smooth, poreless glow you’re aiming for.

Assess Your Skincare Routine to Tighten Facial Pores

If you’ve been using harsh products designed to strip away excess oil and treat blemishes, it may be time to switch to something a little more gentle. Products that contain strong actives and artificial fragrances can lead to irritation and dryness—triggering your sebaceous glands to overproduce oil in an attempt to restore balance. This often results in clogged pores and a rougher skin texture.

To tighten facial pores and maintain a clearer complexion, opt for balancing cleansers that offer a deep clean without irritation or fragrance. A great example is 

 LAMAV’s Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser. This refreshing gel formula was specifically created to cleanse and balance oily and combination skin. It’s enriched with Papaya Extract, Desert Lime, and Mountain Pepper Leaf to help manage hormonal acne and breakouts. Additionally, fruit-derived AHAs encourage cellular turnover, which can visibly minimize the appearance of pores over time.

With the soothing properties of Aloe Vera and the hydrating benefits of Glycerin, your skin will feel deeply cleansed without being stripped—helping to balance oil levels and tighten facial pores naturally. It’s equally important to ensure all your products are non-comedogenic, avoiding heavy oils or rich creams that may contribute to clogged pores and excess shine.

Double Cleansing to Smooth Uneven Pores

Now that you’ve found a suitable cleanser, it’s important to use it effectively—especially if you’re aiming to smooth uneven pores. One of the best techniques to achieve this is double cleansing. This method ensures your skin is thoroughly cleansed and prepped for the rest of your skincare routine.

Follow these essential cleansing tips to make the most of your routine:

• Always use lukewarm water to avoid inflammation that can enlarge pores.
  

• Complete a double cleanse at night to remove makeup, SPF, and excess oil—this helps keep pores clear and visibly smoother over time.
  

• Cleanse for 60 seconds using gentle circular motions. Pay extra attention to the t-zone, nose creases, jawline, and hairline where buildup is common.
  

• If you've done a thorough double cleansing at night, there's no need to scrub your face in the morning. A simple wipe with a damp face cloth helps remove overnight oil without over-stripping the skin.
  

Consistent double cleansing not only helps to remove deep-set impurities but also supports clearer, more balanced skin—ultimately helping to smooth uneven pores.

Exfoliate with Naturally Derived AHAs

Whilst our skin naturally turns over every 4-5 weeks, this exfoliation process slows with ageing which can lead to reduced collagen and elasticity that keeps the skin plump and smooth. Manually exfoliating your skin can help to remove dead skin cells that can block pores, trapping excess oil, dirt and bacteria in the process. Regular exfoliation helps to clear away dead, dull skin and improve the appearance of the skin’s surface. By keeping the skin surface clear, exfoliation minimizes the appearance of pores and helps prevent breakouts.

Regular use of exfoliants that contain AHA’s can promote deep exfoliation and encourage cellular turnover without the need to aggressively buff the skin. This can also help to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin to reveal smoother, brighter, more luminous skin.

LAMAV exfoliators contain a concentrated blend of five botanical extracts—bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange and lemon—naturally rich in AHA’s to boost the skin’s turnover and help to combat the effects of premature ageing, including enlarged pores and dull skin.

Incorporating an exfoliant into your routine 2-3 times per week is generally enough for most people to see results without irritating the skin. Any more than this could cause further inflammation, leading to more breakouts and enlarged pores.

Moisturize (Regardless of your skin type)

If you have an oily skin type and have been skimping on the moisturizer in the hope of balancing your skin’s sebaceous activity - you may actually be causing further oil production issues. Using the right moisturizer daily will actually help balance and protect the skin. Opt for lightweight or oil free moisturizers such as LAMAV’s Skin Balancing Fluid. You’ll get all the benefits of hydration minus the heavy residue.

Toners to Minimize and Tighten Facial Pores

There are many types of toners available on the market that target a variety of skin concerns. Using the right toner can help to tighten facial pores, refine skin texture, and encourage gentle exfoliation to further minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.

Toners formulated with probiotics help balance the skin’s microbiome, supporting a calm, healthy complexion while reducing inflammation. Look for toners that also include naturally derived AHAs to promote cellular turnover and smooth uneven skin tone. One such multitasking product is LAMAV’s Probiotic Toner, which combines probiotics and AHAs to visibly reduce imperfections and tighten facial pores. Just a few spritzes between cleansing and moisturizing can help refresh the skin, balance oil levels, and refine the look of pores.

Use a Gentle Retinol Alternative to Tighten Facial Pores

Vitamin A derivatives (aka retinol and retinoids) are well-known for their ability to boost collagen production, increase cell turnover, and unclog pores. Over time, regular use of Vitamin A can improve skin texture and minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. However, traditional retinol may cause irritation and increase sun sensitivity for some skin types.

To enjoy the same benefits without the drawbacks, consider switching to Bakuchiol—nature’s gentle yet powerful retinol alternative. Derived from the leaves and seeds of the Babchi plant, Bakuchiol has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to promote skin health. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help reduce blemishes, pigmentation, and tighten facial pores without causing dryness or irritation.

Bakuchiol is suitable for sensitive skin, safe to use during pregnancy, and perfect for anyone looking for a plant-based retinol substitute. You’ll find it in LAMAV’s Bakuchiol 4% Booster, a clean, effective option to smooth skin texture and support pore refinement naturally.

SPF - The Non Negotiable

Just because you have oily skin it doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. Oily skin or not, all skin types need SPF protection on the daily. Sun damage has many well-known health risks and it can also damage and irritate the skin resulting in less elasticity, enlarged pores and textured skin. There are plenty of mineral based sunscreen options available on the market that offer oil free SPF solutions, along with extra protection from mineral makeup such as LAMAV’s BB Cream and Mineral Foundation Powder.

At Home Treatments: Use a clay mask

Clay masks are a great way to absorb excess oil and purify the skin, making them an ideal pamper product for home use. Apply a clay mask that isn’t too drying and contains skin loving ingredients. LAMAV’s Award Winning Glow Beauty Mask is packed full of anti-inflammatory turmeric, vitamin c and kakadu plum to brighten, protect the skin and improve tone. The addition of Australian Yellow Clay delivers an instant detox to decongest without drying or irritating the skin.

Makeup and Skin Hygiene

It’s a common misconception that people with oily or blemish prone skin have a dirty complexion. While “dirty” skin isn’t the root cause of enlarged pores and blemishes it certainly doesn’t help the appearance of enlarged pores. Here are some simple hygiene practices you should focus on to ensure you’re not contributing to the problem.

Don’t sleep with Makeup on!

This is a pretty obvious one, but something that can happen when you’re busy or just too lazy at night. We get it, jumping into bed is more appealing that standing at the sink completing a double cleanse, however the effort is absolutely worth it! Leaving your makeup on while you sleep locks in all the dirt, oil and bacteria that has accumulated throughout the day into your pores. When not given a chance to breath overnight you’re likely to wake up with enlarged pores and excess oil. If you know you’re someone who falls into this category there’s a few things you can do to help yourself out when it comes to makeup removal every night. Simple changes such as washing your face as soon as you walk through the door and keeping makeup remover wipes next to your bed will give you a better chance of ensuring this important skincare step is completed before you hit the pillow.

Similarly, makeup brushes can build up a lot of bacteria and product after a few uses so it’s important to clean makeup brushes weekly to avoid spreading bacteria. If you’re too lazy to wash them, invest in a brush cleaner for a faster alternative. And don’t forget to change your pillow cases weekly!

Hydration & Healthy Lifestyle Choices

In addition to using the right products, focusing on health from the inside out will always show through your skin. Drinking plenty of water and focusing on clean, anti-inflammatory foods can help to keep skin hydrated from the inside out, remove toxins and maintain elasticity for a smooth and clear complexion.

Expert Skin Treatments

Sometimes stubborn skin conditions need a little more than a good skincare routine. If you’ve made the right skincare and healthy lifestyle choices and are still not seeing improvement with enlarged pores, it may be time to turn to professional treatments. Treatments such as microdermabrasion, micro-needling, laser treatment and peels may have more of a noticeable impact to improve skin texture and pore size.

Exfoliate & Tone Regularly

When dead cells build up on the skin surface, they make the release of sebum from the pores more difficult. When sebum gets trapped in the pores it hardens over time and expands its diameter – in most cases permanently. Things get even worse when impurities “join the game” and you end up with a face, full of blackheads. 

If you want to avoid the above-mentioned skin disaster, all you need to do is get your hands on a good facial scrub ( suitable for your skin types) and start using it 2-3 times a week.

Note: I’d like to mention that overdoing exfoliation is not recommended, because it can damage the skin and strip it of its natural oils, which, as you can guess, will lead to more sebum being secreted.

Now let’s get to toners. The main purpose of toners is to tighten the pores, refresh the skin, and hydrate in depth. Thanks to their astringent properties, toners visibly reduce pore size and make skin’s surface look more even. The market offers a great variety of toners you can choose from, but please have in mind that they may contain alcohol, which is a big no-no if you want pore-free skin (we’ll explain why in a bit), so – shop smart.

What To Try: LAMAV Probiotic Toner

A unique blend of probiotics that helps to balance the skin’s microbiome while boosting skin's immune health for a vibrant, healthy complexion. 

Control Excess Oil Production

Usually, enlarged pores and excess sebum secretion go hand in hand. Face masks are a great way of cleansing your skin in-depth and absorbing excess oil, but what’s even better is to manage to “trick” your sebaceous glands into producing less oil in the long run i.e. balance sebum production. Below are 3 very basic, but proven-to-work, tips for oil-free skin:

Avoid harsh cleaning products (especially those formulated with SLS and SLES)

SLS and SLES disrupt the skin’s natural lipid barrier which inevitably leads to increased sebum production. The more sebum your skin produces, the more likely are your pores to get clogged

and enlarged.

Try natural vegetable oils

If your sebum is thicker (i.e. more likely to clog your pores), chances are the levels of linoleic acid in your skin’s surface lipids are low. The most natural way to get the levels of linoleic acid back to normal is by incorporating vegetable oils into your skincare routine. Oils that are rich in linoleic acid include Wheat germ oil, Tamanu Oil, Rosehip Oil, Hemp Seed oil, etc. Use them instead of moisturizer or for “oil cleansing”. 

Stay away from products formulated with alcohol.

Alcohol is extremely drying therefore, when applied topically it stresses your skin out making your sebaceous glands secrete more sebum, an attempt to compensate for the lack of moisture.

Boost Collagen Production

With age, the production of collagen and elastin decreases, and our skin starts to lose elasticity and firmness. Sadly, this also leads to the

the appearance of enlarged pores. If you have enlarged pores that are a result of aging, rather than hyperactive sebaceous glands, the best thing you can do is to stock up on skincare products enriched with antioxidants and collagen-boosting ingredients, such as:

• Vitamin C

• Hyaluronic acid

• Vitamin E

• Glycosaminoglycans

• Natural acids

• Natural peptides

Taking good care of your skin and providing it with all the important nutrients it needs will always pay off and the results won’t be late. Be

persistent and patient – your skin will thank you. Last but not least – don’t forget that it’s not just what you put on your skin that matters. Sticking to a balanced diet is crucial for preserving your skin youthful, glowing, and healthy. 

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