Genre: Instruction

Share Article You can't get rid of this beauty problem but Zoe can help you hide it. Zoe, how do I get rid of my big pores? No matter what I do, they seem to look huge after a few hours after applying my makeup! Karen Karen, first, let me reveal a terrible truth: you cannot get rid of your big pores, or change their size. What you CAN do, though, is ride bikes and eat ice cream, so it all evens out. Sorry, that was a truly pore response. I can do better. (Zzzzing!) Karen, while you can't change your pore size (it's genetic) or stop them producing more oil than necessary, or creating pimples or blackheads, you can certainly minimise their appearance and sheen, by using a skilful artillery of pore-minimising products, designed by clever people who understand that while bigger, oilier pores generally mean your skin will age slower and wrinkle less (WIN!), it's frustrating having them glaring out from your skin every day (um, lose...) Skin care: -       Cleanse. Properly. The key to keeping pores in check is making sure they're clean. The dirtier they are, the more visible they are. Use something gentle, so as to thoroughly clean but not to overstimulate -       Exfoliate at least 2-3 times a week. Too much can aggravate the pores and make them produce more oil. Cute ! Something with light amounts of AHAs or salicylic acid is good, (although can be drying -- see what suits your skin best), or a gentle cleanser/scrub combo might be the way to go. Olay's Deep Cleansing Pore Minimising Cle anser and Scrub at night is a good option. -       After cleansing, TONE. Definitely tone. So important. This "closes" the pore and tightens it without drying it out (and if it is drying it out, switch products). Lancme Pure Focus is popular, as is Biore's Triple Action Toner. -       Use a serum that is tailored to the business of pores (remember: always choose a serum that targets whatever your biggest and most pressing skin concern is... or you can layer a couple) -- Clinique does a great one in their Pore Refining range -       Masks that draw out impurities (things like sunscreen, makeup and grime can clog pores and make them more visible) should be a weekly routine -- something like the St Ives Mineral Clay Mask or the much lauded SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Mask is perfect. Clay is the way, in other words . Clay is the way. -       Use a foundation that is mattifying (or even pore-minimising, as some are touted.) Something that will adequately conceal the appearance of larger pores and keep oil under control is best. Revlon Colorstay and Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse are great, and the bareminerals matte powder is ideal to finish/set with. -       Keep blotting papers on hand (or a powder compact of mineral powder, something lightweight like) to touch up throughout the day. I know that sounds like a lot of work, Karen, but that's only because it is. If it's too daunting, then at least do the exfoliating, the toning and use the primer. ....I now open the floor to anyone with similar skin who has some great solutions! Comments Comment Guidelines : Imagine you're at a dinner party. Different opinions are welcome but keep it respectful or the host will show you the door. We have zero tolerance for any abuse of our writers, our editorial team or other commenters. So if you're rude, mean-spirited, snarky, aggressive, defamatory or bitchy, your comment will be deleted (so will any replies to the original comment -- so don't bother arguing with rude people, instead just hit the 'alert moderator' button). And if you're offensive, you'll be blacklisted and all your comments will go directly to spam. Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're going to be -- cool. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation... Save your money for things that actually work! Best thing to reduce the size and minimize the appearance of large pores is retinol! It's the only thing that works really. Either strong ones on prescription or over the counter creams like Eau Thermal Avene's Ystheal + that actually have enough active ingredient to work. Ok, had those vertical lines between the brows done 48hrs ago for the first time. Result = gone! Ah-mazing!! Still enough mobility to look natural, but lines disappeared. I'm sold. FYI -- I'm 40 with pretty good skin and lines that were treated where light -- moderate in severity. I had massive horrible pimples around my chin when I went for an eyebrow wax on Wednesday. I bought two Ella Bache products -- an exfoliant and a deep cleanser -- and the next day my pimples were way way less angry and red and very reduced and much more able to be covered up with make up. It was really noticeably better, and knowing my pimple timeline they weren't ready to reduce without assistance. Also love Ella Bache Great Tan, got a number of compliments yesterday with my tan. I am a big fan of Ella Bache! I also suffer from dark under eye circles, and after reading this article I use both of these products -- amazing. my last YSL Touche Eclat pen last 18 months, so while it may seem a big investment, it is well worth it! I was flicking thru The new issue of Cosmetic Surgery Australia and there is a new laser treatment called Spectra. It had before and after pictures of a nose full of blackheads and large pores ,the after picture after 3 treatments flawless. This is not an advertisement just an observation. I was amazed I have had horrendous enlarged pores for the past five years...I have had two sessions of Variable Pulsed Light treatment from my beauty therapist for sun damage/broken veins on my face and the huuuuuuge additional benefit has been that it is eliminating the massive open pores-result!!! My skin also feels a little bit more toned and less saggy in the areas that I've had done. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone with large 'open' pores...now I can apply foundation without it all gathering in my pores and I love it. If you had large pores you would notice because they are noticeable when large. For me it was an age thing. I never noticed my pores until recently (I'm 35) and they are definitely larger in some places than others. Hope that helps I had big pores ever since the onset of puberty! Nothing seemed to reduce them. Now I am 47 and heading towards menopause and they've disappeared. I now have blemish free, poreless skin for the first time ever! Alas I also have the wrinkles that come with age and skin that is less elastic than it was in the days of large pores. Oh well, guess you can't have it all! My pores are heaps smaller by doing the following: clean my face with water in the shower, rubbing 4 drops of Rosehip oil into my skin after shower, then finishing with a liberal dose of moisturiser. I was adding a wipe with toner inbetween wash and rosehip, but it made me break out, so I've dropped that step altogether. I have oily/combination skin and was under the assumption that the rosehip oil and moisturiser combo would exacerbate the problem, but it's been amazing. I've seen a massive improvement in my enlarged pores, but I'm guessing from reading all the posts that what works for one person doesn't necessarily for the rest. My pores fall on the larger side, and I have found the number one, cheapest and most effective way to minimize them is to be hydrated from the inside out. If I've had too many coffees and not enough water it is dotted all over my face There's a reason all those famous beautiful people swear by 8 glasses of water a day, it can't make me look like them but it can help me look my best. I find oil cleansing the best thing for enlarged pores. It cleans them out more effectively, making them appear less visible. Some sort of chemical exfoliant is good too. I tend to avoid scrubs because I'm so prone to redness and rosacea. I actually find the rosacea treatment I use (Finacea from the chemist) is good for pores because of the Azelaic acid in it. That or Glycolic acid is great for clearing the pores. It won't change the size but it makes them look less like moon craters. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch primer is excellent under foundation for a smooth base but I find it breaks me out a little with regular use. I save it for special occasions. A good powder can actually hide pores a bit. I notice my Kanebo Sensai Loose Translucent powder is excellent for diffusing minor flaws. I have a question completely off topic. I have pretty bad fore head lines. I have tried all different products to help. I am not really comfortable with botox and have heard of some kind of laser you can get. Does this work? Don't be scared of the Botox, it's honestly the best thing for forehead lines. I would advise you to have a couple of peels and maybe some IPL for collagen boosting before having a few Botox injections. Problem solved. I have oily skin and enlarged pores and my ENTIRE WORLD changed a few weeks ago when my sister introducted me to Benefit's POREfessional. It's like spack filler for your face....yet light as a feather, soft as silk and doesn't clog the aforementioned crater sized pores. Beyond amazing. Get out amongst it people! I use the Napoleon Pore Minimiser & Mattifyer. (sp???). I bought it the first time for my wedding in 2006, and have used it ever since for when I know I'll be out all day and dont want to look like I've fallen in the deep-fat fryer. Not cheap, but works well for my oily skin. Ha! Love the deep-fat-fryer call! I recently went on a long haul flight to NYC and holy hell, you should have seen me by the time I arrived. Like an oil slick had morphed into the place my head should have been. NIGHTMARE. I read online a few years ago about using 'milk of magnesia' as a primer....after some quicking searching on the ol' googly-web i discovered that the ausiie equivalent is Mylanta. Yep....that white stuff that people use to stop the burpies and burnies in their chests. Being the scpetic that i am i had a friend who works at the World Health Organisation run the ingredients to see if any were dangerous and it all checked out fine so i gave it a whurl.....used it as a primer for 2 weeks. HOLY MOLY i was amazed. pores? refined. oil? controlled. make up? STAYED IN PLACE ALL DAY. It's a little drying for my skin so i only use it for special occassion or 'all day' make up required days. it's $5, it's available everywhere and it will change your world.....or at least...your pores. I tell anyone and everyone who will listen to me. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I'm 26 and always tend to have an oily sheen on my forehead but a dry chin. I had a facial a while back and the beauty therapist said the oil was there because my skin is dehydrated. Anyway I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a good moisturiser/sunscreen combo? When your skin is dehydrated you want something with high amounts of hyaluronic acid in it -- as your skin needs more water, not oil. I highly recommend something like the Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Serum (Skinceuticals do a similar one) which you can purchase from online stores such as adorebeauty.com.au . I have a similar skin type to you -- and find that a serum like that, followed up with a good oil free sunscreen -- my personal fave is the Kit 30+ Face Sunscreen (also has hyaluronic acid in it) -- works really well under makeup (oil free foundation). Hope this helps! I have changed to Jurlique sensitive products -- *no more redness * no more oily oily oily t zone * no more shine during the day * no more blackheads * my skin is so so smooth and make up looks great. Sometimes you just have to be gentle. Like kanga123 I don't exfoliate anymore, I do have the Jurlique daily exfoliating cream but I rarely use it anymore -used to use it one it twice a week when I first switched but now, only when I feel extra dirty, and it's really just a soft mushy oatmeal type cream. I don't use anything harsh anymore -- best thing I ever did was change to Jurlique and go sensitive and gentle. I am almost finished with my laser hair removal (full legs, buttocks -which was fine and blonde but the legs did part of my buttocks so I wanted it even, full Brazilian, peri-anal, full arm, underarm, face -- gets rid of the blonde hair too) -- I sooooo love not shaving ( I now was my hair once a week-all it needs and with no epilation required I get an extra 20 mins sleep in!!), and once that's done I will be investing in a series of gentle laser treatments. The laser tightens, tones, and removes deep and surface pigmentation ( its shown that its pigmentation that's ages us not wrinkles). I think it depends on what problem you are trying to fix -- although I agree with your overall sentiment. I used to use harsh OTC products and my skin was often a bit red, sensitive etc. I switched to Jurlique and whilst it certainly calmed things down, it didnt really fix any problems either. Now I use a basic QV or cetaphil moisturiser/sunscreen in the morning and a retinal/vitamin C combo at night and my skin glows. I'm also having a series of peels done (professionally) to treat me last remaining issue, pigmentation. Once its all done, I think I'll be able to get away with just a tinted moisturiser rather than foundation, because my skin tone will be naturally even! =) Oh and laser hair removal is awesome. I havent shaved my legs in almost a year! Can't speak for anyone else but I'm having my bikini lasered and it is $99 per treatment, and is meant to take between 5-8 treatments to get rid of most of the hair. I'm up to treatment 4 I think and the results are pretty good. There are various specials if you do more than one area/pay up front, etc. airfree which has various salons around has a great special on atm till 4th sept, I just booked 6 brazilian +underarms for $59 each, or you can just try one @ $69 to see if you can handle it and then get the rest at the package price. I apologise in advance since this question is completely off-topic! But does anyone have any recommendations for a mascara for sensitive eyes, preferably from a brand that doesn't test on animals, and won't flake off (it's for a long wedding day). I've heard that 'tubing' mascara is supposed to be good? Thanks in advance, from your hopeless-at-all-things-make-up-anxious-a\\... Have you considered, if it is specifically for a long wedding day, having eyelash extensions or false eyelashes? I'm guessing from your request about sensitive that this may be a no go zone but I get eyelash extensions and I LOVE them. $80 for a full set, $40 for refills every 3 weeks. But no mascara purchase, no eye makeup remover purchase and it looks amaze even when I roll out of bed looking like holy hell. Tubey mascara is wonderful! I have a sample of Clinique's bottom lash mascara (hehe bottom lashes...) and the staying power is wonderful, and it doesn't flake at all. I'm not sure about sensitivity or their animal testing policies though. Tubing mascara is all this dame will use. Normal mascara is such a pain in the arse to remove; I can't go back now. I oscillate between Clinique Lash Power, Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined and MAC Opulash (for more volume.) I use a BB cream as my foundation most days. Do you still recommend a primer underneath? Or will a primer make the BB cream slip off? I have a lovely Becca primer (pore minimizing and mattifying), which I use under foundation when I go out at night. Also, I've managed to get my adult acne well and truly under control with a topical (prescription only) cream, but I still have blackheads (especially on my nose) clogging up my pores. Any suggestions on how I can control/get rid of them. When I squeeze them, I just create a flaky mess on my face, as my skin is so delicate. would a primer not defeat the purpose of the BB cream? BB cream is like a treatment moisturiser + foundation -- the moisturiser/treatment side would need to penetrate the skin, whilst a primer provides a barrier to stop that, and allow the foundation sit evenly on the skin? ersonally, I'd drop the primer, when you're wanting the treatment aspect of the BB cream to work -- maybe use it only when you're specifically applying the BB as a foundation instead? Avon's Mattifying Skin Perfector -- is great if your going with full makeup. For everyday I use Estee Lauder Skin Refining Pore Minimiser under my moisturiser and then just a dusting of powder. (Although I have it on good Authority that the Clinque version is the same and cheaper -- so I'm going with that next time) I have a question. The beauty therapist that did my eye lashes recently said that there is no point using any skin care products sold mainstream because they only have 2% active ingredients, and are bad for your skin. She said that it's only the products that beauty therapists prescribe (which have over 2% active ingredients) that will do anything for your skin. I'm pretty sure she's just trying to sell me expensive products, but does any one know if this is true? She said that the reason you get redness on your face is because your skin gets 'stripped' from bad products, and only oil based cleansers (that are prescribed) will help... I've been told something similar regarding skin care products and I was advised that I should be using stuff like Dermalogica, MD Formulations etc and not the mainstream stuff. I know Zoe is a super busy lady, but if she has time it would be great to know if this info is correct or if the mainstream products are just as good? I think her statement is far too generalised -- but there is some basis of truth in there. Certain ingredients (especially vitamin a and vitamin c) do require certain strengths to actually cause effect on the skin. The easiest way to see whether you're getting your money's worth is to look at the ingredients list -- the top 5 ingredients are what you want to look at and what you want to include the ingredients that you want, if that makes sense? Those 2 ingredients also need to be in a stable enough formula (particularly vit c) or else they don't have an effect on the skin as well. This doesn't necessarily mean that mainstream products are useless -- it's just that the brands with a scientific basis to their formulas generally create more effective products. My advice? Do your research -- google reviews of products, read beauty blogs, look out for what products a beauty editor would actually spend money on herself -- we all know they get sent hundreds of products ALL the time to trial and test -- so knowing what they actually would spend their own money on is oh so valuable! I would also suggest that if you can only splurge on one skincare item -- make it a serum. They're the strongest/most effective skincare products (designed to go deepest into the skin for maximum effect) to deal with pretty much any issue -- so in my humble opinion, they're well worth spending a bit more on. Plus you only need a drop or two -- so they do last you a good few months or more! At nearly 30 and with still very oily skin and t zone breakouts, I made a switch from my supermarket brand stuff to MD Formulations as the suggestion of a beauty therapist. I have since bought more from strawberrynet at a much better price, and will keep doing it. Some places may try to con you into spending more money for the sake of it, but most should happily offer you an alternative in your price range. I now have much clearer skin, only hormonal chin breakouts and am properly hydrating my skin for probably the first time in my life! there's also something to be said for weaker solutions over stronger solutions if you have sensitive skin also -- stronger is NOT always better! and beauty therapists can be known to spout codswallop in the name of a sale / further booking. I had one tell me I must have had a reaction to a product that was cheap, and 'her' product, because it was so 'quality', wouldn't cause a reaction....umm no lady, my skin was sensitive/allergic to a particular ingredient, cheaper or more expensive/quality wouldn't make a difference. Just because they deal with creams and lotions, doesn't make them a scientist I'm a beauty therapist and I can say that, by and large, this is true. The professional brands that I work with contain the highest proportions of active ingredients that have been proven to cause change within the skin. Good skincare should have scientific evidence to back this up (we keep studies on file if clients are interested). Whereas when you look at a cheaper skincare, you can clearly see just by looking at the ingredients list that the active ingredients do not form a high percentage of the product. Unfortunately, the obvious side effect of this is that prescriptive skincare is more expensive than generic. It's just a reality, given the research & development that goes into the ranges. Not to mention the ingredients! Peptides, for example, are INCREDIBLY expensive to engineer and manufacture -- hence why there is hardly any cheaper skincare containing peptides (and if it does, I would bet that they are in such miniscule amounts that they can't create any change). Prescriptive skincare tends to have more sophisticated delivery systems also. Cheaper skincare is usually molecularly too large to penetrate the upper epidermis, let alone to the dermal layer. This doesn't mean that cheaper skincare is "bad" for the skin, it just means that it lacks the activity which is required to change or correct particular skin conditions. Prescriptive skincare is just far more active -- that's impossible to dispute. And I have to say that I do take offence to the suggestion that beauty therapists are just trying to spruik expensive products. We will always make suggestions for products that you can work with to achieve your skincare aims -- that is our responsibility. Would you go to a gym where the personal trainer didn't suggest exercises for you to do at home in between gym visits? Thanks for the advice! What you have said makes sense. I like the point that there are only a few ingredients that have been proven effective. Sorry if I have offended you -- I don't think her whole motivation is to sell me stuff but I think it would be a bit naive of me to assume that me handing over hundreds of dollars for those products isn't in her best interest as well. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, I think I am going to take the advice of researching it for myself so I understand it all properly. I agree with 'Large-pore Sarz.' Benefit's POREfessional is magnificent. I don't use it every day as often I just go with a bit of tinted moisturizer and bronzer, but when I use foundation, I will always pop a smidge of POREfessional on and it mattifies and smooths everything out nicely for a really good base. I recently returned from traveling Europe and whilst in Italy I found heaven in the form of foundation! KIKO Milano have a foundation which is sebum balancing anti shine and it is bloody fantastic! The coverage is amazing and it lasts all day and minimises pores awesomly (along with their Primer) plus it was the equivalent to about $20 AU unbelievable! Sadly I cannot purchase it here, so if anyone out there is traveling around Europe (particularly Italy) look out for this product it is amazing! I went to a presentation by dermatologists and they said that exfoliators CREATE skin irritation and open pores making them larger. They likened it to a mortar and pestle. So they said it's the biggest gimmick in the beauty industry and highest selling product. So they urged everyone in the room to throw them out. And I did. And it's been 3 months and my "big pores" on my nose are no longer! Don't worry, I questioned my own skin as well. I even googled images of 'large pores' to see what they meant. From what I can tell, the pores on my nose are somewhat 'big', but they never bothered me before so I'm not going to let them bother me now.