All You Need To Know About Shrinking Pores With Home Remedies

by Chaitra Ramalingegowda · March 8, 2017

Pores on your skin help keep your skin lubricated by secreting natural oils. These pores are responsible for letting your skin breathe, while also helping eliminate toxins from the body. The problems arise when these pores secrete excess sebum, which can then cause skin eruptions like blackheads, whiteheads, acne, and pimples.

People who have oily skin usually tend to have larger, more open pores than people who have dry skin. The area around the nose is one of the main regions that contain more oil glands. To enjoy flawless, healthy skin, you need to prevent the opening of pores. This is done by maintaining a proper balance of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

Suggested read: 10 home remedies to get rid of pesky pimples

Causes for open pores

The most common causes for open pores include:

Prolonged sun exposure
Aging
Stress
Pollution
Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
Genetics
Excessive use of moisturizing and makeup
Use of low quality skin care products
Poor skin care routine
Improper nutrition
Environmental factors

Prolonged sun exposure damages the collagen in your skin, thereby reducing the suppleness and the elasticity of your pore canals. Similarly, aging can also contribute to your skin losing its elasticity.

Home remedies for open pores

You don’t need to spend pocketsful of money to close these open pores. These pores are a natural and essential part of your skin, and thus cannot be gotten rid of. They can be treated with easy, simple, effective, and inexpensive home remedies for open pores that you can make at home.

1. Apple cider vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar possesses astringent properties, along with toning qualities. It helps tighten your skin, restores your skin’s delicate pH balance, while also helping reduce large pores. Additionally, it also contains anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, which help combat acne- and pimple-causing germs and bacteria.

Remedy

In a clean bowl, mix together 2 teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and water. Dip a cotton ball in it and apply this solution all over your face and neck, leaving it to air dry fully for about 20 minutes. Then, wash it off with cool water. Pat dry with a soft towel and apply a mild moisturizer. Do this every day to see visible improvement in a few weeks’ time.

2. Baking soda

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is an excellent exfoliating agent. It helps remove excess sebum, dirt, grime, and other impurities from your skin. It helps in balancing the pH levels of your skin, while also helping reduce problems like acne and pimples, thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Remedy

In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of baking soda with enough lukewarm water to form a smooth paste. Spread this on your face and neck, and massage in circular motions for a few minutes. Let it stay for 10 minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy every for a week or so to see visible improvement in the size of the pores.

3. Cucumber

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Cucumber is a natural astringent, which helps shrink open, enlarged pores. It also helps improve your skin’s texture, complexion, and adds a fresh glow to it.

Remedies

Extract the juice from half a cucumber. Use a cotton ball in it and smear this on your face and neck. Let it stay for 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water.
Add a few drops of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons of cucumber juice. Apply this on your face and neck, keeping it on for 15 minutes, before washing it off with cool water.

Tip: Repeat either of these remedies every day for a month to see visible results.

4. Egg whites

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Egg whites are amazing in helping tighten and shrink large pores. They help tone and tighten your pores, while also helping draw out excess oil from your skin.

Remedies

Whisk 2 egg whites in a clean bowl till it’s frothy. To this, add the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon and mix well. Smear this on your face and neck, keeping it on for about 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy a thrice a week for about a month to see desired results.
Whisk 1 egg white in a clean bowl till it’s frothy. Add 2 tablespoons each of ground oatmeal and lemon juice to this and mix well form a smooth paste. Slather this on your face and neck, letting it stay for half an hour, before washing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy twice a week for several weeks to see visible improvement.
In a clean bowl, whisk 1 egg white and spread it evenly on your face and neck. Let it air dry completely for about 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Do this for twice a week for best results.

5. Fuller’s earth

Fuller’s earth is another amazing natural remedy to help shrink enlarged pores. It helps absorb excess oil from the skin, while also helping exfoliate it. Additionally, it also helps reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, and dark spots, while also helping sun damaged skin.

Remedy

Take 2 tablespoons of Fuller’s earth in a clean bowl and add enough rose water to form a smooth paste. Slather this on your face and neck, keeping clear of your eyes. Let it stay for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this mud mask twice a week regularly to see desired results.

6. Ice

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Ice is one of the simplest yet most effective home remedy to help tighten the pores on your skin. It has been used to shrink enlarged pores before applying makeup because it helps stimulate blood circulation, while also promoting healthier skin.

Remedies

Wash your face with ice cold water once a day to help shrink open pores on your skin.
Place a few ice cubes in a soft, clean washcloth and hold it against your skin for 15-30 seconds. Repeat this a few times every day to help with open pores.

Tip 1: Make ice cubes with cucumber juice, apple juice, rose water, or green tea to increase its efficiency.

Tip 2: Do NOT put ice cubes directly on your skin with the protective layer of a washcloth or a kerchief.

7. Lemon juice

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Lemon juice is rich in citric acid and vitamin C, that help exfoliate and shrink the open, enlarged pores. It also helps improve your skin’s complexion, while also helping remove dark spots, thanks to its bleaching property. Additionally, it also helps keep acne and pimple breakouts at bay, thanks to its anti-bacterial properties.

Remedies

In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons each of lemon juice and tomato juice. Use a clean cotton ball to apply this on your face and neck, leaving it on for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy four times a week for a few weeks to see desired results.
Mix together 1 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and lemon juice to form a smooth paste. Slather this on your face and neck, leaving it on for 20 minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy every day for at least a month for visible improvement.
Add 1 teaspoon of honey to the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon and mix well. Apply this on your face and neck, keeping clear of your eyes. Let it sit for 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Do this every day for a few weeks for positive results.

8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is an amazing exfoliating agent, which helps remove dead skin cells, excess oil, dirt, grime, and other impurities from your skin. Plus, it also helps soothe your skin.

Remedy

In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons each of milk powder and ground oatmeal, along with 5 tablespoons of honey to form a smooth paste. Spread this on your face and use your fingertips in circular motions to massage it. Leave it on for 15 minutes, before scrubbing it off with cool water. Do this twice a week regularly for best results.

9. Sugar scrub

Sugar is one of the best ingredients that helps with reducing large pores, thanks to its exfoliating quality. It helps remove excess oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities from your skin.

Remedies

Sprinkle some sugar on a lemon slice or wedge and use it to gently rub it all over your face and neck. Let it stay for 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy twice a week for a few weeks to see noticeable results.
In a clean bowl, mix together equal amounts of lemon juice and honey, along with a bit of sugar. Use this to massage your skin gently, with your fingertips, in circular motions. Do this for 5 minutes. Let it stay for 15 minutes more, before washing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy twice a week for a few weeks to see visible improvement.
Add 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to a clean bowl and mix well. Spread this on your face and neck, and use your fingertips to gently massage your skin with it. Do this for a few minutes. Then, let it sit for 15 minutes more, before rinsing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy regularly, twice a week for positive results.

10. Yogurt

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Yogurt is rich in lactic acid, which helps get rid of excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt, and other impurities from your skin. This, in turn helps reduce the appearance of open pores. Additionally, it also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles too.

Remedies

To 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, add 1 tablespoon of gram flour and mix well to form a smooth paste. Smear this on your face and neck, avoiding your eyes. Let it sit for 20 minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Repeat this twice a week for a few weeks for best results.
Whisk 1 egg white in a clean bowl till it’s frothy and mix 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt to this. Smear this on your face and neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Follow this remedy twice a week for best results.
Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt on your face and neck, letting it stay for 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Do this four times a week for a few weeks to see desired results.

These are all the amazingly effective home remedies for open pores you need. For more updates on skin care, health tips, beauty secrets, and makeup tricks, subscribe to our newsletter today!

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