7 mistakes that make your pores appear larger
Many of us are usually worried about large pores on our faces and try to find solutions to make them appear smaller; however, it’s not pores that are large but a lot of skincare mistakes that might make our pores look larger, so today at Spheremedium we’ll be sharing seven skincare mistakes that makes your pores appear larger.
What are open pores?
Open pores are not exactly a medical term. Pores cannot open. Or they cannot close at will. They generally stay the same size. There are many products that claims that they can actually shrink pores. In the Chinese community the word toner is directly translated as a pore shrinking water. Now pores cannot open or close; however, they may appear more prominent, giving the illusion that it’s an open pore.
So today at Spheremedium, here are seven mistakes that makes your pores appear larger.
1. Overuse of blotting papers
Overuse of blotting papers can make your pores appear larger. Blotting papers are oil-absorbent papers that look translucent. When placed over face especially over nose, there’s a layer of oil on top so the main function of blotting papers or why they were invented in the first place was not to actually absorb excessive sebum regularly from your skin, but it’s actually meant to absorb the excess sebum so it does not smudge the makeup that you have on your skin, however, the name oil blotting paper has given an illusion or disillusion that it helps absorb and reduce the amount of sebum on your skin.
Now it does reduce sebum when you blot it; however, one of the issues is that once your skin has detected that there’s insufficient sebum on your skin due to your oil blotting habits It would then produce even more sebum. And the more sebum it produces, the sebaceous glands are forced to grow into a larger size in order to produce more sebum for your dry skin. This enlarged sebaceous gland would give the illusion that the pores are large and if it appears on your nose it appears that your nose has that bumpy texture, so if you’re using oil blotting papers regularly, you need to stop it right now.
2. Extractions
The second mistake that makes your pores appear larger is extractions. When done incorrectly by applying too much pressure, skin gets damaged. Which your naked eyes would not be able to see and this leads to scarring of skin. Scar will pull the skin inwards forcing the skin to be indented hence the pores look a lot larger, so you love doing extractions, but you’re doing it incorrectly and noticing that more pores are starting to appear; which are actually scars, then stop extracting your blackheads, whiteheads or active acne and leave those to a professional.
3. Over Exfoliating
The third mistake that makes your pores appear larger is over-exfoliation. Open pores are generally due to excess sebum being clogged in the skin, and when you exfoliate and remove the excess sebum, the pores look smaller. However, one of the issues with exfoliation is you can actually overdo it when you over-exfoliate your skin, it causes skin to be extremely dry, causing oil glands to enlarge in size. They will try to compensate for dryness and produce more sebum. The enlarged organ will look unsightly and it will give your skin orange peel texture and hence what was meant to actually reduce the appearance of pores ends up in contributing to more open pores, so only exfoliate once or twice a week and Remember to always moisturize afterwards.
4. Dry Skin
The fourth mistake that makes your pores appear larger is when you let your skin dry out. Dry skin looks dull and often has accumulation of dead cells on skin, which tends to build up and makes pores prominent. So if You have dry skin; do remember to hydrate it. On a regular basis so that the pores don’t look enlarged.
5. Comedogenic Products
The fifth mistake that makes your pores appear larger is by using comedogenic products. Now the term comedogenic means it creates comedones which are whiteheads and blackheads or active acne .Now comedogenic products are generally oily based products like shea butter, cocoa butter or even essential oils. Excessive oils can get into pores and clog them, making sebum unable to flow out of pores. Which will end up with further stretching of skin and pores appearing to be open or larger in size. So if you’re using comedogenic products my advice is to switch over to non-comedogenic ingredients .look for water-soluble products in your skin care, like aloe vera, witch hazel, and rose water.
6. Not wearing sunblock
The sixth mistake that makes your pores appear larger is not wearing sunblock. We know that insufficient usage of Sunscreen will lead to premature aging. And appearance of hyperpigmentation like sunspots. But did you know the excessive sun exposure and the UV radiation can lead to over-drying of skin, which in turn causes premature aging, wrinkles and the appearance of more open pores, so remember if you love going under the sun make sure to use sufficient sun protection.
7. Using makeup excessively
The seventh mistake that makes your pores appear larger is overuse of makeup. Makeup has been generally used to smoothen out and to mattify the skin. However there are some makeup products where the particles are very large, which gets into your pores and clogs them.
So one definite way to make sure that your pores remain large is not removing your makeup effectively. So make sure to minimize the amount of makeup and at the same time use a proper makeup remover at the end of the day .
So do you have open pores and are struggling to reduce the appearance of your pores? Hope this article will be helpful, and if you have any tips or tricks to reduce the size of the pores then do share it with us.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Skincare mistakes
How can I shrink my open pores?
Pores do not open and close; however, they may appear more prominent and lesser at other times. Factors that can reduce the appearance of pores are not removing makeup effectively, not using sunscreen, over-exfoliating, and using comedogenic products.
Do pores appear larger when blackheads are removed?
If blackheads are removed with force, exerting pressure on surrounding skin, then pores appear larger.
Should I use less moisturizer if my pores are open?
No, every skin needs moisture. However, if you have oily skin, use gel-based moisturizers.

I am a dentist, baker, and fitness and health enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. I am foodie and explorer, always seeking new adventures and flavors. Currently working on my own skincare brand.