Think you left large pores behind with your teenage years? Unfortunately, as you get older those pesky pores stage a comeback. It’s not very fair; here you are dealing with the fine lines and crow’s feet that come with a more mature complexion when you’re forced to revisit this old skin complaint too. But unlike your younger self, this time round you’ve got a better skin care routine and some clever new products at your disposal to help minimise their appearance. Here’s how…
Why are they back?
It’s a common misconception, but despite being seemingly “treated” years earlier, your pores never actually went away. Containing the hair follicle and acting as a passage for sebum and dead cells to work their way to the skin’s surface, pores are always present. What changes is their appearance, and this can be attributed to the size of oil gland within the pore and other hereditary and environmental factors.
Why do they seem bigger now?
As we age the production of elastin in the skin decreases. This means our skin starts to sag and lose some of its firmness around the pores, which can exacerbate their appearance. While there’s nothing you can do to stop the ageing process, it is possible to use topical products to increase the skin’s collagen production to create a firming effect and younger-looking skin. Fairly new to the market are skincare products containing bee venom, such as the Abeeco Bee Venom Mask, that tricks the skin into thinking it’s been stung (only a little though!) and therefore encourages blood to rush to the area and the skin to produce elastin and collagen. In turn, this creates a firming effect in the short term, and is perfect for tightening the skin in the long term as the Abeeco Bee Venom Mask works better the longer you use it. The mask can be applied as a 20-minute treatment or as an overnight mask for better results.
What else enlarges pores?
Besides ageing, the other culprit is actually the most natural of reasons – sebum production. Hormones can cause excess sebum production (yep, just like being a teenager!) and as we age it’s likely to be when we’re feeling particularly stressed that our hormones can send our sebaceous glands into overdrive.
If your skin produces too much oil it can make pores bigger and once you have oily skin, it’s easy for debris like make-up and dirt to stick to the skin and on the pores, which can clog them up (hello, blackheads).
In this case, it’s important not to excessively clean the skin, which can dry it out and stimulate further sebum production when it tries to rehydrate itself. Jojoba oil is a natural ingredient that most closely resembles human sebum, and by using moisturising products containing jojoba oil such as the Abeeco Anti-Aging Support Crémeand the Abeeco Bee Venom Mask you’re giving mature skin the hit of nourishing hydration that it needs to combat fine lines without clogging it up.
Will I ever be able to get rid of them?
You can’t get rid of pores, but if you ensure you have clean, healthy skin and keep pores free from blockages and debris that can clog them, and use products to strengthen the skin surface, you’re on your way to reducing their appearance.
What products can minimise the appearance of pores?
Whether it’s caused by sagging skin or hormone related, it is possible for enlarged pores to be reduced in mature skin, and the answer lies in the work of the humble bee. In the first instance, tightening the skin tissue by replenishing the skin’s lost collagen is key to reducing the appearance of pores. This can be helped by a secretion produced by worker bees called Royal Jelly, which is fed to larvae and Queen Bees. While it’s great for healing skin wounds and restoring pH balance to the skin, Royal Jelly also has well-documented anti-ageing benefits due to its high amino acid content, which can enhance collagen production. This little miracle worker can be found in the Abeeco Anti-Aging Support Créme, which gives you a daily dose of luxurious natural ingredients.
On the other hand, enlarged pores caused by excess oil production need to be kept clean to reduce the risk of inflammation and bacterial infection which can lead to pimples – and the last thing we want is a case of adult acne on our hands. Manuka oil is a potent and effective antibacterial agent found in the Abeeco Miracle Manuka Cream, an antiseptic cream that helps treat problem skin without drying it out.
What are other good habits for looking after pores?
It’s important to always use an SPF because sun damage can thicken the skin and cause a ridge around the rim of the pore making it seem bigger. At the end of the day, always remove make-up to stop it from sinking into pores and clogging them up.
I’m really starting to notice them as I get older.