4K, 5K, 14K, Ultra HD! Whoa! In today's "techy" world, visual aesthetics matter the most, isn't it? But wait, does your ultra HD camera captures the minute details even in the selfie mode?.... Yes? Cool phone! But not so cool if you have pores around your nose, chin, and cheeks! Plus, if you are the one who loves makeup, you very well know what pores are capable of ruining the whole look. Pores can be super annoying, stressful and can massively ruin your no-filter looks. Keep calm as all you need is to know the few factors that are at play! Dive in for open pores treatment at home.

Factors Causing Pores

Pores are tiny openings of the hair follicle that act as an escape route for toxins and sweat. Once they get enlarged, they become noticeable and are visible on aging and oily skin. Such pores easily get clogged with dirt and sebum, making the skin more prone to breakouts. Let's quickly go through the actual causes of these undesirable pores.

1. Biological causes

The entire reason behind visible pores is your anatomy. Your anatomy is a massive factor, which means that if you are biologically prone to having pores, you can not prevent their appearance.

The good news is that their visibility can be decreased gradually if you take the right steps.

• Genetics: In most cases, genetics determine if you are likely to have pores or not. A family line that tends to overproduce oil (sebum) is very much prone to pores. Gender is yet another biological factor for pores. Typically, men tend to have more pores than women.

• Aging: Your age is another factor that can cause pores because your skin's capability to shed naturally slows down.

• Level of sebum: If your sebaceous glands produce a lot of sebum/oil, your skin becomes prone to pores, which happens when the dead skin cells and dirt mix with the sebum and block the pores.

• Hormones: An imbalance in the level of hormones due to stress or negligence is sure to affect your skin and enhance the appearance of pores in particular.

2. Personal habits

These are the self-created factors causing pores. Certain habits or lifestyles that you practice knowingly or unknowingly contribute to noticeable pores.

• Excessive makeup: There's no harm in applying makeup. However, using cheap products in excess or not cleaning your makeup properly, can fetch visible pores. The simple reason behind this is that the leftover makeup clogs the pores.

• Smoking: Smoking is an undesirable habit that profoundly affects your skin. The toxins in cigarette smoke restrict the facial blood circulation causing the tissues to dry and sag. Besides, the smoke leaves a greasy layer on the face, clogging the pores.

• Imbalanced diet: All the nutrients our body utilizes is through the food we eat. Hence, an improper diet means that the skin is devoid of nutrients, and pores are sure to appear.

• Improper skin-care habits: If your skin-care goes wrong, you are very likely to have pores. For example, if you wash your face too often, you may render your skin dry with visible pores.

How to Remove Small Pores From Face Naturally

Enough of these tiny undesirable pits on your skin! Time to say goodbye with 15 natural ingredients. Let's get started with the most prudent and effective measures to eliminate pores.

1. Aloe vera

Using aloe vera is among the best natural remedies to tighten pores. This medicinal plant secretes a thick mucus-like juice that helps reduce the size of pores.

You'll need:

• Freshly made aloe vera juice
• Cotton pads

Follow these steps:

• Cut an aloe vera leaf and wash it with warm water.
• Extract the gel from the plant with the help of a spoon or knife.
• Blend it thoroughly in a mixer.
• Pour the mixture in a bowl and dip a cotton pad in it.
• Rub the pad gently on your cleansed face and particularly on the pore affected areas.
• Let the aloe extract absorb completely. Do not rinse!

Things you need to keep in mind:

• Do not forget to clean/wash the leaves before using them on your face. Dirty aloe can cause more harm than good.
• Do not go for bottled juice as it contains preservatives and may not fetch great results. Applying the mixture ensures maximum absorption and make sure to do this before going to bed.

How often you should apply:

You can apply aloe once a day regularly. You may either blend it or apply/use the gel directly from the slit leaf as per your convenience.

2. Egg white

Egg white has a tremendous pore-minimizing property and also tightens your skin.

You'll need:

• One egg
• Fresh lemon juice
• Paper tissue

Follow these steps:

• Separate the egg white from the egg and whisk it for 2-3 minutes.
• Add 4 to 5 drops of fresh lemon juice in it and mix well.
• Tear the tissue into small pieces and place it on your face. Do not miss out on cleansing your face before this.
• Coat the tissue with the egg white and lemon mixture with a brush.
• Do this for the rest of the face and make thicker tissue layers in pore affected areas.
• Let it sit for 15 minutes or until dry and then peel the tissues in an upward direction. Rinse your face with a mild cleanser and then apply a water-based moisturizer.

Things you need to keep in mind:

• Avoid applying this mask if you have blemishes. Postpone until they are gone
• Do not use stale eggs for this mask.
• If you have dehydrated skin, prepare your skin by applying beauty oil/lotion 30 minutes before applying this mask.

How often you should apply:

This egg white mask can be used once every 3-4 weeks.

3. Papaya

Papaya is rich in a protein-dissolving enzyme called papain. This enzyme removes the damaged keratin layer from the skin and helps to exfoliate it.

You'll need:

• ¼ cup freshly mashed ripe papaya
• Pineapple juice (optional)

Follow these steps:

• Dice the papaya into little pieces and mash until a smooth paste is visible. You may add a few drops of pineapple juice as well.
• Cleanse your face before applying.
• Gently pat the juicy pulp over the pore affected areas and lie down for 15-20 minutes.
• Put a towel below to avoid a mess.
• Rinse the pulp off thoroughly

Things you should keep in mind:

• Use fresh papaya instead of frozen/canned one.
• This mask is a slight bleaching one and evens the skin tone.
• Avoid storing this mixture and use a fresh one every time.

How often you should apply:

You can do papaya facial once every week.

4. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties and unclogs pores by depriving them of bacteria, extra oils, and debris.

You'll need:

• Two tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• Ten tablespoons water
• A spray bottle

Follow these steps:

• Pour the water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well.
• Apply 4-5 sprays of it on a cleansed face.
• Let the mist stay on the face. Do not rinse!

Things you should keep in mind:

• Apple cider vinegar not only unclogs pores but also prevents blemishes.
• After cleansing the face, you can also use this mist as a regular toner, and this will refine the pores.

How often you should apply

This pore tightening mist can be used every day once after cleansing your face.

5. Banana peel

Banana peel is rich in minerals & an antioxidant called lutein that aids skin nourishment. It is among the most accessible natural ways to shrink pores.

You'll need:

• One ripe banana

Follow these steps

• Grab a banana and take its peel off.
• Rub the peel on the pore affected area (orf even entire face) in a circular motion.
• Continue rubbing for 10-15 minutes and rinse your face with cold water.

Things you should keep in mind:

• You can do this three times a day for quick results.
• You could also use mashed bananas instead of the peel.
• Banana soothes puffy under eyes as well
• This process can be done even if you have minor breakouts.

How often you should apply:

This easy anti-pore hack can be carried out twice a week.

6. Baking soda

Baking soda has astringent-like properties that close the pores and prevent them from clogging.

You'll need:

• ½ tablespoon baking soda
• Fresh lemon juice

Follow these steps:

• Take a small bowl and mix 3-4 drops of lime juice with the baking soda.
• Take an applicator brush and apply several layers of it on the pore-affected area.
• Massage the mixture for a minute and rinse.

Things to be kept in mind

• You should not keep baking soda on your face for extended intervals.
• If you have a cut or severe acne, do not use this mixture.
• The remedy helps to get rid of blackheads as well.

How often you should apply

This mixture can be applied once every week.

7. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil regulates the production of sebum and prevents pores by unclogging pores.

You'll need:

• Two tablespoon jojoba oil

Follow these steps:

• Massage a few drops of jojoba oil on your skin for 5 minutes.
• Let it stay for 10 minutes and then rinse with a mild cleanser.

Things to be kept in mind

Jojoba oil is very similar to the naturally produced sebum. Do not use excessive amounts of it.

How often you should apply

Apply ideally thrice a week for best results.

8. Cucumber

Cucumber is a natural toner as well as an astringent hence effectively shrinks enlarged pores.

You'll need:

• Freshly grated cucumber
• Cotton pads

Follow these steps:

• Grate half of a cucumber and extract its juice in a bowl.
• Dip a cotton pad in it until soaked completely.
• Rub the pad gently over the face, particularly on the pore affected areas.
• Let the juice absorb. Avoid rinsing.

Things you should keep in mind:

• Cucumber is a natural toner and can be applied every time you cleanse your face.
• Prefer using fresh juice for the best results.
• This solution is best for acne-prone skin as it gives a soothing effect.

How often you should apply

Cucumber juice can be applied once every day.

9. Yogurt

Yogurt is rich in lactic acid that dissolves the impurities present in clogged pores and tightens them.

You'll need:

• Four tablespoons plain yogurt
• Paper towel

Follow these steps:

• Whisk the yogurt until it forms a smooth paste.
• Apply on the entire face with the help of a brush and leave it for 10 minutes.
• Then, wipe it off with a wet paper towel and rinse with cold water.

Things you should keep in mind:

• Rich in Vitamin D and Probiotics, yogurt gently exfoliates the skin.
• For faster results, you may carry this out every second.

How often you should apply:

Apply yogurt twice a week for the best results.

10. Lemon

Lemon is one of the most common household ingredients. It has several benefits ranging from weight loss - tightening pores.

You'll need:

• One lemon
• Cotton balls/cotton pad

Follow these steps:

• Cut a lemon and squeeze its juice in a bowl.
• Soak a cotton pad in the juice and rub it over the pore affected areas.
• Keep it for about 10 minutes and rinse with cold water.

Things you should keep in mind:

• The mixture has bleaching properties, so be careful with your hairline.
• Avoid using if you have susceptible skin or breakouts.

How often you should apply:

This pore tightening process can be done once a week.

11. Olive Oil

Time to reveal the oily twist on how to remove small pores from face naturally! Olive oil is an antioxidant and has phenolic properties. It is excellent at reducing inflammation and shrinking pores.

You'll need:

• Three teaspoons of olive oil

Follow these steps:

• Apply a few drops of olive oil on your face. Make sure to create a thick layer of oil.
• You may use cotton balls soaked in the oil as well to do this.
• Leave it for 20-25 minutes and rinse with a mild cleanser.

Things to be kept in mind

• Massage your face for best results.
• Do not leave olive oil overnight as it is not as light as jojoba oil. Doing so may increase the sebum levels and may clog pores.

How often you should apply:

Olive oil can be applied daily. However, during summers, restrict the application to twice a week.

12. Tomato

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which makes them efficient to remove radicals from the body. They are instrumental in reducing open pores.

You'll need:

• One tomato

Follow these steps:

• Just slit the tomato and press it a little on the outside.
• Apply directly on cleansed face and leave for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water and apply a mild lotion.
• You may also use mashed tomatoes/fresh tomato puree for the same.

Things to be kept in mind

• While applying, let the juice saturate into the pores for the best results.
• Do no use frozen tomatoes.

How often you should apply:

Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants and so it is advisable for people to use them twice a week.

13. Honey

Honey is an antiseptic and has antibacterial properties. It, therefore, gets rid of enlarged pores by removing dirt from them.

You'll need:

• Four teaspoons of honey
• Paper towel

Follow these steps:

• With the help of a brush, apply honey on the pore affected areas of your face.
• Do not apply too much as it may leak off from your face.
• Keep it for 10 minutes and rinse with cold water.

Things you should keep in mind:

Use unadulterated sugar-free honey for the best results.

How often you should apply:

Honey is nature's best gift to us. People should apply it to their to pores once a day.

14. Turmeric

For ages, people have used turmeric as a skin-care product. Its antibacterial properties help shrinking pores.

You'll need:

• Paper towel
• Two tablespoons of turmeric
• Two tsp(I would recommend you to write fully either teaspoon or tablespoon everywhere) raw milk

Follow these steps:

• In a bowl, mix the milk and turmeric and make a smooth paste.
• Apply with a brush on the pores.
• Let it stay for good 10 minutes.
• Wipe it off with a damp paper towel and rinse your face.

Things you should keep in mind:

It is advisable to grind fresh trimeric rather than using a packaged powder as it contains color and preservatives.

How often you should apply:

This herbal mixture can be applied twice a week.

15. Clay & charcoal mask

Clay & charcoal masks act very effectively on pores due to their magnetic abilities to extract dirt.

You'll need:

• Three tablespoons dry clay/ two tablespoons charcoal
• One and a half tablespoon water

Follow these steps:

• Form a smooth paste of clay/charcoal by mixing it with water.
• Apply all over the face with a brush.
• Allow the mask to stay for 10 minutes or until dry.
• Gently wipe it off with a damp towel and rinse your face.

Things to be kept in mind

Prefer using home-made masks rather than packaged ones. Not only are they cost-effective but also fetch great results instantly.

How often you should apply:

Clay or charcoal masks must ideally be applied once every two weeks.

Bottom Line

We went through a detailed guide on how to get rid of open pores. All these 15 ingredients can be accessed very easily, and I hope you benefit from them.

Lastly, pores are just tiny pits in the skin and have no right to lessen your self-confidence. Eat good, exercise, follow a skin-care routine, including cleansing and exfoliation. Always remember that you are the best version of yourself every day, and you are beautiful!