Why Trying to Shrink Your Pores Might Be Making Them Bigger

 

Let’s get one thing straight: pores are not your enemy.
But if you’ve been scrubbing, stripping, exfoliating, and masking your face to death in the name of “smaller pores” — there’s a good chance you’re making them worse.

Yep. I said it.
That $30 pore-refining toner might be expanding your pores. And those TikTok-famous nose strips? They might be doing more harm than good.

Let’s talk about why — and what to actually do instead.

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🧪 The Harsh Truth About Acids and Exfoliants

If you’ve been reaching for glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid daily, thinking it’ll “melt away” your clogged pores… here's the deal:

Over-exfoliation = barrier damage.

When your skin barrier is compromised (translation: dry, tight, irritated, or shiny-but-flaky skin), it actually causes inflammation. That inflammation can stretch out your pores, especially if you’re constantly triggering your oil glands to overcompensate.

You’re not shrinking your pores. You’re stressing them out.

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🎭 Pore Strips: The Worst First Date

Ah, pore strips. They feel satisfying, they look gross in a “weirdly proud of this gunk” kind of way…
But they’re like ripping duct tape off a wall.

What you’re pulling out isn’t the problem — it’s the damage you leave behind.

Tearing out blackheads or sebaceous filaments can:

• Widen your pore openings

• Break capillaries around your nose

• Cause your skin to pump out more oil to “fix” the trauma

And worst of all? The pores look bigger when they refill. So you do it again. And again.

You’re not detoxing. You’re just inflaming.

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🚫 The Myth of “Closing” Pores

Let’s kill the myth right here:

You cannot open or close pores.

Pores are not doors. They don’t open and shut on command.

That “tight” feeling you get from a cold splash or toner? That’s just temporary vasoconstriction or dehydration. Not actual pore shrinkage.

You may appear smoother in the short term, but you haven’t solved anything.

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🧘‍♀️ The Calm Approach That Actually Works

Want smaller-looking pores for real? You’ve gotta heal first.
Here’s what works long-term:

• ✅ Gentle cleansing, twice daily (no scrubbing)

• ✅ Niacinamide – helps regulate oil production and improve skin texture

• ✅ Retinoids (like tretinoin or retinaldehyde) – these boost cell turnover in a non-abrasive way

• ✅ Hydration! Barrier-first moisturizers help your skin stay calm and less reactive

• ✅ Sunscreen daily – UV damage degrades collagen around pores, making them saggy

And yep, patience. You didn’t get clogged overnight — don’t expect a baby-smooth filter face in 48 hours.

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😬 The Bottom Line?

Stop attacking your pores. Start respecting them.
Because the more you fight them, the bigger they’ll look.

If you’ve been unknowingly in a “pore panic cycle,” don’t beat yourself up — most skincare marketing wants you there. Confused, desperate, and always re-buying.

But now you know better. And your skin will thank you for it.