Let’s clear something up: you can’t shrink your pores.

We know, it’s not what you wanted to hear—but stay with us. This doesn’t mean you’re stuck with large, visible pores forever. It just means that understanding what’s really happening with your skin will help you take smarter, more effective steps toward clearer, smoother-looking skin.

Whether you’ve suddenly noticed your pores more after summer, or you’ve always struggled with congestion and texture, this blog is here to give you the no-nonsense truth—plus realistic solutions that actually work.

Why Do Pores Look Big in the First Place?

Pores themselves are just tiny openings in your skin where oil and sweat get released. They’re totally normal, and everyone has them (even the people who seem poreless on Instagram—filters help).

But some things can make them look bigger:

• Excess oil production
  
  
• Buildup of dead skin cells
  
  
• Sun damage that breaks down collagen
  
  
• Blackheads and clogged pores
  
  
• Loss of skin elasticity with age
  
  

In short: it’s not the pores themselves growing—it’s what’s happening around them.

Why You Can’t Actually Shrink Them

Here’s the science: pore size is largely genetic. You’re born with a certain number and size of pores, and no cream, serum, or magic facial can physically make them smaller. What you can do is improve how they look—by keeping them clean, clear, and tight-looking.

What Does Help Minimise the Look of Pores?

Here’s where things get more hopeful. While you can’t shrink your pores, you can absolutely:

• Reduce congestion
  
  
• Improve skin texture
  
  
• Boost elasticity
  
  
• Calm inflammation
  
  

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Here’s how:

1. Exfoliate Gently, but Consistently

Ingredients like salicylic acid (BHA) can get deep inside the pore and break down oil and debris. AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid help lift off dead skin cells so pores don’t get stretched and clogged.

Pro tip: Overdoing exfoliation can irritate your skin and make things worse. Think twice a week, not twice a day.

2. Use Retinoids or Retinols

Vitamin A derivatives increase cell turnover, improve skin structure, and help keep pores clear. Start slow—retinol can be powerful, especially if your skin is dry post-summer.

3. Hydrate and Protect

Dehydrated skin produces more oil to compensate. Using a light, non-comedogenic moisturiser and wearing SPF daily keeps your barrier balanced and protected.

4. Treat Skin Post-Summer

If your skin is still recovering from summer sun, buildup, or dehydration, that could be making your pores look worse. In our last article—How to Take Care of Your Skin After Summer—we broke down how UV exposure and sweat can lead to dullness, breakouts, and pore congestion. Tackling those issues first often leads to a noticeable improvement in skin texture.

Professional Treatments That Can Help

When at-home care hits a wall, professional facials can offer a deeper reset.

At Skin Club, we recommend:

• Deep Detox (45 min): Combines extractions, high-frequency, and LED to clear congestion and reduce inflammation.
  
  
• Skin Laundry (30 min): A laser facial that targets breakouts, calms redness, and boosts collagen to improve firmness around pores.
  
  
• Diamond Glow (40 min): Hydradermabrasion paired with mesotherapy to exfoliate and deeply nourish the skin—great for smoothing texture and refining pores.
  
  

These don’t change your pore size, but they do help make your skin look smoother, clearer, and more refined.

Bottom Line

No, you can’t shrink your pores. But you can make them less noticeable by treating the real reasons they’re visible: buildup, inflammation, sun damage, and loss of elasticity.

And when your skin is healthy, hydrated, and balanced? Pores take a back seat—and your glow takes the spotlight.

Want Help Clearing Things Up?

Your first facial at Skin Club is 20% off with code WELCOME20. Whether you need a deep clean, a collagen boost, or help calming stressed-out skin, we’ve got you.