facial skin pores – bastards!

[kneedeepinthedirtylaundry]

Mine are now much more noticeable due to a few months of serious stress, lack of sleep, and taking up smoking again (now have stopped). I'm almost 40 and don't think my skin can take the battering any more.

Any advice for reducing their size? Can I "repair" them?

Or am I stuck with mini craters and having to wear foundation for the rest of my life?

Drink lots of water and do a short fruit juice fast (Jason Vale) or detox

Have a glycogen based facial or a R. Guinot cathodermie (it may not be called this any more, with electric rollers over your face)

get some sample pore minimiers and try see if one works (Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarins all do them)

Good luck

Thanks Mamaduke. Font of pore knowledge!

They are the bane of my vanity at the moment.

I use this from time to time - it seems to reduce them a bit.

Thanks Tartan.

I actually think foundation makes them look worse..I find the less make up I put on the better it seems.... I use Time Delay stuff and that seems to keep them at bay.

It's only noticeable when you bother to make an effort, put make-up on and look polished and groomed. Had a nasty shock yesterday when I saw them. I need to get rid of the magnifying mirror?! OR take up some tips here.

What's the Time Delay stuff mrs? A moisturiser or a treatment?

You're probably right about foundation, although I have a face powder that does seem to disguise them a bit.

Hi Starbear.

I think the juice thing suggested by MarmadukeScarlet might be a good option as well as the treatments. I've definitely not been getting my 5-a-day recently, which has probably contributed to my accelerated aging.

I find that Estee Lauder Idealist reduces their appearance significantly. It doesn't cure them but they look better, which suits me. And it smells lovely and makes your skin feel soft.

I like Mac Select SPF 15 Moisture blend foundation. It doesn't give me that caked look. I also don't wear my glasses that helps too! ha ha!

Time delay is a Boots range for skin of those who need a little help to...well ,delay time.

I use the cleanser (muslin cloth removal, veh good) and the moisturiser, night and day, and the masks, I do rate it. They always have offers too.

Thanks for tips Provincial, Starbear and mrsmaidamess. Lots of options to rival a balaclava for me here.

I've got pores so huge they could swallow an army of trucks. Well they look like that in the magnifying glass! I've been trying things to make them smaller, best thing I found was to keep them clean and regular facemasks. Some of the pore minimizers that you can buy, like idealist, have silicones in them which can clog your pores if you are prone to that, so do be careful when trying different stuff out. I ended up swapping my Idealist for a bottle of Chanel No. 5.

The Guinot Cathodermie facial that Marmaduke mentioned is amazing. My skin is okay at the moment but I used to have that facial every so often and it really clears up your skin.

I do like Cliniqe pore minimiser - I expect that is full of silicone too

Thanks katsing and tattycoram. Have also got to get rid of that magnifying mirror. Not flattering.

I'm convinced that anything that says "pore minimiser" isn't going to work, in my cynical anti-beauty-industry (until I need it ) way. So it's good to have recommendations.