I have been the Clinical Director of Estheticians at Skin Bar in New York City for three years. When new clients come to our spa, one of the most common skin care questions I’m asked is, “How do I shrink my pores?” Well, technically, you can’t shrink your pores. Pore size is part of your genetic makeup and can’t be altered to shrink in size; however, there are many ways to “tighten” and minimize your pores to make them less noticeable. Here’s how!
First things first, GET A FACIAL! This is the first step to successfully reduce the size of your pores. Many clients think they can jump right into laser treatments to “shrink” pores and that will do the trick. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Pores cannot tighten if they are clogged with dirt and oil. That’s why a facial with extractions to clean out the pores is crucial before adding treatments that help tighten and minimize pore size. Facials should be a routine part of everyone’s skin care regimen as a way to maintain those new tight, squeaky clean pores. I recommend one facial every month.
Once your pores are clear and free of blackheads, oil and dirt, we’re ready to take things to the next level. Many of the treatments we do at Skin Bar, like laser treatments and chemical peels, are great options. I always recommend my clients a combination of treatments to accomplish their skin goals rather than just focusing on one. Depending on the concerns or problem areas my clients want to focus on, there may be several different treatments they need to get the result they want.
For most of my clients I recommend a facial followed by one of the treatments below two weeks later. Repeat. Noticeable results are apparent within 4-6 treatments done consistently.
Chemical Peels resurface the skin for a deeper exfoliation, which helps to even the skin and keep the pores free of blackheads and other clogging. Once applied, the peel gets into deeper layers of the skin and works from within to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, lighten pigmentation and, of course, tighten your pores!
Laser Genesis is a great treatment to help minimize pore size. This laser is a very mild laser with no down time, which is why we often call it the “lunchtime laser.” Laser Genesis gently creates heat on the skins surface to warm the dermal layer, which in turn helps to circulate blood flow and stimulate collagen production. My clients achieve a noticeable improvement after a series of 4-6 treatments.
Fraxel Dual is a bit more intense, but still a non-invasive laser treatment. This treatment requires about 4-6 days of “social” downtime. Fraxel creates micro-wounds in the skin to cause controlled injury which stimulates the fresh, baby skin cells to rush to the skin’s surface. This treatment is used for many different skin concerns, but it helps to dramatically tighten pores with every treatment.
While in-house treatments are important for addressing pores, the products you are using at home are just as important! A good skin care regimen each day and night can really help speed up results. I recommend using a cleanser with AHA/BHA acids such as Ageless Facial Cleanser by Image Skin Care 2-3 times a week. This cleanser will help to deep clean the skin and purify the pores. Clarifying Cleanser from SkinCeuticals is a great option as well. Vitamin C serums used in the morning after cleansing help to lighten, brighten and tighten the skin and used daily can really help with the appearance of smaller, tighter pores. I also recommend using a mild retinol cream once or twice a week; however, retinol is not always best for people with sensitive skin, and can be irritating, so it should be used sparingly.
If you want great skin, but you’re not sure where to start, let Skin Bar NYC help you. My name is Jessi, and I can customize an at-home routine that will help you achieve your beauty goals. At Skin Bar NYC, we offer the ultimate skin care program in the form of memberships. Pay a monthly membership fee and choose from any of our services, based on your skin care needs. Our program is designed to ensure that you maintain a consistent skin care program. It’s like having a trainer for your skin. And it’s affordable — memberships start at just $99. Call us today to find out more.
