Enlarged pores are a very common complaint especially for tropical skins, and typically affects the nose and medial cheek areas. Find out what you can do about pores that are larger than life, and which pore-minimizing products work.

What causes enlarged pores?

• Heredity
  Genetics play an important role in determining your pore size. Generally, the oilier your skin, the more sebum is produced and the more noticeable the pores become.
  
  
• Clogged dead skin
  With inadequate exfoliation, excess surface oil and dead skin cells can accumulate inside the pores, causing lacklustre complexion and making the pores appear larger than they really are. These oil plugs may further lead to blackheads (open comedones), whiteheads (closed comedones), and acne.
  Related read: AHA chemical peel: peeling for a better skin.
  Related read: Acne facts & myths: acne causes and treatments.
  
  
• Ageing
  The size of one's pores often increases with ageing.
  
  

How do pore-minimizing products work?

Granted, pore-minimizing skincare products might not be able to shrink your pores to a microscopic proportion, but they can effectively refine or minimize the appearance of the pores via one of the 3 mechanisms:

1. Oil regulation

When your skin becomes oily and covered with a layer of surface oil, minor imperfections like the depressions of the pores become exaggerated. Mattifying cosmetics and skincare products with oil-controlling properties let your skin stay matte and fresh for longer hours.