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Smooth and soft skin, even tone, rosy glow, pores
invisible to the naked eye... Perfect complexion. Isn't that what we
hope to see when coming to the mirror?
But the reality is harsh and mirrors don't lie.
The pores are there, perfectly visible, and seem to get bigger and
bigger.
Why would Mother Nature put the most visible ones
where you can't hide them? Life would be so much easier if we could
keep them out of sight (and out of mind). I bet Nature had no idea
people would consider pores a problem and, of course, had the best
reasons in mind.
Pores are tiny (oh well, comparatively tiny)
passages for oil that is produced in sebum glands to reach the surface
of the skin. There are approximately 300 000 oil glands in human skin,
the highest concentration is on the face, chest and back. The glands
produce up to one ounce of oil daily!
The oil forms a protective layer over the skin
that prevents moisture loss and helps to keep the skin soft and
resilient and prevent injury and environmental damage. Given the fact
that skin on the face is thinner than in other body areas and is
constantly exposed to sun, wind, cold and heat, we desperately need
this protection.
The challenge is to maintain the right balance
between the activity of sebaceous glands and the actual needs of your
skin. Problems start when pores have to deal with more oil than they
can handle. Pores expand under the pressure of excessive oil flow and
become visible. Once they enlarge, they don't shrink back. There are no
muscles around pores that could contract and close the opening.
More and more pores can become visible with age.
This is due to the loss of skin elasticity and sagging. As skin is
drawn down by gravity, pores become more obvious.
Keeping pores clean is the first thing you need to
do if you want to make them less noticeable and prevent their size
increase.
When oil binds with dirt and dead skin cells,
pores become clogged and - again - stretch. To prevent this, keep oil
under control, use gentle and effective cleansers and exfoliate
regularly.
After cleansing, use astringent toner. Astringents
cause slight swelling of the top skin layer, which temporarily closes
pores. There are two things to be cautious about. First, don't overdry
your skin or it will react by producing even more oil. Second, if your
skin is sensitive, be extra careful as it might not tolerate some of
the ingredients used in astringents.
Mature skin will benefit from thorough cleansing
and gentle exfoliating followed by a face-lift mask. When done 1-3
times a week, this regiment will produce visible improvement in just a
few weeks.
The pores don't shrink permanently. We have to
accept it, just as we accept that fair eyelashes can't get dark and
straight hair don't curl. Yet, we learned to live with it and still get
the look we want. The same thing is with pores: you can improve the way
they look when and if you want to.
(C) Natalie Katsman, 2004
About The Author
Natalie Katsman is a co-founder of http://www.natural-aid.com,
where you can find fine quality aloe vera products for beauty and
well-being and subscribe to HealthySkin Newsletter filled with beauty
tips, recipes and information on herbal healing, skin care and cosmetic
chemistry.
info@natural-aid.com
Brought to you by Ample
Advice
Natalie Katsman
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