|
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
|
