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JUARA Skincare
JUARA Skincare

What Does "Pore Refining" Mean?

JUARA Skincare -

What Does Pore Refining Mean

The subject of pores may not always be explicit in conversations about sought-after, radiant skin care, but it comes into play when you hear adjectives like smooth, porcelain, clear, and luminous. Achieving youthful and supple skin is a little easier when the look of large pores doesn't detract from your overall complexion.

While pore size is mostly genetic, there are things we can do to tighten pores and minimize the look of larger pores. By employing certain skincare practices and using quality products, there is a path to improve the appearance of your skin.

To understand what pore minimizers or pore refining products do, we should first discuss the importance of our pores and the part they play in skin health.

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The important role of pores

Pores on the surface of our skin are the small openings to hair follicles, which extend down through other layers of skin. The hair follicle contains tiny sebaceous glands that produce sebum, a type of naturally occurring oil that helps to lubricate the skin. It moves up the follicle and leaves through the pore, carrying dead skin cells along with it.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many great designs, there are downsides. Sometimes dead skin, excess dirt, and other impurities don't make their way out of the follicle, and pores become clogged. This leads to breakouts, inflammation, and enlarged pores.

When this happens it can be part of an unhealthy cycle.

Many people poke at their skin when those clogged pores cause pimples, and that can cause bacteria to spread. That often means more breakouts for people with acne-prone skin, which then leads to the look of large pores. 

Whether it's blackheads, whiteheads, or other kinds of breakouts, acne-prone people have a lot to deal with when it comes to skincare.

However, all hope is not lost. There are ways to get glowing, beautiful skin, and lessen the appearance of larger-looking pores.

With regular cleansing and applying ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or naturally occurring fruit enzyme scrubs, you can address this skin concern of large pores and probably improve other issues you weren't even aiming for.

Ingredients like salicylic acid red clover extract and enzymes help shrink pores

What to do for clogged pores

Keeping pores clean is critical. However, simple soap and water won’t always cut it. Plus, after a long day, you deserve a little indulgence.

Think of a treatment for your skin as a treat for yourself. There's no need to skip steps or skimp on elements that make you feel luxurious.

There is plenty of support for the idea that self-care can have positive effects not only on your mental wellness but also on your outward appearance. Stress and anxiety can exacerbate acne or eczema, and alternatively, making time for a beauty ritual can boost confidence and benefit your skin.

Carving out time for yourself can be very rewarding, and it doesn't always have to be an autonomous activity. Some beauty rituals are even better when part of a communal experience.

Next time you get together with the gals (or guys - because everyone has skin, right?), see if you can turn it into a little wellness retreat. Enjoy some herbal tea while you let your face masks melt away impurities and clarify your face.

Have a mother-daughter beauty and dress-up day. Perhaps you could try a pore minimizing serum, a turmeric eye cream, or any other type of product that addresses the appearance of pores as well as other skin issues. Focus on being together and passing along advice your mother (or another loved one) shared with you.

After your skincare session comes to a close, keep the good times going by giving each other a makeover (with non-comedogenic makeup), and trying on outfits that haven't seen the light of day for a while. Whatever you decide to do, focus on your bond and how beautiful you both look and feel.

It's always good for the next generation to hear heartfelt compliments from mom or aunty and spend some quality time together.

But back to the business of clearing up our complexion. What should we do to unclog those pores? Here are a few important points before we move along to some stellar pore refining products.

Keep it clean

Doing your best to keep your skin clean is one way to reduce the appearance of pores. Of course, your pores will still be present (and thank goodness, because pores are an important part of the whole skin cell renewal process and essential for several other reasons), but they won't be unnecessarily enlarged.

You can't wash your way to smaller pores by scrubbing and soaping up obsessively. Be sure not to overdo it with your cleanser because there's a sweet spot when it comes to washing. Neglecting your skin can create a whole host of problems, but washing your body and face too often can dry it out.

Washing your face in the morning and evening is a good ground rule. You could cleanse with a product that contains something like salicylic acid, but again, just be careful not to over-dry.

You'll want to find a non-abrasive gentle cleanser that supports your natural oil production, especially if you have sensitive skin. JUARA has cleanser options that are free of harsh chemicals and can help you get cleaner and softer skin.

Ditch dead skin cells

Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing are all important steps in making sure pores aren't congested. Another important part of the equation is sloughing off dead cells before they add to the problem.

While you can't shrink pores permanently, exfoliation effectively helps shrink pores by clearing out excess oil and dirt that fills and stretches out pores on the skin's surface. Exfoliation is key to keeping that top layer of skin clear, and making it so your skin's natural skin renewal cycle is supported.

The skin renewal cycle, or cell turnover, is the ongoing shedding of dead cells that allows for newer, younger cells to make their way to the surface. A skin cycle or turnover rate (the point in time when the new skin cell is formed deep in the epidermis to when it makes its way to the top) takes about five to six weeks on average.

Exfoliation is an important part of minimizing your pores and keeping them clean

As we age, this time frame extends, and it takes longer to get new healthy cells to the surface. To shrink that timeline a little we can use gentle exfoliation techniques and clear the way for new cells to come.

Exfoliation can either be physical or chemical, but both types have their benefits.

Physical exfoliation involves scrubbing the skin with a brush or walnut shell pieces or jojoba beads or other substances to remove dead skin cells physically (thus the name). It's sort of like a polish for your face.

Chemical exfoliation uses chemicals to dislodge that same mixture of sebum and skin cells trapped in pores. It removes that unwanted layer, so fresh skin cells can move up and make their debut. 

Let's take a little deeper dive into some of those chemical exfoliants.

Alpha hydroxy acids and fruit enzymes can nudge skin renewal

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) fall in the category of chemical exfoliants. They help dissolve and make it easier to discharge that gunk in our pores, as described above.

Lactic acid and glycolic acid are both examples of alpha hydroxy acids. Lactic acid is particularly hydrating, which is always a plus when it comes to skin-friendly ingredients. Glycolic acid has been shown to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and that's good news if you're hoping to curb acne breakouts.

Some studies suggest that AHAs can increase our production of collagen and elastin, which are both essential for firm and supple skin.

Naturally occurring fruit enzymes exfoliate the skin by breaking down the matter that binds together the skin's dead cells. Technically they digest the stuff, which may not be pleasant to picture, but works wonders for the complexion.

Exfoliation is an important skincare step to keep pores clean, so they won't stretch out and make it appear like you have large pores.

Bonus: Moringa Oil Benefits For Healthy Skin

The perfect product for natural exfoliation

Fruit enzymes are one of the many natural ingredients that make JUARA's Radiance Enzyme Scrub & Enzyme Mask an effective pore minimizer and an absolute treat for your skin.

And again, pore size is largely a matter of genetics, but products like this mask will help minimize the appearance of pores, and do away with pore-clogging oil and debris.

Specifically, this scrub contains apple enzymes to help chemically exfoliate, while jojoba and bamboo beads physically buff away debris. It accomplishes all this without causing irritation.

The ginger and cinnamon work together with the Radiance Complex (which contains botanical brightening agents like turmeric and clove flower) to give your complexion a gorgeous glow. In addition, ingredients like Indian gooseberry, green tea extract, and algae offer potent antioxidant activity that is excellent for addressing free radical damage such as sun damage.  

Candlenut oil, which is filled with fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6 to be specific), adds a much-needed layer of nourishment, while the rice bran oil is soothing and calming to the body.

Antioxidants fight sun damage which can increase appearance of large pores

Many of the ingredients mentioned above are part of a larger beauty and wellness tradition called Jamu, which originated in Indonesia centuries ago. Jamu is still empowering people today to incorporate intentional self-care, self-love, and sensory engagement into skincare rituals and other facets of life. Delighting in all the senses with a joyful mindset can enhance just about any experience.

When you use this mask, you will be benefiting from wisdom which has been distilled throughout the years. As with all JUARA recipes, it combines the best nature has to offer with more recent discoveries made in dermatological and scientific circles.

The Radiance Enzyme Scrub & Enzyme Mask is good news for dry, oily, and aging skin. Whatever skin type you have, this mask will improve your complexion. Try it out and "level up" with this luxurious spa-like skin treatment.

Best of both worlds for sensitive skin with pore problems

JUARA has two types of Sweet Black Tea Moisturizers that are tailored to suit specific skin types.

Both versions of the moisturizer contain fermented sweet black tea (AKA kombucha or "miracle tea") which is one of the more effective pore minimizers in that it can kill the bacteria that leads to acne and the inflammation that comes with breakouts. In addition, it has an invigorating but not overpowering astringent quality because of its acidity that can help tighten pores and minimize mild scarring.

First, let's cover the option that is formulated for normal to dry skin.

JUARA's fast-absorbing Sweet Black Tea & Rice Moisturizer is formulated to firm up the skin while making sure it's hydrated and supple. The well-known humectant hyaluronic acid works with five flavor berry to bring moisture to the skin and plump it up to perfection. After regular use, you'll look in the mirror and see a more youthful and luminous-looking you.

Read through the reviews if you want to hear it straight from the source of those who have tried and love what it does for their pores and overall complexion.

The fermented sweet black tea works along with the aforementioned ingredients to address signs of premature aging. This moisturizer can be used day and night on the face and neck. It melts in quickly and acts as a perfect primer so that makeup doesn't sink into your pores.

To shrink hair follicles or pores with excess sebum you should address oil production

If you tend toward acne-prone or oily skin, then JUARA's Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Oil-Free Moisturizer is the ideal fit for you.

It is a lightweight moisturizer made with natural organic acids to smooth out and reinvigorate that enviable visage of yours. And perhaps equally important for someone dealing with excess sebum or oily skin, it won't leave you with a greasy residue.

This oil-free cream-gel will help fight acne, minimize the look of large pores, and balance out the sebum situation in your body. It's a must-have moisturizer if you're concerned with pore appearance or want to minimize the prominence of your pores.

Ultimately, whichever Sweet Black Tea Moisturizer you choose, you'll be left with smoother skin, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, and a face you'll look forward to greeting every morning in the mirror.

For other ideas on how to refine pores, or minimize pore appearance, take a look at this YouTube video from Dr. Julie, a dermatologist who provides helpful tips to improve your skin.

She describes the purpose of a pore, discusses pore size, how to lessen the prominence of pores, and pretty much all pore-related beauty concerns.

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Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with western skincare science creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our top-selling products are nutrient-rich, and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.