7 Skincare Routine Mistakes That Are Making Your Pores Bigger (And How to Fix Them)

Pores are just a fact of life; everyone has them, yet few understand them. How can something so tiny be so visible, right? As the saying goes, ‘little things make big things happen’, and pores are no exception - we need them for our skin to breathe.

So, is skin with noticeable pores breathing better, while poreless skin is hanging on with its last breath? Oh, if that were only true. Some skin types have enlarged pores, often influenced by genetics, but daily habits may be unknowingly worsening their appearance.

In this guide, we’ll highlight 7 research-backed mistakes that enlarge and damage pores, how sebaceous filaments contribute to the problem, and how a vitamin C serum benefits and makes a difference in pore size. Plus, we’ll unveil 100% PURE clean, non-toxic fixes for them. For pores, it’s a breath of fresh air!

Mistakes That Are Making Your Pores Bigger, And How to Decrease Pores

Before you can learn how to make pores smaller and find the best targeted skin products to minimize them, it’s important to understand what’s enlarging them in the first place. Enlarged pores aren’t just a cosmetic concern—they’re your skin’s way of indicating what’s happening beneath the surface and your role in it. 

Although pore size is mostly genetic, certain behaviors stretch, clog, and damage pores over time. Let’s delve into the seven research-backed mistakes that enlarge those pesky sebum circles and how to decrease pores.

Mistake #1. Over-Cleansing and Harsh Cleansers

What Happens:

Over-cleansing and using harsh cleansers can strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to a rebound oil production. It may overcompensate by producing more oils within the pores, causing them to stretch and expand, resulting in enlarged pores. 

What to Do Instead:
Choosing the right type of natural cleansers, especially gentle, pH-balanced formulas that are hydrating and suitable for your skin type, is crucial.

Try This:
Our Blood Orange Cleansing Balm is ideal for removing oil-based products. It moisturizes the skin while melting away makeup and dirt with the help of avocado, coconut, and olive leaf extract.

For soothing, daily cleansing, our Calendula Flower Cleansing Milk gently washes away impurities with the help of chamomile without stripping your barrier—a win for both your skin and your cortisol levels.

How to Use:
Cleanse twice daily max; consider a water rinse in the AM for sensitive skin.

Mistake #2. Skipping Proper Exfoliation

What Happens:

When you don’t regularly and properly exfoliate your skin, dead skin cells and sebum clog pores, causing them to stretch. When these materials accumulate, they can create blockages within the pore, leading to a visible enlargement effect. 

Additionally, sebaceous filaments—natural formations of oil and dead skin cells in the pore lining—can make pores appear stretched. Sebaceous filaments, particularly when excess oil production is involved, can cause pores to stretch, as demonstrated in this scientific study.

What to Do Instead:
Exfoliate with chemical exfoliants or gentle physical scrubs.

Try This:
Our Acai Pulp Facial Scrub features finely ground grape seed and acai pulp. It packs plenty of natural buffing power to slough away bumps, flakes, and dead layers while revealing fresher, smoother skin.

How to Use:
Exfolaite 2–3x per week. Adjust the frequency if any sensitivity or irritation occurs.

Mistake #3: Using Pore-Clogging Products

What Happens:

Heavy, comedogenic (meaning they're likely to clog pores) formulas can create a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and other debris inside the pores. This buildup can stretch pores, and if the trapped oil oxidizes, it can lead to darkened pores or blackheads.

What to Do Instead:
Choose non-comedogenic, water- or gel-based hydrators and serums.

Try This:
Opt for clean, pore-friendly formulas like our Coffee Bean Caffeine Restorative Moisturizer. This non-clogging, antioxidant-rich formula restores sun damage, brightens, and gives your complexion an immediate, healthy, vibrant glow!

How to Use:
Use every morning, including on the neck, décolleté, and other areas of skin sun-exposed or that need firming.

Mistake #4: Neglecting Sun Protection

What Happens:

UV damage breaks down collagen and elastin, weakening the skin’s structure and pore walls. This oxidative stress impairs the skin’s ability to retain moisture, promoting increased oil production. It may overcompensate by producing more oil within the pores, causing them to stretch and expand, resulting in enlarged pores. 

What to Do Instead:
Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is the most effective defense against UV damage. Make it a habit to apply sunscreen every day, even while indoors or on cloudy days.

Try This:
The best steps for a skincare routine include UV protection! Protect your skin with our Green Tea SPF 30, a nourishing formula rich in antioxidants and soothing botanicals. It combines the benefits of green tea extracts with effective offers broad-spectrum protection.

How to Use:
After cleansing and toning, apply liberally 30 minutes before sun exposure to face, neck, and all other exposed areas. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or towel drying.

Mistake #5: Using Alcohol-Heavy Toners and Astringents

What Happens:

Using alcohol-heavy toners and astringents can enlarge pores over time, despite their initial tightening effect. While they may seem to shrink pores by removing excess oil and debris, short-term tightening gives way to long-term pore enlargement due to barrier damage and rebound oil.

What to Do Instead:
How to make pores smaller includes using a hydrating, alcohol-free toner with natural ingredients and gentle astringent botanicals to gently remove excess oil without damaging the skin.

Try This:
Our Flower Water Toner helps to balance and refresh skin without stripping, and prepares it to absorb upcoming skincare products.

How to Use:
Pump a quarter-sized amount of toner onto a cotton pad or clean hands. Gently pat onto skin and neck before applying a serum or eye cream. It can be used in AM and PM as steps for a skincare routine.

Mistake #6: Improper Extraction Methods

What Happens:

When trying to remove comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) at home, it's easy to apply too much pressure or use the wrong techniques. DIY extractions can damage pores, potentially stretching them or causing permanent scarring if done improperly or too forcefully. 

What to Do Instead:
Avoid pore strips and harsh squeezing. Pore strips primarily remove surface oil and dead skin, not the deeper blackheads themselves, and can over-dry skin, leading to further irritation. Harsh squeezing can damage the skin and cause scarring. 

Rely on exfoliating serums that can gently promote cell turnover and professional treatments for how to decrease pores and maintain smoother skin.

Try This:
Retinol is one of the most proven ingredients for pore refinement. Our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum gently supports cell turnover and unclogs pores overnight. This is the best retinol serum for renewing skin and delivering noticeable anti-aging results.

How to Use:
In the evening, apply a dime-sized amount onto skin, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Gently press into the skin of the face and neck. For PM use only. Follow with an SPF the next morning.

Mistake #7: Inconsistent Hydration and Oil Balance

What Happens:

Inconsistent hydration and oil balance can contribute to enlarged pores. Dehydrated skin can trigger the skin to overproduce oil, while heavy moisturizers, excess oil, dead skin cells, and dirt can clog pores and affect pore size. Both extremes lead to stretched pores.

What to Do Instead:
The best steps for a skincare routine should include applying moisturizer, no matter your skin type. It’s important to maintain consistent, balanced hydration with humectants and non-comedogenic moisturizers.

Try This:
Use a layered approach with lightweight hydrators like Coffee Bean Caffeine Restorative Moisturizer. This non-clogging, antioxidant-rich formula restores sun damage, brightens, and gives your complexion an immediate, healthy, vibrant glow. You can also pair with facial oils on drier zones.

How to Use:
Use every morning, including on the neck, décolleté, and other areas frequently sun-exposed or that need firming.

Advanced Solutions: Beyond the Basics

While a great skincare routine and avoiding common mistakes for pore care go a long way toward learning how to make pores smaller, sometimes we need advanced solutions and professional treatments to take results even further.

Here are a few options that target pore size at a deeper level:

Consider adding retinoids for structural improvement. Retinoids promote skin cell turnover, which helps to shed dead skin cells and unclog pores. This process also stimulates collagen production, which can improve skin elasticity and make pores appear smaller and smoother.

You may also want to consider professional treatments, such as peels or microneedling, for structural improvement.

Chemical Peels: They use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to exfoliate the skin more intensively than at-home treatments. By clearing away dead skin and stimulating renewal, they can help smooth texture and decrease the look of large pores.

Microneedling: This procedure uses tiny, controlled punctures to activate your skin’s natural healing response. As new collagen forms, the structure around pores strengthens, helping them appear smaller and more refined.

Support your skincare routine:

Consider the best steps for a skincare routine for your skin type. Support your skincare regimen with consistent SPF for collagen protection and pore refinement, and add antioxidants by using a vitamin C serum. 100% PURE Vitamin C Serum boosts collagen production and helps decrease enlarged pores.

There are many vitamin C serum benefits for skin and pores! Vitamin C serum benefits range from reducing the appearance of enlarged pores to improving skin texture. By boosting collagen, gently exfoliating, and reducing inflammation, the various vitamin C serum benefits can take your skincare results even further.

Conclusion

While genetics plays a role, most visible pore concerns are aggravated by preventable mistakes. Reducing the appearance of enlarged pores isn’t about harsh scrubbing or chasing quick fixes — it’s about building a consistent, balanced routine.

Gentle cleansing, regular exfoliation, deep hydration, effective skin solutions like vitamin C serum benefits and retinoids, and targeted treatments are keys to making pores smaller and achieving skincare success.

With smart, science-backed adjustments to your skincare routine—and clean, effective products from 100% PURE—you can minimize the appearance of pores and restore smoother, healthier-looking skin over time.

FAQ Section

What are the best steps for a skincare routine that supports smaller pores?

#1. Deep, Gentle Cleansing is your first line of defense against clogged pores and excess buildup.
#2. Exfoliate 2–3 times weekly to keep pores clear and minimize their appearance. 
#3. Apply a targeted treatment serum, such as a formula that contains vitamin C and a nighttime serum with retinoids.
#4. Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that supports the skin barrier without clogging pores.
#5. Use broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily.

#6. Consider professional treatments like peels or microneedling for advanced structural improvement.

What’s the difference between enlarged pores and sebaceous filaments?

Enlarged pores refer to the visible size of the skin's openings, while sebaceous filaments are structures that line the inside of pores. Sebaceous filaments are a natural part of the skin, helping sebum travel to the surface, and they don't cause acne. Enlarged pores can contribute to the appearance of sebaceous filaments, but they are not the same as sebaceous filaments themselves. 

How can I make pores look smaller without makeup?

While you can’t permanently shrink pores, you can naturally minimize their appearance by following a consistent skincare routine. Gentle cleansing, regular exfoliation, deep hydration, and using targeted treatments like niacinamide and vitamin C serum can help refine and smooth your skin over time.

Do vitamin C serums help with pore size?

Yes! Look for a formula that's stable, potent, and paired with soothing ingredients. Our Vitamin C Serum is a great option — it brightens, supports collagen production, and protects your skin, all of which can help improve overall texture and reduce the look of large pores.

How long does it take to see improvement in pore appearance?

With consistent care, you may start seeing improvements in skin texture and pore appearance in about 4–6 weeks. Using targeted products like a vitamin C serum, retinol, and niacinamide regularly will help speed up visible results while supporting overall skin health.