I am prone to the odd open pore and, like most of us, can become obsessed with treating them and even (I know, I know….) squeezing them. Recently, I had an epiphany and it has led me to find successful solutions to minimize, refine and even obliterate open pores without jabbing at them with pincered fingernails. The term pore refers to the openings of adnexa at the skin surface. Open pores are associated with sweat secretion and oily skin. I do think that the open pores on my nose qualify as oil/sebum related. There is also the clogged pore issue. As sebum is produced by the skin’s oil glands it cannot reach the surface and starts accumulating inside the pore, expanding its diameter. Dead skin cells, oils, and bacteria pool in this follicular opening, often leading to the formation of blackheads. However, the activity of the sebaceous glands diminishes with age whereas the number of visible pores appears to increase with age. So something else must be going on. The open pore or two smack in the middle of my cheek where the skin is dryish did not look to be the result of oil, no amount of exfoliation helped and my fingers twitched every time I looked in the mirror.
Then I reflected on another cause of open pores. The theory is that the pore walls are slackening due to decline of the matrix (elastin and collagen). And, according to the Silab (a laboratory that has developed an ingredient called p-Refinyl based on lentil extract), dilated pores are also caused by an abnormally accelerated keratinization process, leading to the accumulation of nucleated cells around the pores. So based on all of this, there are three types of problematic pores and, therefore, they require different solutions: Oil and Sebum-Related Open Pores An excellent new find is Arcona AM Acne Lotion. When I tested this on my nose, it immediately improved the open pore situation and within a week had closed them nicely. I was even able to reduce use to every few days for maintenance. I also found that AM Lotion worked really well on an errant pimple, as well as the bane of my life, whiteheads on the back of my shoulders and sometimes cleavage. Clary is a herb that can restrain excessively oily skin and it is featured in the ever popular Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum ($34) serum.
I also like to use, just where needed, Sevani Rapid Renewal Resurfacing Crème ($68 in the shop) with alpha hydroxy acids. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid is an interesting ingredient that corrects the abnormal shedding of skin cells (hyperkeratinization) that cause skin pores to clog. It is in Skinfinite Platinum PM Cream 1% Retinol ($79 in the shop). Our Ultra Clear Cleansing System ($86) is excellent for ridding the skin of the dead cells and dirt that can block pores and Your Best Face Prep Microdermabrasion ($80 in the shop) is as good as a doctor’s treatment for refining the complexion. I’ve only ever come across p-Refinyl in a product by Murad. But there are two other approaches that are very successful: growth factors and Relistase. As our reviewer Denise noted when testing ReLuma Skin Illuminating Serum ($145), this powerful growth factor serum dealt with fine lines and wrinkles with the added bonus of shrinking pores. E’shee Cellular Repair Serum ($179 in the shop) with FGF1 growth factor and the E’shee KI Therapy ($189 in the shop) has FGF1 and Far Infrared Ceramic Powder, which boosts the efficacy of some growth factors.
Relistase is a peptide that boosts type 1 collagen giving the skin tensile strength and, according to the manufacturer, the ability to resist stretching. Relistase isn’t in a huge number of products, but notably is in the above mentioned YBF Prep ($80 in the shop) and in YBF Control serum ($160 in the shop).As you get older, or lose weight, your skin naturally starts to sag. Most people go through it at some point in their lives – but that doesn’t exactly make your situation easier, does it? Today, I’m going to share some of the best natural treatments, pharmaceuticals, and supplements you can take to cure saggy skin and tighten up skin on your face, neck, belly, or other parts of the body. Saggy skin occurs when your skin stops producing collagen and elastin fibers. As your skin’s collagen and elastin fibers diminish, your skin loses its elasticity. Collagen and elastin are critical for maintaining the connective strength of your skin. Without these fibers, your skin has nothing holding it up.
Saggy skin is often attributed to aging because our collagen and elastin levels go down as we get older. This leads to saggy skin all across the body. Of course, the second most common cause of saggy skin is weight loss: rapidly losing weight can leave your skin with not enough time to shrink back against your body. After all the hard work you’ve gone through to lose that weight, you’re left with saggy skin you’re embarrassed to show off. Whether aging or weight loss, you need a cure for your saggy skin. Here’s how to easily lift and firm your saggy skin. Click Here To See The #1 Rated Skin Care Supplement Nourish your skin with vitamins C, E, and copper peptides. Vitamins C and E are well-known skin healing compounds typically used to reverse the effects of aging and nourish the skin. If you’re trying to tighten skin, vitamins C and E will replenish your skin with essential antioxidants. These antioxidants eliminate free radical toxins from beneath the skin, which then allows your connective tissues to start rebuilding themselves.
Copper peptides have also been shown to tighten your skin and reduce sagging. If you can’t find beauty creams with copper peptides, then many other peptide-based creams will also work. Topically apply these compounds to your saggy skin daily to start building a strong foundation you can use to completely cure your saggy skin. Your skin isn’t a muscle. However, there are always muscles beneath your skin, and those muscles can be toned, tightened, and enhanced. Exercise regularly and use weights to build muscle in different parts of your body. Building lean muscle beneath your saggy skin will force your skin to tighten. At the very least, it will give the illusion of tighter skin because your muscles are “popping out” more. Consider the parts of your body with saggy skin, then look up the best spot exercises for muscle groups in that area. Many people complain about saggy skin along their arms, for example, in which case pushups and pull-ups can be effective exercises because they tighten the triceps, biceps, and other major and minor muscles in the arms.
Just like you did in step one, it’s time to look for natural topical cures for saggy skin. These cures vary depending on your body type and skin type. However, there are certain trends among all topical treatments for saggy skin. Facial masks, for example, containing blueberries and cranberries are always popular. The cranberries will help slough away dead skin cells while the blueberries brighten the skin and leave it supple and soft. If you’re dealing with saggy skin on your face and neck, then a good facial mask applied several times per week may be all you need to firm up your skin. Here are 10 other home remedies you can use to treat saggy skin on your face, neck, or all across your body: Egg whites work as a natural astringent. They also contain hydrolipids that can help restore a certain fullness to your loose skin. If you’re using egg whites as a topical remedy, then you typically whisk one or two egg whites until you get a foamy texture. Then, you apply them to the targeted part of your body.
Some people will also combine the egg whites with other natural compounds (like the others on this list). You can also add yogurt, for example, to make the mask easier to spread. After applying the egg whites to your skin, let them sit for about 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing them off. Aloe vera is packed with an ingredient called malic acid that has been shown to improve the elasticity of your skin. Of course, aloe vera also has well-known soothing and moisturizing properties, which makes it an all-around great thing to apply topically to your skin. Lemon is exceptionally rich with vitamin C. Vitamin C can boost collagen production, which then restores elasticity to your skin. Lemon also acts as an astringent, which means it will tighten your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lemon juice is such a powerful topical skin care ingredient that you can simply extract fresh lemon juice and rub it over your face, neck, and body. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse your face with water.
Some lemon advocates recommend doing this 2-3 times per day, then moisturizing for best effects. Cucumber is made mostly of water, but it still remains one of the most powerful natural skin care foods available today. It acts as a skin toner, for example, while also hydrating and rejuvenating the skin. There are a few different ways to topically apply cucumber. First, you can grind half a cucumber and squeeze it through a strainer to extract its juice, then apply it to your face. Alternatively, you can grate cucumber and add it to plain yogurt, then apply it to your face as a mask. Some people also mix grated cucumber with yogurt, egg whites, lemon juice, and the other natural compounds seen here to boost its effectiveness. Oils like olive oil are rich with antioxidants, including well-known antioxidants like vitamins A and E that have also been linked to anti-aging benefits. Giving yourself an oil massage is a great way to moisturize your skin while also tightening and smoothing loose skin
Honey is a natural moisturizer that also works as an antioxidant and anti-aging compound. Mix 2-3 teaspoons of honey with a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil to make a quick and easy skin mask. Rinse the mask with warm water, then repeat once or twice daily for best results. Rose water, like many of the other compounds listed here, is a natural astringent. It’s also an effective toner for tightening loose skin. Some men and women apply rose water onto their face before going to bed in order to tighten pores and reduce signs of wrinkles and aging. Cinnamon has been shown to promote higher collagen levels within the skin, which means it’s one of the few topical compounds listed here that actually nourishes your skin from the inside out. If you’re using cinnamon to cure saggy skin, consider making a paste. Combine one teaspoon of cinnamon with enough olive oil to make a paste, then mix in a natural exfoliator like sugar or salt. Scrub your face and neck with the paste for a few minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
It’s a powerful, natural scrub that works in two ways: it sloughs away dead skin cells and lets new skin cells come forward while also boosting collagen levels, which means the new skin cells are as tight and firm as possible. Strawberries are an astringent and also have huge levels of vitamin C. They’re potent antioxidants that can raise production of collagen fibers and cleanse toxins from the skin. Not all natural remedies for saggy skin have to be food-related! One of the best ways to cure saggy skin on your face or neck is to perform basic facial exercises. Yes, you’re going to look weird while performing these exercises, but if you want to cure saggy skin, then they’re some of the best things you can do. Marie Claire recently did a good writeup on facial exercises that you can easily perform at home. They interviewed a “face yoga expert” (yes, that’s a thing) who recommends performing facial exercises for 20 minutes per day, six days a week.