Authored by : Shreya Dalela
  • 20 December 2022
  • 9 mins read
Reviewed by : Dr. Kanchan Kachroo

Skin, being the body's largest organ, contains billions of pores. While most of them are not visible to our naked eye, these open pores allow the skin to breathe. In addition, each pore contains a hair follicle and sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebum.

The sebaceous glands are most abundant in areas like the face, back, groin and chest. Sometimes these Glands produce excessive quantities of sebum due to various factors, including hormones. This is why the pores on our faces (specifically on the forehead, nose, and cheeks) appear larger than the other body parts. 

Any skin type, whether normal, dry, or oily, can have large, open pores, giving your skin a dull appearance, particularly if they are clogged with bacteria, oil, dirt, or dead skin cells. 

If you also notice visibly large pores on your face, this article is especially for you. First, let us discuss what pores actually are, why they enlarge, and the skincare routine to help treat the condition. 

What Are The Different Types Of Pores?

There are basically three types of open pores present on the skin. 

  1. O- Shaped Pores
  2. U- Shaped Pores, and
  3. Y- Shaped Pores.

O-Shaped Pores: These types of pores are most likely to be seen on the T-zone area of the face. They are round in shape and tend to appear if your skin is prone to acne or has oily skin.

U-Shaped Pores: These types of pores mostly appear on dry skin.

Y-Shaped Pores: The collagen production of the skin reduces as you age, which can lead to pores in the shape of a water drop (also known as Y-shaped pores). Y-shaped pores tend to appear on the cheek area of the face. 

Why Do Pores Enlarge?

When the sebaceous glands release the oil, it rises to the top layer of your skin and gets collected in the skin pores. According to a study conducted in 2016, the following are the few main causes of enlarged pores. 

  1. When the sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum, the pores on the skin become enlarged.
  2. When the skin becomes less supple, it decreases the elasticity around the pore, eventually leading to enlarged pores.
  3. When the pore present at the end of the hair follicle gets clogged with dirt, etc., it increases the volume of the pore.

When the oil collected in the pore combines with makeup or dirt, the pore gets blocked. This blockage of the pore stretches the pore, making it look larger. If the pore continues to remain clogged, it develops a pimple. 

Types Of Treatment

Remember, having large pores is purely an aesthetic condition, not a health concern. While you can't eliminate the open pores, you can reduce their size and improve the skin's appearance. The following are a few treatments that help reduce the size of the enlarged pores on the face.

1. Steaming

A steaming facial cleans out the pores and makes them appear smaller, giving your skin a fresh glow. Try adding herbs or essential oils to the steam to ensure the steaming experience is pampering and aesthetic.

2. Facial Masks

Masks that get dried on the skin effectively eliminate blackheads and reduce the size of the enlarged open pores. Facial masks also help draw out the impurities off the face. Below are a few Kama Ayurveda face Masks that help reduce the size of the skin pores.

Kama Ayurveda Facial Masks For Treating Enlarged Pores

Kama Ayurveda Lavanya Natural Plant Mask 

Lavanya Natural Plant Mask from Kama Ayurveda is a detoxifying and deep-cleansing face mask that leaves your skin feeling smooth, refined, and refreshed. This retexturing and purifying face pack is prescribed in Ayurveda as a treatment for acne, acne marks, and blemishes. It also helps reduce the appearance of open pores visibly.

The extracts of Liquorice and Sweet Flag in the natural face mask help deep cleanse, smoothen, and even out the skin's texture. The blood purifier, Lodhra, helps to cleanse the micronutrient channels in the skin to relieve environmental damage. Finally, coriander refreshes, tones, and balances out the skin's sebum, leaving it healthy and glowing.

Read - How To Get Glowing Skin Naturally?

Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Mask

Kama Ayurveda's Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Mask is a complexion-enhancing Ayurvedic Face Pack that helps make your skin youthful, vibrant, and smooth. This 100% natural, vegan, and PETA-certified skin-illuminating face pack is easy to use, gentle on delicate skin, and ideal for bi-weekly use.

With the anti-bacterial and purifying turmeric (Haldi) and anti-aging, soothing sandalwood (Chandan), the face pack helps clarify and smoothen skin texture while reducing the intensity and frequency of acne and blemishes. The natural astringent qualities of rose help tighten and tone enlarged, open pores. The extracts of orange peel fight against the premature aging of the skin due to environmental pollutants while maintaining a toned, supple, and younger-looking appearance.

Read - 18 Effective Face Packs For Glowing Skin At Home

DIY Facial Masks

For the DIY folks, here are a few DIY facial masks that you can make at home to reduce the size of the enlarged pores on your face. 

Besan and Turmeric Face Mask For Open Pores

Besan and turmeric powder masks are best known for their skin benefits. While besan helps absorb all the impurities clogging the pores and enlarging them, turmeric evens the skin tone and fights against the harmful bacteria present on the skin. Yogurt acts as a great toner and moisturizer for the skin.

What You Will Need

  • Besan - one tablespoon
  • Turmeric - a pinch
  • Yogurt - one tablespoon
  • Olive oil - 2 to 3 drops

How To Make

  • Blend all the ingredients mentioned above into a smooth paste. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
  • Apply the mixture all over the face, avoiding sensitive areas.
  • Let the DIY mask dry naturally before rinsing it off with water.
  • Follow this up by rubbing an ice cube on the skin and later applying some moisturizer.

You can apply this face mask twice weekly for about two months to see visible results. 

 

Lemon And Honey Face Mask


Being a natural humectant, honey helps retain moisture in the skin. It is also best known for its abundance of antimicrobial properties. Lemon juice, on the other side, is rich in astringent properties that help shrink enlarged pores.

You Will Need

  • Honey - one tablespoon
  • Lemon juice - ½ tablespoon
  • Sugar - one pinch

How To Make

  • Mix all the ingredients well and massage the mixture gently in upward circular motions on the face.
  • Leave the mask for about five minutes before washing it with lukewarm water.

You can repeat the process two or three a week for better results. 

 

Tomato Juice DIY Face Mask For Open Pores

Tomato juice face pack works wonders on acne-prone and oily skin. Packed with vitamins A and C, tomatoes possess natural astringent and antioxidant properties. Vitamin C effectively reduces clogged pores, age spots, and wrinkles. Multani Mitti has abundant astringent properties and acts as a natural cleanser.

You Will Need

  1. Tomato juice - 1-2 tablespoons
  2. Sandalwood powder - ½ tablespoon
  3. Multani Mitti - one tablespoon
  4. Turmeric powder - one pinch

How To Make

  1. Mix all the ingredients mentioned above in a bowl and apply the mixture evenly all over the face.
  2. Let it rest on your face for about 15 minutes before cleaning it off with water.
  3. Pat it dry, and later apply the moisturizer. 

Alternate Method - 

  1. You can also mix half a tablespoon of seaweed powder with one and a half tablespoons of pure and fresh tomato juice.
  2. Apply the mixture on your face using a brush or fingertips.
  3. Rinse it off with water after 20 minutes. 

For better results, use this face mask twice a week. 

 

Green Tea And Egg White Face Mask For Enlarged Pores

Green Tea contains a substance called Tannins that work as antioxidants. It also helps remove toxins and other irritants from the skin, which in turn helps to shrink the large pores. Egg white, on the other hand, helps tone the skin and tighten the pores to make the skin look firm and supple. The green tea and egg white face mask also works as an anti-aging face mask.

You Will Need

  1. Green tea powder - one tablespoon
  2. Water - two to three tablespoons
  3. Egg white - one
  4. Flour - two teaspoons

How To Make

  1. In a bowl, add water to the green tea powder. Let the mixture sit for about 4 to 5 minutes.
  2. Now, blend an egg white with the flour and add this mixture to the prepared green tea mixture.
  3. Apply the face mask on the entire face and neck.
  4. Let it dry on the skin before cleansing it off with water. 

You can repeat the process once or twice a week for better results.

Read - 27 Beauty Tips To Make You Feel Beautiful Inside Out

Exfoliation

Exfoliating your skin once in a while helps remove the dirt, debris, and oil accumulated in the pores. Try using the following Kama Ayurveda exfoliators.

Kama Ayurveda's Kumkumadi Brightening Face Scrub

Kama Ayurveda's Kumkumadi Brightening Face Scrub is a luxuriant skin-brightening face scrub that combines a host of skin-repairing ingredients with the potent and iconic Ayurvedic Kumkumadi oil. Formulated with 12 precious traditionally grown ingredients, this natural exfoliator is clinically proven to smoothen, brighten, and firm skin.

The finest Saffron from Kashmir helps brighten and moisturize skin naturally. The finely ground sweet Almonds, being rich in Vitamins E & D, help in nurturing and nourishing the skin while lifting away all the impurities and pollutants. The ground walnut powder, being a gentle exfoliant, helps in removing dead skin cells and excess oil, ultimately reducing the size of the enlarged pores.

Kama Ayurveda's Himalayan Almond Deep Cleansing Face Scrub

Kama Ayurveda's Himalayan Deep Cleansing Face Scrub is a natural face scrub especially for men to effortlessly clear dirt, oil, and impurities, leaving skin soft, polished, and rejuvenated. The antioxidant Saffron helps brighten the skin tone, clears the complexion and reduces pigmentation, spots, and marks. The finely ground sweet almonds, being the powerhouses of Vitamins E and D, help nurture, nourish and soften the skin.

Read - How To Get Clear Skin – 13 Expert Tips That Work

Toning

Toners are usually designed to restore hydration and balance the pH level of the skin after cleansing. But did you know they can also help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, tighten the skin and naturally remove oil and dirt?

The following are the Kama Ayurveda toners that help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores on the face.

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Vetiver Water Face Mist

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Vetiver Water is a refreshing and organic face mist that provides a cooling sensation to the skin. It also helps hydrate the skin and balance the pH level. Distilled from the roots of the potent vetiver grass, native to Aligarh, North India, Vetiver water is a hydrating facial mist that helps tighten the enlarged skin pores.

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Rose Water

Pure Rose Water from Kama Ayurveda is a decadent floral distillation that hydrates, tones, and refreshes skin, leaving it scented with the pure and fresh scent of roses. Made from the roses of Kannauj, this natural facial mist is rich, floral, and emotionally uplifting. 

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Mogra Water Face Toner

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Mogra Water is a natural face mist gorgeously crafted from the handpicked jasmine flower, and thus you can feel its pure floral scent that not only lifts one's senses but also soothes nerves, alleviating tension. The face mist also helps relieve stressed skin while balancing the pH level of the skin.

Kama Ayurveda's Pure Lavender Water 

Kama Ayurveda's pure Lavender Water is a soothing facial mist that calms, cools, hydrates, and tone skin. Made from pure Himalayan Lavender, this natural face mist is best suited for hot and humid weather for its cooling and refreshing effect. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of Lavender help treat allergies and rashes on sensitive and irritated skin. 

With regular usage, you will notice the reduced size of enlarged open pores, with natural brightness radiating from within the skin.

About the Author
Shreya Dalela
Shreya Dalela

Shreya Dalela is a certified Yoga instructor and a professional dancer trained at The Danceworx. She’s passionate about Ayurveda and holistic living with over 6 years of experience in doing extensive research and content creation in the domain.

About the Reviewer
Dr. Kanchan Kachroo
Dr. Kanchan Kachroo

Certified Ayurvedic Doctor (Central Council of Indian Medicine) working in Kama Ayurveda as an Assistant Training Manager.

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