Enlarged pores on the cheeks aren’t dirt, and cold water won’t “close” them. They’re pores that have lost their shape over the years: the skin around them renews more slowly, old cells clog them and the walls that keep them tight slacken. Here’s why it happens, what doesn’t work and what can make them less visible in just a few weeks.
Why pores on the cheeks get larger
A pore is the opening of a gland. When you’re young, it has a firm edge and clears itself regularly. Over the years, three things change: old cells stay on the surface for longer and clog it, sebum oxidises and holds it open, and the fibres around it slacken, so the edge no longer holds. It shows more on the cheeks because the skin there is thinner and bathroom lighting hits it from the side. And instead of covering them, foundation settles into them.
What doesn’t work
- Pore strips: they remove the plug for a day, but don’t change the pore.
- Harsh scrubs: they irritate the skin and make it produce more sebum.
- Cold water or ice: pores have no muscles, so they can’t close.
- “Pore-minimising” primers: they fill pores in, but don’t fix them. Handy for a night out, not as a solution.
What works: helping your skin renew itself
Pores look smaller when the skin around them renews at a normal pace: old cells shed, plugs don’t form and the edges tighten. The ingredient that does this is vitamin A, and the form that does it fastest is retinal. Niacinamide helps in a different way: it regulates sebum and evens out skin tone, so pores no longer stand out on your face. In Dr.Luvion Retinal Booster, pure 0.3% retinal and niacinamide are in the same formula, with panthenol and peptides to protect and support the skin.
When you’ll notice a difference
After two weeks, texture is finer and your skin reflects light better. After four weeks, pores look smaller, even in a magnifying mirror, and foundation goes on without settling into them. Over the following months, as retinal stimulates your skin’s natural collagen production, the edges tighten and the results last.
A routine for enlarged pores
- Use a gentle cleanser morning and evening. Avoid soap that leaves your skin feeling tight.
- Apply retinal in the evening: start 3–4 times a week; after 1–2 months, once your skin has adjusted, use it every day. Use a small amount on dry skin.
- Apply a lightweight moisturiser on top.
- In the morning, use sunscreen: the sun slackens the fibres around your pores.
Learn how to introduce retinal without irritation in How to use retinal: the first 4 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get rid of enlarged pores?
No, pores are always there. But you can make them much less visible: firmer edges, no plugs, and smoother surrounding skin.
Retinol or niacinamide for pores?
Use them together. Vitamin A renews the skin, while niacinamide regulates sebum and skin tone. Retinal works 11 times faster than retinol and is gentler.
Does make-up make pores worse?
No, as long as you take it off properly in the evening. It only makes them look worse when it settles into them: the problem is skin texture, not make-up.