5 Masks & Scrubs for Healthy Skin

Have you ever wondered…

How to minimize pores? And for that matter, why the pores on your arms and legs are smaller than the pores on your face?

You’re doing everything right to have healthy looking skin, but your pores still seem enlarged on part of your face…

They stare back at you in the mirror, defiant!

Best 5 Natural Ways to Tighten Pores and Reduce Pore Size

Best 5 Natural ways to Tighten Pores

Not to worry…

In a minute, I’m going to give you some recipes and tips to help you tighten up those pores

But first, I’d like you to understand a few things about pores and healthy skin.

Why are the pores on your face so visible?

First, you’ll hear the bad news, then we’ll talk about the good. Ready?

Here’s the cold truth…

Pore size is genetically determined,” says New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman.

So you can’t change pore size permanently, but this article is about how you can change pore size temporarily!

It’s like taking a shower…

It doesn’t last…but that’s why you do it regularly!

What causes clogged pores

The pores on your face likely have experienced more chemicals and harsh treatment (from trying different products) than your body.

Your skin works extra hard to protect itself by telling the sebaceous glands to clean out your pores by producing sebum, part of the skin’s protective barrier.

When harsh facial products disrupt this protective layer… now you’re in a vicious cycle.

Increased sebum production can cause pores to enlarge. Even seemingly harmless things like warmer temperatures cause pores to look bigger.

To compound the issue, dirt, dead skin cells, makeup, and environmental toxins collect around your pores.

Then your poor overworked pores get clogged…

and you’re wondering why you still get acne, even though you’re an adult!

Despite your good intentions, using products that disrupt your skin’s natural balance will cause your skin to work even harder against you.

The body is designed to restore itself to it’s natural state….throw make-up into the equation, and you’ve got an even worse problem with large pores.

How to Minimize Pores

The solution?

Use one set of skin care regularly that supports your skin’s balance rather than working against it.

Make your own or buy natural products. Either way make sure that they are designed  to gently cleanse, then restore your skin’s natural pH, moisture, and protective barrier.

Here are some tips on how to shrink pores, if only temporarily.

  • Wash your face once in the morning and once at night – not more, not less!
  • Use a face wash and a toner that have naturally occurring salicylic acids or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
  • Use a light scrub twice a week
  • Tighten up your pores with a natural face mask once a week

As promised…

Here are 3 easy homemade scrubs and 2 mask recipes to tighten up your pores naturally!

Remember, you have to do them regularly or your pores will think you’re not showering!

For a free printable eBook with the tips and recipes in this article, click here.


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How to Shrink Pores with Face Scrubs

These scrubs can be used to exfoliate & smooth skin on both the face & body.

1. Sugar scrub

Sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, an AHA that helps your skin exfoliate – by dissolving the “glue” that holds dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. This will help clean out buildup of dead skin cells, makeup, and air-born toxins that collect around your pores every day, leading to large pores.

Almond oil is a light nourishing oil that absorbs into skin without feeling heavy. This sugar scrub is great for normal to dry skin.

  • 1/2 cup sweet almond oil (grapeseed oil may be substituted but almond is preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Mix the sugar, oil, and lemon juice together and apply the mixture to your face in a gentle circular motion. Never scrub hard or pull your skin. Store the sugar scrub in a covered jar, and use it within 1 month.

2. Coffee scrub

This coffee scrub is a very refreshing scrub for normal or oily skin. It may be too strong for sensitive skin, causing redness to develop.

When you grind coffee beans to make your morning cup, don’t throw out the grains after your cup is brewed. Make them work twice for you by using them as a face scrub to refine your pores!

The abrasive properties of coffee grinds make them a great natural exfoliant. Use a fine grind to avoid excessive redness.

You may want to do this one in the morning if you’re sensitive to caffeine!

  • 1 tablespoon organic coffee grounds
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond oil

Mix the oil and water into your grounds, wet your face, and apply the mixture to your face gently in a circular motion. The texture is sure to wake you up!

You may want to rinse your face over your kitchen sink to avoid a clogged bathroom drain.

3. Almond scrub

This third scrub is for normal to dry skin. The essential oils in this scrub contain citric acid, a naturally occurring sources of AHAs, which help banish clogged pores.

  • 1/2 cup almond meal
  • 1/4 cup sweet almond oil
  • A few drops of organic lemon and/or orange essential oils

If you prefer not to buy almond meal (as it is relatively expensive), put almonds in a food processor to make your own almond meal.

As with the last scrub, you may want to rinse your face over your kitchen sink to avoid a clogged drain.

Masks

4. Papaya face mask

The enzyme in papaya, called papain, helps your skin slough off dead skin cells and promote healing of clogged pores.

Papain is also used to help reduce fine lines and brown age spots. Some people use this as a natural alternative to the prescription medication tretinoin (Retin-A). Papaya can be a gentler alternative to retinols, helping to renew your skin without causing potential side effects like skin flaking and irritation.

This makes papaya a great natural ingredient to use for healthy looking skin. It can even be used alone, as we do here.

  • 1 young papaya – that’s it!

Mash a papaya with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Apply it to your face in a thin layer and leave it on for about 10 minutes.

Papain is most potent in young fruit, so buy green papayas. Rinse over a kitchen sink to avoid a clogged drain.

5. Yogurt and oatmeal mask

The lactic acid in yogurt is another source of naturally occurring AHAs and will help shrink pores.

  • 1 tbsp ground oatmeal
  • 1 tbsp plain yogurt
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp organic olive oil

Mix the ingredients together and apply the mixture to your face. Allow it to work on your skin for about 10 minutes, then rinse off over a kitchen sink to avoid clogging your drain.

Keeping Skin Healthy After Your Scrub/Mask

After your scrub, mask, or just daily face wash, it is important to use an organic moisturizer to prevent skin irritation, dryness, and increased oil production. Use a natural face cream that contains at least one calming essential oil that helps soothe your skin and prevent buildup that leads to blemishes, such as:

  • German chamomile
  • Helichrysum italicum

These 2 essential oils should be on your shopping list for smooth skin and tiny pores.

If your moisturizer is not organic, this could also be a source of build up around and in your pores. Switch to an organic moisturizer with essential oils, like Herbe Sois Calming Moisturizer. This one has top quality organic German chamomile and Helichrysum essential oils in it, so you’ll have everything you need for smooth skin and small pores.

Samples of this organic moisturizer are available here ($5 flat rate shipping to US) and should last you at least a week.

As a final tip, make using a non-greasy sunscreen (SPF 30) over your moisturizer a habit in the morning. This is very important, year-round to prevent skin from thickening due to sun exposure, which can enlarge your pores and reverse all your hard work!

I hope you’ve found this post informative and will give these recipes a try!

This information and more is organized into a Free printable report with recipe pages.

Get your Free report on how to shrink pores here. Bonus tips and recipes included when you sign up to be an email subscriber!

Bonus tips and recipes included when you sign up to be an email subscriber!

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