Confessions of a porexic

Confessions of a porexic

11 Apr 2008 12:23 PM | Posted by Editor

Porexia. Okay, so it's a little made up, but it's the only word that can even begin to describe the complete and utter obsession that I have with my pores. I think cosmonauts can see them from space. I'm convinced the eyes of friends and strangers are drawn magnetically to their sheer massiveness. I know I'm being irrational – but I can't help it.

So let's just say that, in my eternal search for pore perfection, I've learnt a few things – and been suckered in by many myths. Got a pore obsession of your own? Learn from my mistakes…

Pores don't open or close

Annoying, but true. Pores are just pouches of skin into which oil glands pump sebum; they have no muscle attachments to squeeze them open or shut. So what's with the cold splashes and steaming? Cold water can inhibit oil production; warmth can stimulate it. Myth busted.

You can't shrink, but you can tighten

Devastatingly, there's no magic potion to make fat pores microscopic, but, because they look larger when oil-logged and clogged, keeping your pores clear can help them appear smaller. Purging excess oil and build-up with a clay mask (I love Alpha-H Purifying Clay Mask with Vitamin A and Bloom's Clean with Envy Green Clay Mask) is crucial.

Exfoliation is essential

Dead cells snag in pores like hair in your favourite lip gloss, so AHAs are important and BHAs (like salicylic acid) are your best friends. I clock up my sloughing time with Garnier Fresh Clean Feel Wash and MD Formulations Face & Body Scrub.

Blame the sun, then mum

Some of your pore size is genetically programmed and oil overload in adolescence doesn't help, but sun exposure kills off the collagen that supports your skin structure, causing pores to sag (this is also why pores can look larger with age). Moral: search out vitamin A- and retinol-soaked skincare (met SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 yet?) to boost your collagen stores and never skimp on sunscreen.

Still porexic? It might be time to check in with the dermatologist. "Laser used in conjunction with skincare will help to stimulate collagen to achieve a good result," Dr Gabrielle Caswell from the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australia tells me. But then it's down to crater-camouflaging primers and 'fillers', I'm afraid. Completely poreless is a pipe dream.

Member Comments (55)

Posted by: rhijayne (Australia)

i have the same problem with my pores. i hate people looking closely at my face i used to wear heavy foundation to cover it but have since learnt thet that makes it worse. so now its lots of masks and all sorts of creams. and its getting better now but i still think about it if someone is standing real close

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 1:16pm)

Posted by: glamourcat (Member since 2007, Australia)

I bought the Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher a week ago and I just love it. It is apparently gentle enough to use everyday, so some days I have been using it consecutively, but sometimes skipping a day just to have a break, but my skin is loving it - my pores are more refined and my skin is generally softer and smoother. So if pores are an issue I would definitely give it a go! :) I'm definitely not a porexic though - pores are usually the last flaw I am fixated with! lol :)

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 1:20pm)

Posted by: pretty product princess (Member since 2008, Australia)

i have a big problem with the pores on the sides of my nose. i have tried scrubs and pore strips and nothing has really helped. i think i will give some of those masks a go though.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 2:17pm)

Posted by: Larahk (Australia)

All this time I thought pores opened and closed. I feel strangely liberated knowing that this is not actually the case. I guess clearing away excess oil is the key to making your pores appear smaller. I think I might aply a clay mask tonight.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 3:25pm)

Posted by: Loretta (Member since 2007, Australia)

I definitely have porexia, I'm obsessed with them. Mine are too obvious for my liking, and nothing seems to conceal them well enough. I can't use clay masks or most scrubs because of my extreme sensitivity, but I do use a liquid exfoliant containing salicylic acid which really smooths my skin nicely.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 4:07pm)

Posted by: anjeru (Member since 2008, Australia)

i dont usually notice my pores however, im going to wash my face in cold water now as i dont want the oil production starting...
i might also try using "Garnier Fresh Clean Feel Wash", sounds a treat. thanks for the advice!

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 4:12pm)

Posted by: Meeegs (Australia)

This helps heaps. Thanks so much!!

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 4:54pm)

Posted by: coconat (Australia)

I'm am porexic too! I am obsessed! i think everyone can see them! I have only found recently that salicylic acid is a porexic's best friend. I use Joey New York Quick Blackhead Dissolver and Pore Minimiser Gel and it really helps to hid and slough away pores and oil. That's the best i have found so far, I'm keen to hear of other products that work too.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 6:01pm)

Posted by: Katie_B (Member since 2007, Australia)

Seems like I know have an official diagnosis- porexia! Lol.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 6:03pm)

Posted by: Willow24 (Australia)

I avoid looking to closely at my face. If i do i get into a pore frenzy... great article :)

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 9:01pm)

Posted by: GlossQueen (Member since 2007, Australia)

I have porexia too, and so far haven't found anything that helps them. I really want to try Estee Lauder's Idealist, I've heard it's amazing.

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 9:14pm)

Posted by: louly (Australia)

Eeeeek!!! I have porexia... There isn't a day that goes by that the first and last thing I do each day is stare into a mirror wishfully hoping my pores would disappear (not to mention the countless moments I sneak in during the day when no one is looking). I can see them clogging up as I type, I have tried every product and am now resigning myself to save up and go to the beauty salon and try a non-invasive treatment... Sigh...

Posted on: April 11, 2008 (Apr 11, 2008 10:15pm)

Posted by: glamourcat (Member since 2007, Australia)

glossqueen, when Idealist was first launched about 10 years ago I got a little sample in a magazine and I loved it, so I went out and purchased it. My skin loved this at first and I had beautiful velvety skin, until my skin got immuned to it! It is loaded with silicon (dimethicone) or something, and the irony is that silicon eventually builds up in pores resulting in clogging.

If I were you I would find a salon that stocks MD Formulations and have a consultation, get some samples before you commit to the products. I'm sure that MD Formulations (and also Alpha-H) will have products to address your skin issues. One of the best MD Formulations products for clogging, pore issues, acne, anti-aging is Vit-A-Plus Night Recovery.

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 12:40am)

Posted by: Cass666 (Member since 2008, Australia)

I always thought the pores did open and close, guess you can't believe everything you hear.

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 10:23am)

Posted by: jennrach (Member since 2007, Australia)

really interesting article and good tips which i will try

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 1:55pm)

Posted by: hannah_almond (Member since 2008, Australia)

OMIGOD, that's soo me!!!! i think my porse look like massive holes in my face, and they're so noticable its so not funny!!!! lol, but we need them to breathe... might try the masks and garnier scrub, thanks for the article, much needed!

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 3:32pm)

Posted by: hannah_almond (Member since 2008, Australia)

p.s- i just realised i found this article with a pore strip on my nose, lol!

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 3:34pm)

Posted by: Bronze Baby (Member since 2008, Australia)

hate them, thanks for the tips xxx

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 9:39pm)

Posted by: Bronze Baby (Member since 2008, Australia)

ohh and you can use the white form eggs as a mask and it tightens the pores

Posted on: April 12, 2008 (Apr 12, 2008 9:39pm)

Posted by: gogirly (Member since 2008, Australia)

thanks for the ideas, have struggled with pores on my nose for years.

Posted on: April 13, 2008 (Apr 13, 2008 11:28am)

Posted by: leesax (Australia)

Only recently did I notice tiny pores on my nose. That's a really good article, I always beleived that they opened and closed! Like for gas exchange and so on..

Posted on: April 13, 2008 (Apr 13, 2008 2:09pm)

Posted by: abrazosbesos (Member since 2007, Australia)

Thanks for this. I have giant pores in my t-section and I hate it so much.

Posted on: April 13, 2008 (Apr 13, 2008 2:52pm)

Posted by: Spiteful (Member since 2008, Australia)

It seems like an AA meeting with the comments!
Hello, my name is Spite and i am a Porexic.
Its nice to have a few facts to dispel the many rumors that are around. I might go slather myself in mud later tonight :P

Posted on: April 13, 2008 (Apr 13, 2008 4:18pm)

Posted by: bash2220 (Australia)

wow awesome info i thought pores could be opened and closed and changed great to know the truth

Posted on: April 13, 2008 (Apr 13, 2008 10:56pm)

Posted by: Gem xxx (Member since 2007, Australia)

Pores are the bain of my existance...funnily enough when I walk in the cold morning air, my pores seem to close, or seem to look 'tight', and 'small', and when I'm hot and flustered they tend to 'enlarge' some what...maybe its an optical illusion?...Oh to have 'normal' skin, anyone want to swap?...its just to much maintenance!...lol

Your kidding Glamourcat..arn't you?
I use that too...and all this time I thought I was doing my skin a world of good...(it does feel smooth though)...thats just false advertising isn't it?...its made me feel mislead!
Glamourcat with all your knowledge and experience you should write a book...just like that book..'Don't go to the cosmetics counter without... Glamourcat!'...lol

Posted on: April 14, 2008 (Apr 14, 2008 12:19am)