Best DIY Face Mask for Pores

Ready to say goodbye to large pores and the oily skin that comes with them? This DIY face mask for pores is, hands down, one of the best I’ve tried. It tightens your skin, reducing the appearance of large pores. Use it consistently each week and you’ll notice smoother, tighter, more even-toned skin.

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A few years ago, my son drew a picture of me and covered my face with dots (see the lovely drawing here). I thought he was trying to draw freckles, so I corrected him by saying, “I don’t have freckles.” To which he replied, “I know. It’s not freckles. It’s those holes and marks you have on your face.”

Oh, the sting of innocent honesty.

But, this drawing is what sparked my determination to find a skin care routine that worked. I needed a routine that would restore my skin to its former “glory days.”

And I found one.

One of my first recipes was a DIY face mask for pores. My goal was to reduce the appearance of my large pores. But first came the research.

Common questions about shrinking large pores

1. What causes enlarged pores?

Your pores are tiny holes in your skin that house the sebaceous glands. Their role is to allow sweat and oil to pass through, clearing the way for oxygen to flow. This is the way our skin “breathes.”

Sometimes, for whatever reason, our sebaceous glands can get a little over-zealous or under-active. When over-zealous, they begin to produce too much oil which can eventually block and clog the pores. This usually results in buildup called blackheads. Once the blackhead is removed, the pores remain open instead of shrinking back to their original size (AKA large pores).

As we age, our oil glands slow down on the production of oil which results in fine lines and wrinkles. Our collagen production also decreases, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and its ability to stay smooth. With this loss, the pores get slack and appear open and enlarged.

2. What home remedy can I use to unclog my pores?

If you’re wondering how you can unclog your pores naturally, there is hope. There are many home remedies you can use to unclog your pores and help reduce the size. Here are a few simple ones:

1. Apple Cider Soda Scrub which uses baking soda, apple cider vinegar and honey to exfoliate the skin, fight acne and remove blackheads (get the recipe here).
2. Lemon Treatment – lemons have so many health benefits (which I rave about in my post, 7 Ways Lemons Can Improve Your Skin). One simple method for unclogging pores is to take half a lemon and rub it over your face. Let it sit for five minutes then rinse with cool water.
3. Facial Brush – deep cleaning your face is a great way to loosen dirt and oil from pores. This method allows you to unclog pores naturally. I simply add a small amount of a natural facial cleanser to my cleansing brush and massage over my face for 2 – 3 minutes.
4. Face Mask – finding a good facial mask and using it consistently can really help in unclogging pores and minimizing their appearance. My favorite homemade face mask for large pores is below.

3. What is the best treatment for large pores?

Though there are many good commercial natural face masks that work well, I prefer a DIY face mask for pores. It only takes a few natural ingredients for you to make a homemade face mask to shrink pores.

4. How do you make a homemade facial mask for pores?

You simply need three natural ingredients to make a skin-tightening, homemade facial mask for pores: flaxseeds, honey and water. Can flaxseeds make a good clarifying face mask? Absolutely, and I talk about all of the benefits of flaxseeds in this post on using flaxseed masks for glowing skin.

DIY Face Mask for Pores Recipe

What you need:

1/2 cup flaxseeds, whole
2 cups purified water
1/2 tsp Manuka honey

Directions:

1. Add flaxseeds and water to a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Let simmer for about 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently until white froth forms on top.
3. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. Strain gel using cheesecloth or clean, thin cotton fabric. Cover a bowl with the cloth then pour the flaxseed gel onto the cloth. Cover flaxseeds with the cloth and squeeze the gel through it.
5. Add honey and stir well to combine.
6. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.

How to Apply:

Using a cotton ball or pad, apply mixture to face and neck avoiding eye area. Leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes then rinse with cool water. Follow with a skin-tightening toner (like this Star Anise tightening toner) and a moisturizing face cream.