How to Close Open Pores

Open, enlarged facial pores are unsightly and can trap dirt and contaminants, which may lead to blackheads, acne and whiteheads. Open pores also make your face look older, which in turn diminishes self-esteem. Although there is not a permanent solution to close open facial pores, there are many home remedies that you can use on a daily or weekly basis to diminish the appearance of enlarged pores. Gently wash and dry your face before applying a homemade pore minimizer, rinse off thoroughly and apply a moisturizer to nourish and rehydrate skin.

A young woman is moisturizing her face. (Image: Alliance/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Mix about three drops of lemon juice with one egg white until the mixture froths. Use a clean, soft toothbrush to massage onto skin. Leave it on for approximately five minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.

Step 2

Use a tomato pulp mask to close pores, states YGoHomeRemedies.com. Peel skin from a tomato, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Mash the tomato pulp and apply it to the affected area. Leave on for five minutes and rinse it off with cool water. Alternately, slice tomato and place slices directly onto the affected area. Let it sit for five minutes and wash it off. If you do not have a tomato, add a few drops of lime juice to about 1 cup of tomato juice and apply it to your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse your face with cold water.

Step 3

Use an oil-free non-comedogenic foundation/powder blend to close open pores. The liquid foundation evaporates, and enlarged pores fill, and close, with powder, says Carole Walderman, Matrix Skin Care Products' national education director on MotherNature.com.

Step 4

Apply an alpha hydroxy acid-, or AHA-, based lotion to clean skin to remove dead skin cells around the pores, says dermatologist Dr. Mary Stone on MotherNature.com. Purchase an alpha hydroxy acid-based lotion that contains 10 percent glycolic acid and follow the package directions.

Step 5

Mix 1 1/2 tsp. of water with 1 tsp. of honey and 1 Tbsp. gram flour. (Gram flour, or chickpea flour, can be purchased at large grocery stores or health food stores. You can also make gram flour at home by blending whole, dry chickpeas in a blender until smooth.) Apply to the affected area and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then rinse if off with cool water.

Step 6

Use a homemade toner to close open pores. Blend 1/2 tsp. of lime juice with one peeled kiwi. Add an equal amount of water to mixture and blend until creamy. Apply to the face with a cotton ball, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.

Step 7

Use witch hazel, a natural astringent, to minimize large facial pores, states NatureTreatments.com. Wash your face and pat the skin dry. Apply about 1 tsp. pf witch hazel to a cotton ball and apply it to your face. Allow it to dry and then apply moisturizer. If you have dry skin, dilute one part witch hazel with two parts water.

Step 8

Peel a papaya, remove the seeds and mash the papaya into a paste-like consistency. Apply mashed papaya to enlarged pores and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon juice

• Egg white

• Soft toothbrush

• Tomato or tomato juice

• Lime juice

• Oil-free foundation/powder blend

• Alpha hydroxy acid-based lotion

• Honey

• Gram flour

• Peeled kiwi

• Water

• Witch hazel

• Papaya

Tip

Drink at least eight glasses of water per day to keep the skin hydrated from the inside out.