I have had great days and awful days with my skin. The biggest thing I face now is constantly full pores. I have exfoliates and steamed and, yes, extracted, to no real lasting avail.
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I'd recommend to stop using the liquid soap and switch to a gentle cleanser instead (for example, https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/neutrogena-ultra-gentle-hydrating-cleanser-creamy-formula). More on cleansing here: https://whatsinmyjar.com/skin-concerns/all-about-cleansing-wimj-cleansing-guide.
I'd also highly recommend to use a daily sunscreen - it will help to avoid pigmentation from acne, keep the pore size from enlarging with age and just in general to protect your skin from photoaging.
I'd consider incorporating these actives into your routine:
Retinoid (a detailed guide here: https://whatsinmyjar.com/skin-concerns/wimj-guide-for-retinoids-part-2-acne-clogged-pores)
Niacinamide 2-10%, for example, in a moisturizer: https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/dermageek-nourishing-facial-night-cream or a serum https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/skincall-daily-triple-serum
Azelaic acid 10-20%, for example: https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/paulas-choice-10-azelaic-acid-booster
An example routine could look like this:
AM:
Azelaic Acid product
Niacinamide product (serum or moisturizer)
Sunscreen
PM:
Cleanser
Retinoid
Niacinamide serum (if you are using a serum)
Moisturizer
For spot treatment, you could use a product with Benzoyl Peroxide (doesn't help with clogged pores but helps with inflamed spots: for example, https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/paulas-choice-clear-daily-skin-clearing-treatment-with-2-5-benzoyl-peroxide or https://whatsinmyjar.com/product/la-roche-posay-effaclar-duo-dual-acne-treatment-with-benzoyl-peroxide
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Fantastic guidelines from Maria!
I want to add that having pores is not an issue because they're an integral part of your pilosebaceous (hair, including the tiny transparent ones called Vellus hairs) follicles or sweat glands duct. In addition, keep in mind that the way these pores present themselves on your face also has a lot to do with your genetic background. Topically wise, Maria covered most of the basis. It is worth mentioning that BHA serum can help with pore appearance.
If after implementing Maria's suggestion for 3 weeks you're still not happy with the appearance of your pours I would consider the following points:
The pill 💊 - androgens levels have a direct effect on your skin sebum (oiliness) production, facial and body hair, and skin composition. A lot of individuals that have enlarged pores with acne benefit greatly from a combined oral contraceptive pill (ones that contain estrogen and progesterone). This option is not for everyone, but worth considering.
Low-grade skin inflammation - sometimes a low-grade inflammatory skin state is the culprit. It can stem from a variety of reasons: over-exfoliation, dehydration, sun exposure, undiagnosed allergies.. ). If your face feels hot and/or itches often, I'd recommend visiting your dermatologist to work out the lifestyle factors that may lead to a low-grade inflammatory state.
Vascular IPL (590nm) - a couple of sessions with vascular IPL can significantly help persistent pores by the notion of hair removal and reduction of superficial blood capillaries in the skin. With less superficial blood flow, the pores become shallower and less noticeable. This treatment also inhibits facial hair for a prolonged time, which further help minimize the pores' appearance.
Diet - The link between processed food and sugary food consumption and poor skin quality is well known. Especially sugary food has been shown to upregulate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the skin, which are basically toxic byproducts of a bad diet. These can cause a low-grade inflammation state, which in turn translates into enlarged pores, excessive sebum, and accelerated aging. Eat simple and try to avoid sugar, no need to overthink it.
Water retention - sometimes enlarged pours can be a side effect of a systemic problem with water retention. Most of the time it means you consume too much sodium. Some of the times however it may indicate a systemic problem. If you feel unusually puffy for more than a week, I would book an appointment with a general practitioner to find out why.
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Thanks Maria! I believe there is both azelic acid and niacinamide in the restore serum in my routine. There is also benzoyl peroxide in the spot treatment in my routine. Did you intentionally not include a cleanser in the morning? Is it not a time to wash?
To clarify, that is actually the liquid version of the soap, not a bar. But that was the closest thing in the options.