Product Review: Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment
Can Salicylic Acid reduce pore size?
Pores are a pain. A real pain. And while they can be the bane of your existence, they’re actually the key to your skin health – or lack of skin health.
They’re also highly misunderstood. A lot of the confusion about pores is attributable to marketers who make consumers believe their products can shrink their pores through savvy (ahem, misleading) marketing.
The truth is nothing can shrink your pores. The size of your pores is the size of your pores. Over time, they do tend to stretch and become larger but that takes years.
That pore-enlargement process is why pores appear larger as you get older. And it’s why you’ve probably noticed the rather large pores on your grandparents’ noses. (Psst…it’s your fate, too.) And it’s a one way street. Pores get bigger, but they don’t get smaller.
And because there’s literally no way to alter the size of pores, you will never see a product claim that it will “shrink the size of pores” or literally “make your pores smaller”. It’s untrue; and a restricted claim by the FDA. That is, it’s illegal.
Instead, you’ll see claims like minimizes the look of pores and makes pores appear smaller. (Even “tightens pores,” really means temporarily tightens your skin.)
So if face serums for pores can’t shrink your pores, what do they do?
Well, they can clear them out of the gunk, dirt, sebum and product build-up that makes them look more prominent – makes them look larger than they actually are.
And the new Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment is one of these treatments. Despite the fact that it has the phrase “pore size” in the name, it doesn’t actually alter the physical size of anyone’s pores; instead, it makes the size of pores appear smaller. And it’s got the oomph to do that effectively.
My full product review appears below…
Can Salicylic Acid reduce pore size?
No, Salicylic Acid cannot literally reduce the size of your pores. However, it can reduce how visible your pores appear.
According to Dr. Howard Sobel, New York City dermatologist and founder of Sobel Skin, “You can minimize the appearance of your pores, but because pore sizes are genetically determined, you can’t really shrink them. Your pores can get stretched out when they’re consistently clogged, which makes them appear bigger.”
Salicylic Acid is one of the best active ingredients for reducing the appearance of pores. The lipid soluble BHA more deeply penetrates pores than other common acids like Glycolic Acid.
Salicylic Acid gets deep inside pores where it dissolves and dislodges the hardened sebum that traps dirt, pollutants and acne-causing bacteria. This hardened sebum and embedded gunk causes pores to stretch out and appear larger than they actually are.
Explore my top picks of the best Retinol creams and serums on the blog here.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology: What Can Treat Large Facial Pores?; Elle: Can You Actually Shrink Your Pores? A Dermatologist Weighs In
Product Review
There are two things I never skip in my skincare routines no matter how tired I am – or how intense a migraine is: sunscreen and pore maintenance.
In the morning, I would skip everything except sunscreen if I had no other choice. And if it’s late and I’m just too tired for a full skincare routine, I will at least be sure my pores are clear before bed. That means a cleanser, Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid.
The new Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment is the perfect quick treatment for daily pore maintenance. And very likely the best pore serum on the market today! Not only does it contain high concentrations of two pore-health essentials – Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid – but it also packs a punch with 0.3% Retinol.
That concentration of Retinol elevates the Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment to a medium strength Retinol face serum – and is ideal as a daily Retinol treatment once your skin adjusts to it.
According to the Remedy brand, their 0.3% concentration of Encapsulated Retinol “promotes surface turnover, regulates oil, and helps unclog and minimize pores.”
Indeed, retinoids – and especially prescription-strength retinoids like Tretinoin – have long been prescribed by dermatologists for the treatment of acne. Retinoids like Retinol, and the increasingly popular Retinaldehyde, facilitate cell turnover to rid skin of dead surface skin cells. The dead skin cells that embed in pores and clog them up!
In tandem with Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid, the Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment provides a 360˚ approach to pore health. It’s got a light, silky texture that melts quickly into the skin.
But what I love most about it is that it combines everything I want in my pore maintenance routine in a single product. There have been many nights since I first came across the treatment several weeks ago that I’ve cleansed, swiped some of this on and gone straight to bed. The strategy is fine during the warmer months but as I head into the colder weeks ahead, I’ll simply seal it in with a moisturizer.
Don’t sleep on the Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment. You snooze, you lose. (And your pores will clog!)
Pros & Cons
What I like about it: The Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment is one of the most well-formulated and best pore treatments on the market today. There are very few serums that combine the three key actives for pore maintenance: Retinol, Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid. I love how easy it is to use. And how it contains the essentials I need before bed. It really is a “one and done” product for skin health no matter your skin type.
What I don’t like about it: I like everything about it.
Who it’s for: All skin types.
SHOP THE BLOG: Want to try it for yourself? Purchase the Remedy for Pore Size Nightly All in One Treatment for $38 here.
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