Skin care diet, skip-care, the anti-10 step skin care routine - these beauty buzz words basically all mean the same thing. They’re all about going back to the basics, downsizing your skin care regimen, and not compromising the image of minimizing pores. I enjoyed the 10 step skin care routine for a good while but I’ll be the first to admit that I found the rules of layering a bit tedious. Do I really need to spend an hour of slapping products on my face just to reduce pores, or can I do it under 15 minutes and make time for other things that I enjoy?

I realized later on that I didn’t actually need all 10 steps to achieve and maintain good skin and the look of minimized pores. If anything, I discovered that my skin thrived once I stopped piling on product after product. Many dermatologists agree that more is not always better, and that it’s possible that a long skin care routine can clog your pores more. If you prefer using several products and have a lengthy skin care routine that works for you, by all means, continue on with your process! However, if you find that you’re using and paying for a lot of products and you’re still at a loss on how to minimize pores, going on a skin care diet may help achieve better skin clarity and minimize the appearance of pores.

Step 1: Cleanse

A good cleanser is the cornerstone of any good skin care routine. If you’re not able to take off dirt, oils, and makeup at the end of the day, all that gunk can get trapped in your pores, making them look more noticeable and increasing your chances of getting a breakout. Clean pores are healthy pores, so look for a gentle cleanser that does the job of removing the day’s filth without disrupting your skin’s pH balance. We have a couple of recos for every budget!

Permanently reducing facial pores can only be done with clinical treatments like laser, but keeping them clean and clear will definitely reduce pores’ appearance.

Step 2: Tone

With the age of pH conscious cleansing, many people tend to skip toner these days, but a good toner does more than just balance the skin’s pH. It can also be the solution for how to minimize pores, fade dark spots, and give the skin a boost of hydration! A well-formulated toner for acne-prone skin can even help reduce breakouts and lighten post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Olay’s White Radiance Toner (P1,399 for 150ml) is a watery, easily-absorbed hydrating toner that inhibits melanin production. It lightens spots and reduces pores' appearance, as well as replaces skin dullness with a fresh, translucent glow.

Step 3: Treat

The basic cleanse-tone-moisturize-protect routine is well and good, but it helps to add just one more super product to treat and target specific skin issues. A serum, essence, ampoule, acid, or even a sheet mask are good products to consider as these are usually loaded with a higher concentration of active ingredients to address a specific concern.

Olay’s White Radiance Light Perfecting Essence (P1,299 for 30ml) works on all melanin pathways to brighten complexion, add a boost of hydration, and reduce hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. There is an iridescent quality to this formula that seems to smoothen skin texture and reduce pores’ appearance upon application.

Step 4: Moisturize

Some dermas may tell you to stop using moisturizer, but we’d like to respectfully disagree. Moisturizers may not be required for everyone, true - but there are still a lot of benefits that one can get from using them. Moisturizers keep your skin from drying out, and moisturized skin equals softer, supple, healthier looking skin. They work by having ingredients that act as humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Humectants gather moisture onto the surface of skin

Emollients directly adds moisture to skin
Occlusives create a barrier that prevents moisture loss

Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (P1,899 for 50g) is a non-greasy formula with hydrating ingredients and powerful actives to boost the skin’s energy and accelerate cell turnover. If you’re working on how to minimize pores to achieve artista-level smoothness, the Advanced Amino Peptide Complex improves skin texture and firms up the skin for a youthful bouncy glow. Because it’s an oil-free formula, you can use this even for oily skin without worrying about clogging your pores.

The process of how to minimize pores doesn’t necessarily require a long skin care routine. Cutting down to just the basics is a more realistic way to achieve your skin goals in terms of time, effort, and cost. Remember that a skin care routine only works if you stick to it!

Olay is available in leading supermarkets and drugstores nationwide, and online via Shopee, Lazada, and Watsons Philippines. Follow #OlayPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and visit their website at Olay Philippines.

This story is brought to you by Olay Philippines.

Photography by Nicole Quindara

Olay White Radiance Toner ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-32, Panthenol, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Ethylparaben, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Undecylenoyl, Phenylalanine, Hexyldecanol, Inositol, Triethanolamine, Morus Alba Root Extract