You know that pores can be enlarged or clogged, but did you know they can actually sag too? Here’s how to keep them clean and firm to prevent this.
You know that pores can be enlarged or clogged, but did you know they can actually sag too? Here’s how to keep them clean and firm to prevent this.
As if it wasn’t bad enough that your skin has started to sag due to age. Now, you notice with horror that your pores are sagging too: They’ve become elongated, so now they’re more oval instead of being tight little circles.
It’s partly due to ageing – the skin is less elastic and begins to sag, pulling the pores down. If you have skin tha t’s clogged with oil and dead skin, pores can get stretched and look bigger. And lack of hydration doesn’t help. Overall, skin looks dull, uneven and rough in texture.
According to ORBIS, which specialises in oil-free skincare, incorporating this routine daily will go a long way towards preventing and reducing sagging.
1. Deep-clean with Powder Wash + ($25 for 50g)
This has two enzymes, protease and lipase, that are said to break down old keratin and sebum, the two main components of the most stubborn clogs from pores, leaving skin feeling ultra clean. Simply lather the lightweight powder into a fluffy foam and massage onto face, before washing off. It should be used in place of your regular cleanser, between two and four times a week, depending on skin condition.
2. Prep skin with Skin Active Serum ($45 for 25ml)
It has ingredients to smooth skin and increase cell turnover. Thanks to this, it also acts as a product booster to improve the performance of other skincare products because they can penetrate more deeply. Unlike most serums, you should use this straight after cleansing, before lotion and moisturiser.
To learn more about ORBIS, visit www.orbis.com.sg, or follow the brand on Facebook (orbis.sg) and Instagram (@orbis_sg).
3. Exfoliate with Aqua Peeling Gel ($28 for 120g)
This uses a combination of naturally mineral-rich water and apricot juice to gently loosen dead cells, so they flake away. Don’t use together with other exfoliants or deep cleansers such as Powder Wash +.
4. Firm and lift with ORBIS =U Night Memory Moisture ($49 for 30g)
As sagging skin makes sagging pores look worse, it makes sense to use a firming product. This gel moisturiser promises to firm and lift skin, thanks to an ingredient that supposedly repairs damaged enzymes and boosts elasticity. It intensively hydrates too, without feeling heavy.
Drink up to plump skin
Collagen is the most common protein in the body, but it depletes and degenerates as you age. ORBIS recommends replenishing it through oral supplements.
Collagen The Beauty, which tastes like red grape and pomegranate, has 6,000mg of collagen peptide per bottle, plus antioxidants such as vitamin C and CoQ10.
Each bottle of pineappleflavoured Collagen 12,000 contains 12,000mg of fish collagen peptide, and a concentrated extract of antioxidant superfood acai.
Doc Talk
Dr Karen Soh, medical director at Prive Aesthetics, tells us why we experience skin changes during pregnancy, and if toners and antioxidants are really important for your skin.
Do antioxidants in skincare make a difference to skin? – Lydia Yip
Antioxidants are vital to the skin. They combat damaging free radicals produced by skin-ageing factors like sun exposure, pollutants, unhealthy lifestyle habits and stress. How bad are free radicals? They break down the skin’s support structure, causing wrinkles, sagging, dryness and dullness.
They also trigger darkspot production. Worst-case scenario: You might even develop eczema and rosacea.
How do antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and other minerals, save your skin? They render free radicals powerless, creating a protective barrier on skin. The best part: Antioxidants can be added to just about any skincare, from toners to moisturisers and masks. And they have the ability to repair and renew cells, leaving you with healthier-looking skin.
Face serums usually contain a higher amount of antioxidants than other skincare. Go for facial serums like ZO Skin Health Ossential C-Bright Serum ($160.50 for 50ml), which contains stabilised vitamin C to help brighten and smooth skin.
With so many advancements in skincare, do we still need toners? – Jasnitha Nair
The toners of old removed dead skin cells as well as leftover dirt post-cleansing, and improved product penetration for the skincare that followed.
But technology has advanced toners beyond their former role, and you should now consider them an essential item. Many help to soften and moisturise skin, and even have retinoids, antioxidants and exfoliants. Try Prive Skinworks White Lightening Toner ($73.80 for 150ml), a refreshing lotion that also soothes skin irritation caused by environmental stressors.
Your Next Move: Consider skincare with hyaluronic acid When You’re Older
As you get older, the skin’s ability to hold on to moisture deteriorates, which is why it gets drier. That’s where hyaluronic acid (HA) comes in.
Your body produces this moisture-binding humectant naturally, and it’s found mainly in the skin, eyes, internal fluids and connective tissue. But like all things that slow down with ageing, HA production declines over the years. So beauty companies have created skincare products and treatments that use synthetic HA to increase moisture levels in the skin and improve its elasticity, as well as counter freeradical damage. What you get is smoother, softer and more hydrated skin.
WINNING LETTER
My face and back tend to be oily, and the greasiness is noticeable at the end of the day. This problem disappeared during my pregnancy, when I could even sleep without washing my face. However, it returned after I gave birth. Why? – Sabrina Teoh
It’s common to experience hormonal changes during pregnancy. Some women enjoy glowing faces while others experience melasma (dark spots) on the face as a result of increased pigmentation.
The likely reasons why your skin produced less oil in pregnancy: less fluctuation within the menstrual cycle and greater hormonal support, which benefited the skin. After delivery, your hormone levels returned to their pre-pregnancy state, and so did your skin. That, coupled with the stresses of new motherhood, such as lack of sleep and less time to look after your skin, may have contributed to your current condition.
To manage oily skin, you can opt for peel treatments like Radiance Peel Facetherapy ($141 for 75min). This mild chemical peel is designed to smooth the texture of skin. How? By removing the top layer of dead cells so healthier cells below can emerge, in addition to cleaning out pores, getting rid of acne-causing bacteria, and helping skin make less oil.
Regular peels can cut the oil in the long run, but do see your doctor to find out how often you can get a chemical peel before committing to any treatment.
This reader wins a set of Prive Skinworks products worth $252.40, comprising White Lightening Wash, White Lightening Toner, Triple Action Skin Defence SPF50, and Honey Soothing Cream.
Have a beauty question? E-mail us at magherworld@sph.com.sg. Please include your full name, address and a daytime phone number. The reader whose question is chosen each month stands to win skincare from Prive Aesthetics.
