Beauty Report: Why ‘tightening’ pores is nonsense

The skin’s texture is always going to catch the light. No volume of foundation or concealer can cover bumps or open pores, much to the chagrin ofevery woman alive. Hope lies in the knowledge that most skin conditions causing uneven texture are treatable and not permanent. However, ageing causes the skin’s texture to change, and you may find that suddenly you have enlarged pores and uneven texture, particularly around the mouth, often in perimenopause.

No amount of concealer is going to cover this. You'll find that a once or twice weekly application of an exfoliating acid product will help. (€37.95 from cloudtenbeauty.com) has yet to be knocked from the top spot, despite the fact it's been around for years.

Apart from exfoliating and having a thorough cleansing routine, the only way to manage enlarged pores is to disguise them. Products which claim to “close” or “tighten” pores are nonsense.

Pores don’t spontaneously open and close like portals to an alternate universe. Rather than investing in “pore refining” products (which don’t work), put your money into a blurring cream which will fill them in (albeit temporarily) and give you an even canvas for makeup.

Lancôme La Base Pro Pore Eraser (€30) is good for underneath makeup. Apply this as a last step before foundation. It has the silicone texture that we've come to expect from this type of product, and mild oil-absorption mattifies the area, eliminating light reflection and immediately making pores look less obvious.

If you’re in the market for a multitasking blur cream, YSL have launched its

Touche Éclat Blur Perfector

in a range of bronzing colours in its Les Sahariennes collection. Available in seven hues from May 27th, these will blur over textural problems while giving your complexion a sunnier outlook. Les Sahariennes will retail at €31.

Benefit The Porefessional

(€34) has a whipped, silky gel texture that fills in any little divots in your complexion. Opt for this if you have oilier skin, as its oil-absorbing properties make this as good a mattifier as it is a pore filler.

This applies as well over makeup as it does underneath, so feel free to apply a little several hours after makeup application to control shine, which draws attention to textural issues.

For a more mature skin, Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector (€28) has a less traditionally flat matte finish, and is marketed as a skincare product rather than a simple blurring cream.

It contains lipo-hydroxy acid, which is oil-soluble, so it can access pores to minimise bacteria levels, help with cell turnover in the skin and, along with exfoliating, work to keep the skin’s texture at its best.

It’s important to remember that your pores are never as big as you think, and pores aren’t a problem. If it makes you feel better to use a blurring cream, go for it. If you use a magnifying mirror to examine them, dump it – that’s just masochism.

lkennedy@irishtimes.com