Anyone know any good tricks for hiding, reducing the size of, or diminishing the appearance of gigantic pores brought on by the ravages of testosterone? As I understand you can't actually reduce their size w/o resurfacing via chemical peels or laser. I've heard those can leave your face toasty and red for even a year, which would be more unbearable than caking on some extra foundation or concealer. I'm partial to sephora, and recent picked up a new facial care setup by shiseido, and it's helped a lot, but pores will be pores. I can't help but be envious of the ladies with super silk smooth faces, even if makeup is helping them a bit.

Any advice is super-duper appreciated! 

Go on hormones?

My nose and cheeks had big pores but are starting to get smaller after 5 months HRT.

I'm just going to get my skin resurfaced. I don't care about redness, I've been ugly my whole life so I'd just see it as more of the same.

Yeah pores are horrible especially when you look in a mirror with some magnification.

Like some suggestions above, laser resurfacing does sound the way in fact I'm probably going to do a treatment at the end of the year. So I can let you know on that experience when it happens.

Other suggestions are, face masks to extract the oil out because oil makes pores larger.
Also retin-a helps, but you will get initial peeling and redness.
Exfoliating the skin helps and with face toners like neutrogena.

But I'm still open for suggestions myself, so if anyone has their super model techniques please share.lol

I didn't know there were boy pores and girl pores. Cool. I never noticed any difference on me except that my face has totally cleared from acne since starting HRT.

Guys usually produce more oils so their pores are larger.
While girls usually have smooth looking skin.


My pores are starting to get smaller and smaller slowly on hormones.

And don't be scared of getting procedures done like a chemical peel or laser.
It sounds scary, but it's just a name for the procedure
These aesticians know what they're doing, or else they wouldn't have gotten the job to be one

Or you could always get a simple facial, much cheaper.
Just gotta keep up with it.

Quote from: toxicblue on November 09, 2011, 08:51:10 AM
Go on hormones?

I've been on 'mones for a year, thanks tho.

Quote from: JoeyD on November 09, 2011, 03:36:28 PM
Guys usually produce more oils so their pores are larger.
While girls usually have smooth looking skin.


My pores are starting to get smaller and smaller slowly on hormones.

And don't be scared of getting procedures done like a chemical peel or laser.
It sounds scary, but it's just a name for the procedure
These aesticians know what they're doing, or else they wouldn't have gotten the job to be one

Or you could always get a simple facial, much cheaper.
Just gotta keep up with it.

I'm more concerned with the 3-12 months of facial redness and risk of serious bacterial infection. If there was a zombie infection breakout in Taipei I'd be patient 1, all the way in California. [Taipei is the capital of Taiwan for those who don't want to look it up]

I'd say exfoliation. Apart from that, I've seen a few foundation ads recently that are supposed to "float over your skin" and diminish the appearance of pores. And creams too. I think you should just ask at the pharmacy.

I use a chemical exfoliant (derma e AHA Beauty Fluid), it seems to work better than physical exfoliants which can be a bit harsh and actually widen pores.

To clear up the confusion of what I was referring to, I present my skin:

Oh god it's hideous.

Lol no it aint.
calm down qurl.

No one looks at your pores, atleast not sane people do.

I know how annoying big pores and issues with skin can be. I'm not sure if this helps but I wish my skin was as pretty as yours
I'm actually going to try TCA-peels when I get the money for that, it's supposed to be very effective in reducing pore size and other problems in your skin. Recovery time is supposed to be like 1 or 2 weeks only, which makes it a better option than laser. It's also much cheaper, in Finland it's often 250-550 euros (maybe $350-650?) to do the whole face. Done by real doctors and not cosmetologists.

Tell me about it, gosh I hate pores and white heads on my nose, and they looks so freaking ugly like seriously. Concealer and foundation can't really hide them. I heard that medical grade microdermabrasion and chemical peels help so I'm actually planning on getting those treatment soon. I've asked Sona MedSpa and they said it costs about $750, somewhere around there, not bad, a lot cheaper than laser hair removal

Unless you need a deep peel like phenol (which you don't) you can easily do the chemical peel yourself. The instructions are simple, and with TCA you get good feedback on how your skin's reacting so you know when to stop and wipe the excess off. You'll probably need at least 3 treatments, I recommend dividing your face into sections and doing one at a time, that way you won't have to take time off work. Takes 2 weeks to peel, starts peeling on day 2-4 after application.

i use a clarisonic mia, and i think thats helped, but i naturally had nice skin, my girl friends always said they were jealous. guess im lucky? anyway i highly suggest facial peels even if a low grade acid, it wont do as much at once but it does help. and winter is the time to do it especially with less sunlight.

I've read somewhere that the product concentrations available for everyone are not high enough for the treatment to be effective for a full peeling, I think.

Have you looked at something like Loreals studio secrets "perfecting base"?  A number of companies make similar products.  It comes in a small jar and is really thick. Mostly silicone. You let it warm up on your finger tips, then spread thinly over your face.  It goes under your foundation.  It is like Spackle for your face.  Fills in pores and minor imperfections so the foundation goes on smoother.  That means you can use less foundation and it looks more natural.

Ughh.. I hate my pores there huge!

@ Whitney, thank you for posting this. Its getting lots of good responses. You have simular pores as me, and you have pretty eyes!

@ Joey, that "its hideous" was funny! Your personality is awesome. I guess I don't hang out around sane people, I get comments about my pores!

Quote from: Jen-Jen on November 11, 2011, 10:30:15 AM
@ Whitney, thank you for posting this. Its getting lots of good responses. You have simular pores as me, and you have pretty eyes!

You can't tell from the pic, but she has ~amazing~ eyelashes. I am so crazy jealous of her for that.