Nobody's pore-fect
Singapore quirk: Everyone and their mother seems to be preoccupied with their pores. It’s just as well, really – because odds are you (and you, and you!) will eventually end up with enlarged pores. Cue collective gasp from HDB blocks islandwide.
Here’s why. Singapore’s sweltering heat wreaks serious havoc on our skin. This rhetorical question from Dr Lim Luping, aesthetic physician at Mint Medical Aesthetics, ought to explain things: “Have you noticed that when you’re in sunny Singapore, humidity causes the skin to be oilier and pores more visible?”
Think of it this way: Us Singaporeans are steeped in a perpetual steam sauna, which in turn means perpetually swollen pores. Bummer.
But wait, there’s more. Dr Lim says that age also amplifies pores: “As the skin ages, the amount of collagen and elastic tissue is reduced, and this weakened support of the skin structure results in gaping pores.”
So, quick mid-story recap: Singapore’s humidity plus the passing of time equals larger pores. Now, the link between sagging skin and super-sized pores may be a somewhat surprising (not to mention dismaying) one, but there’s hope yet.
It may seem counterintuitive for chicks with oilier complexions, but slapping on a daily moisturiser is of the essence, so to speak. Here’s Dr Lim again: “In humid Singapore, light-textured hydrators are ideal as they actually reduce oil production, keeps the skin matte and assists in unclogging pores." Sounds legit to me!
What to buy? There’s a plethora of pore-tightening products lining the beauty aisles, but I’m singling out Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Precision Lifting & Pore Tightening Concentrate for special consideration.
For one, this double-duty serum bills itself as boasting both anti-aging and pore-minimising powers. Kiehl’s says the potent potpourri of micro-filtered yeast extract and geranium essential oil has been clinically proven to prop up the “dermal epidermal junction” (which, not to get too technical about things, refers to a spongy layer lending skin the “bounce” of youth.)
The promise? Fewer fine lines, perfectly petite pores. We can’t change the weather, but we can certainly buffer it against the elements with a targeted skin treatment. Small pores for Singapore!
Dr Lim Luping can be contacted via www.mintmedaesthetics.com.
Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Precision Lifting & Pore Tightening Concentrate, $105 for 50ml, is available from February 2015 at all Kiehl’s stores. For more information, visit www.kiehlstimes.com and follow Kiehl’s Singapore on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.