Dear Sarah

Q My pores are the size of soup plates. Is there an actual remedy for this, or do I have to learn to suppress vanity and live with it?

Mrs D, Aberdeenshire

A Open pores: such a bore. A variety of villains are to blame: ageing, sun damage, oily skin and genetics (the last two often go hand in hand). If you take a close look at a toddler’s skin, you will see that their pores are charmingly invisible. Sadly, with age and exposure to the elements, the buggers lose elasticity. They get clogged-up with excess oil, dead cells and bacteria. Result: enlargement. If you want to know what a particularly bad case of open pores looks like, check out James Woods in Shark: not just the odd soup plate, but an entire banquet’s worth.

What to do? Avoid harsh toners or astringents, since they will simply strip the skin of its natural oil, encouraging it to overcompensate and generate more. Practise good skin hygiene: cleanse, tone and, most of all, exfoliate. Use oil-free foundations, and avoid heavy, greasy moisturisers; go for something light but nourishing instead. A really excellent example is PX Advantage AM Facial Multi-Complex SPF 20 (£60, from Harvey Nichols). As a salon treatment, vacuum microdermabrasion, of the kind practised by Crystal Clear (call 08705 934934 for salons) is also very effective. The facialist Vaishaly Patel (020-7224 6088), aka London’s eyebrow queen, is also a whiz at this. She recently launched her own range of products designed specifically to nourish without clogging the skin. Try her Night Nourisher (£65) for normal/combination skin.

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