Finding all the right shades of foundation, lipcolor, eyeshadow and blush is an achievement that will enhance your natural beauty and bolster your confidence. But in order to bring out your natural radiance, you have to first start with clean skin and pores. Putting make-up over clogged pores and blackheads will make it look dull and muddy.

Neutrogena’s Blackhead Eliminating Warming Cleanser is a great start to radiant skin. This self-warming cleanser loosens dirt in clogged pores and eliminates blackheads, It also contains microbeads that exfoliate, leaving the skin free of dead skin cells to bring out a fresh glow. A 2% Salicylic Acid solution added to the cleanser elminates excess oils to help reduce new breakouts.

* Formula gently warms on contact
* Non-greasy
* Smooth Microbeads
* 2% Salicylic Acid

Why use a toner? A toner is a great last step in your cleansing routine. A toner will remove any dead skin cells and residue from your cleansing products. It restores the Ph balance of your skin and makes it ready for your next step, moisturizers and make-up.

It is important to use a toner that is right for your skin type. If you have delicate skin you can use a mild preparation that refreshes and restores the acid balance. These products are often made from natural ingredients, rosewater, rosemary or lemon juice. An astringent toner will shrink pores and remove excess oil. These toners can be drying so only use them if you have oily skin.

A toner will leave your skin feeling refreshed. You can even use a toner in between your regular cleansing routines for an on-the-spot clean and fresh feeling. Toners are generally applied with a cotton ball or sponge wiped over the face and do not need to be rinsed off.

Make the toner a part of your daily routine and feel the results!

If you have large pores, you may be disappointed to hear that there is no treatment that will make them smaller. This is your skin type and you can’t change what nature has given you. What you can do is make your skin appear finer and prevent large pores from becoming caked with dirt, make-up and oil. When pores are clogged, they will appear larger. Heavy make-up, especially foundations can cake in pores.

I read an article that advised you to purposely fill your pores with foundation to hide large pores. In my opinion, that will only accentuate them. Here is the best way, in my opinion, to make pores look smaller.

Obviously, keeping your skin clean is the first and most important step. Remove make-up and wash your face with a mild cleanser nightly. A facial scrub will help dislodge debris caught in pores but don’t be too rough, scrubbing harder will only irritate your skin. You can use a scrub two or three times a week. Once a week, follow up your nightly routine with a clay mask. It will tighten the skin and make it appear finer.

A scrub is a great way to exfoliate but occasionally your skin needs a bit of rejuvenating. This is where a facial mask comes in. These take a bit more time than a quick scrub-down but when you have a bit of time to spend on yourself, use it to pamper your skin.

You should probably use a facial mask at least once a week. One of the best features of a mask is that it tightens pores, giving skin a smoother and finer appearance. Masks usually are applied and left on the face for a specific length of time or until dry, then removed by rinsing or peeling if it is a gel mask.

For deep cleansing a mud or clay mask will clear out pores, eliminate blackheads and exfoliate. In Your Face Pure Intent Clay Masque by göt2b is made with natural avocado, kaolin, clay and rosemary to de-toxify and firm while absorbing extra oils. Daily Facials Intensives Deep Cleansing Clay Mask by Olay provides deep cleansing to remove excess oils to leave skin looking more vibrant. Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Invigorating Cleanser Mask doubles as a daily cleanser and a mask. Rinse off immediately for daily cleansing or leave on for 3 minutex for an oil-reducing mask that unclogs pores.

For more exfoliation and re-texturizing of skin, you might try Swiss Formula Peel-Off Hydroxy Masque by St Ives. This peel off contains an alpha & beta hydroxy complex to leave the skin smoother and more radiant.

Another option is to make your own mask at home, and there are plenty of recipes available on the net. But as the most expensive of the masks listed above is under $7 and the others under $4, I say pamper yourself and use your time to relax.