Almay’s new 15 Minute Facial is an exfoliant scrub, a moisturizer and a facial mask all in one. Get the benefits of a total facial in only 15 minutes.

The product is first applied to damp skin in circular motions like a scrub, cleansing clogged pores and exfoliating dead skin cells. Then instead of washing it off, let the product set on the face for 10-15 minutes and it becomes a facial mask. The product is then rinsed off with warm water.

15 Minute Facial is hypoallergenic. It retails for about $6.99, which is a great price for a total facial.

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.

All skin builds up layers of dead skin cells. Daily grime and oils get into pores, clogging them. Both can give skin a dull look.

A facial scrub will exfoliate dead skin cells to expose new skin as well as removing makeup, dirt and oil clogged in pores. The ingredient that actually does the “scrubbing” can be synthetic or natural, ranging from “microbeads” to old-fashioned oatmeal. The price of a scrub isn’t necessarily a good indication of its efficiency.

For the most reasonably priced facial scrub, choose one you make yourself. I found several recipes for facial scrubs available on the net, and the basic ingredients are probably in your kitchen now. This recipe in Woman’s Day magazine is easy to make using everyday ingredients and a blender.

I have two or three facial scrubs, one I use only when giving myself a total facial treatment (can you guess that this is the expensive one?) but let’s face it, most women are too busy and pressed for time for a long facial regimen every day. That’s why for everyday use, I like to keep a tube of St Ives Apricot Scrub right in the shower. The steamy shower opens pores which makes the scrub more effective in unclogging them. I like the St Ives Apricot Scrub because it’s effective, reasonably priced and easy to dispense from the tube in the shower. It comes in a formula for all skin types but is also available in special formulas for oily and sensitive skin.

Regular use of a facial scrub will banish the dullness and bring forth a shiny, new you.